சஙகசமகததல பணரனம / Panars in Sangam Literature

The greatness of Tamil is celebrated for Iyal (literature), Isai (music) and Natakam (drama). Among them, music stands as a distinct identity of the Tamil people and they excel in this art form even today. Tamil musicians are renowned worldwide. The inseparable union of language and music is unique in Tamil culture. This relationship is not a recent phenomenon but dates back to the origins of the Tamil civilization where music remains an umbilical bond throughout their history. There is authoritative evidence of musical heritage found in the Sangam literature. These classical texts preserved the Tamil musical traditions and reflect the harmonious relationship between poetry and melody. The Sangam works depict the lives of the Tamil musicians, their artistic practices and the instruments they played. Among them, the Paanar community holds a significant place as master musicians and bards. This article tries to study the unique characteristics of the Paanar tribe as portrayed in Sangam literature and explore their musical contributions to Tamil music and culture. By investigating their role in Sangam poems, one can gain insights on how music and literature intertwine to shape Tamil identity and culture. Hence, the study highlights Paanar’s artistic legacy, their instruments and their socio-cultural impact to portray their enduring influence on Tamil heritage. It reaffirms the deep-rooted connection between Tamil Language, music and Panars as a marvel in Tamil culture.