நடநலவடயல மதறபரள மயககம / Primary Subject Ambiguity in Nedunalvadai

This study examines Primary Subject Ambiguity (Mudharporul Mayakkam) in “Nedunalvadai”, where the palai (arid) landscape is intermingled with seasonal and temporal elements of other Tinais (landscapes). Particularly, the poem mentions kurinji (mountainous) ‘season’ (koodal) and mullai (pastoral) ‘evening time’, leading to a blending status of mayakkam of Tinai conventions. The study analyses how the three core elements of Akam poetry, such as ‘mudhal’ (primary), ‘karu’ (secondary), and ‘uri’ (emotive), intertwine together and create ambiguity in poetic interpretation. It also draws upon thirteen classical Tamil grammatical texts from “Tolkappiyam” to later ‘Aruvaga Ilakkanam’ (six-fold grammar) works by comparing their interpretations of mudhal, karu, and uri in akam theory. The divergences between “Tolkappiyam” and post-Tolkappiyam texts are identified. It observes the blending of nilam (landscape) and pozuthu (time). Sangam literary examples are cited to illustrate how landscape and time ambiguities manifest in poetry. When the primary subject (mudharporul) is not explicitly stated, karu (secondary motifs) and uri (emotional context) become crucial in determining the Tinai. It investigates how later grammatical texts deviate from “Tolkappiyam” in interpreting karu and uri mayakkam (ambiguity) supported by the Sangam literary evidence. So, a close reading of “Nedunalvadai” highlights how primary subject ambiguity operates and enriches the poem's meanings while challenging rigid Tinai classifications. It also contributes to the discussions on Sangam poetics, Tinai theory and the dynamic interplay between landscape, time, and emotion in Sangam Tamil Literature.