பண சமக மரப மறறததல தழலசர பரளதரம / Business Economy in the Transformation of the Paan Social Tradition

In Atruppadai literature, the artists of the Panar community are portrayed spent their entire lives in dependence of their patrons. Under the royal patronage, the system of exchange known as patidu (mutual obligation) eventually transformed into Panar debt (in Tamil - Pan kadan) within the Panar social structure. The Sangam people follow the ethics such as aram (virtue), the act of giving (valankutal) and came to be recognized as a means to achieve fame. The social transformation at the times of the Sangam period occurred across various hierarchical levels. It ranges from chieftains of small settlements (Sirukuti Mannan), rulers of fortified towns (Sirur Mannan), Tribal leaders (Inakkuzut Talaivan), to kings (Vendan). This social shift reduced artists to embrace a nomadic existence. The Panar community became a gipsy community in the feudal system. These artist families became dependent on alms (irantu Unnum kalaik Kudumpankal) and also engaged in various other occupations. Hence, this article examines the stages transformation and its impact on the socioeconomic conditions of the Panar community as registered in Atruppadai literature.