பததனபதம நறறணடல தரமரகறறபபட மலபபதபபகள / The Source Texts of Thirumurugattrupadai in the Nineteenth Century

Sangam literature is traditionally categorised into two significant collections, namely Ettuthokai (Eight Anthologies) and Pattuppattu (Ten Idylls). This classification was followed by early editors and scholars such as the Perasiriyar, who annotated the Tolkappiyam, and S. Vaiyapuri Pillai, who was instrumental in publishing the source texts of Sangam works. Consequently, it has become customary in scholarly discourse to present Sangam literature under the dual structure of Ettuthokai and Pattuppāṭṭu. The Pattuppattu comprises ten long-form poems, beginning with Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai and ending with Malaipaṭukaṭām. Of these, Tirumurukatruppadai occupies a prominent position as it serves not only as a devotional hymn to Lord Murugan but also as a foundational source for later literary compositions dedicated to the deity. It has inspired extensive exegetical traditions, with commentators such as Parimelalagar and Nalinikiniyar offering detailed interpretations. It has been transmitted for centuries through palm-leaf manuscripts and Tirumurukatruppadai was eventually printed for the first time in the nineteenth century. The earliest known printed edition was brought out by Saravana Perumalaiyar, which contained only the source text. Later editions included both the original text and various commentarial additions. This study focuses specifically on the nineteenth-century printed editions of Tirumurukatruppadai, examining the year of publication, the editors involved, the publishing presses, and the textual variations across different editions. Through this textual cum historical analysis, the paper aims to trace the early print transmission of one of the most significant works of Pattuppattu.