தரமஙகலம வடடர நடடபபற பணகளடம நகழம வளமசசடஙக / Fertility Ritual Performed by the Folk Women of the Thirumangalam Region

Agriculture has been the moral strength of Tamil civilization since the Sangam period and with its continuity its remarkable flexibility crosses two millennia. The practice of fertility rituals in agrarian communities of Tamil Nadu reveals a sophisticated understanding of ecological balance, where ceremonial observances were not mere superstitions but carefully developed systems to regulate planting cycles and ensure soil quality. Tolkappiyam and Kalinthogai document how these rituals evolved from early traditions to settled farming. As agricultural societies developed, distinct gender roles emerged and men were primarily engaged in ploughing and irrigation while women specialized in seed selection, crop protection rituals and harvest ceremonies. This paper studies about specific women-centric traditions like the Thirumangalam region fertility rites which is combined to the practical agricultural knowledge with spiritual practices to combat environmental challenges. The enduring presence of these rituals in contemporary rural Tamil Nadu and among women farmers shows an unbroken lineage of ecological wisdom where devotional practices serve as both spiritual expression and sustainable farming methodologies. Modern agricultural systems recognize how these traditional systems encoded vital knowledge about crop rotation, natural pest control and water conservation to primitive rituals such as fertility rites. It is actually represents an advanced form of environmental care through centuries of careful observation and adaptation to local ecosystems. Hence, the aim of the paper is to investigate the role of folk women and fertility ritual in Thirumangalam region.