வட தமழக மயசசல நல வழவயலல மரபம மறறமம / Legacy and Change of Pastoral Life in North Tamil Nadu

In human development, the pastoral life stands as a significant one. Tamil literature defines this stage as a way of life lived between migrating communities and settled populations, called the "Mullai" (forest and pasture land) in Tamil. The ancient Tamil Sangam literature records the lives of the Mullai people who depended on pastoral life. The lives of the people relied on herding around two thousand years ago. The integrated regions that encompass present-day North Tamil Nadu (Thondai Mandalam) and some parts of Andhra Pradesh, within the vast Tamil landmass of North Venkatam and South Kumari, are known as Thondai Mandalam. The region is endowed with diverse natural resources such as the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats hills, forests, rivers, grasslands and agricultural lands. Thondai Mandalam stands as a fertile region having a large number of livestock and the historical imprints of various ethnic communities. The pastoral life that prevailed in this region is reflected in the songs of the Sangam poets. The poets of Thondai Mandalam have noted additional details related to pastoral life in their poems. It is essential to understand the influence of livestock on the economy and the lives of people who depend on livestock, particularly in the context of war. The various problems faced by people who rely on pastoralism in modern times, and the decline in livestock numbers. It results in critical issues that need to be addressed very consciously. The bond between the land and livestock is a strong succession that has existed since ancient times. Cattle enrich the soil, and the soil, in turn, nourishes the livestock. Even today, the Tamil society uses livestock manure as fertiliser for the soil. Therefore, multidisciplinary studies of the pastoral way of life in the ancient Thondai Mandalam can shed light on the various problems faced by the modern pastoral industry. Hence, this article examines the pastoral life traditions mentioned by the Sangam poets on Thondai Mandalam and its changes.