வளபர பதனததல கணலகம தலதமழரன உணவகள / The Food Habits of Ancient Tamils Found in The Novel Velpari

From the earliest times to the present day, human beings have lived and struggled for food. Among the fundamental needs of humans, food holds the foremost place. This applies to all living beings and no life can survive without food. Eating is defined as the process by which living beings satisfy their bodily need for hunger and the means to fulfil this need is food. For humans, food transcends mere physical necessity and serves as a medium that reflects a society's cultural, economic, political and geographical aspects. In this regard, food has undergone various transformations throughout the long history of the Tamil people. While inscriptions, archaeological findings and ruins are often accepted as primary historical sources, artworks also play a significant role in understanding the lifestyle of a community. Tamil literature is rich in ancient literary sources. It is very useful to understand the food habits of the Sangam people. Literary evidence suggests that the Tamil people had developed food habits closely linked to their landscapes. A study reveals that Tamils excelled in food preparation, dining customs and hospitality. By exploring Tamil food culture, one can gain insights into food. Many researchers have documented Tamil food habits through studies. Based on the information, many fictional works have also emerged. In this context, this article aims to explore the food customs depicted in the historical novel “Veerayuga Nayagan Velpari” by Su. Venkatesan.