Evolution, Cultural Transformation, and Social Status of Dance in Tamil Literature: A Comparative Study across the Sangam, Epic, and Bhakti Eras

This research evaluates the historical evolution and social perception of dance as reflected across the major eras of Tamil literature—the Sangam, Epic, and Bhakti periods. During the Sangam age, dance served primarily as a secular medium for expressing human emotions (such as joy, sorrow, and victory) and honoring victorious kings through wandering artists like paanan, virali, and kooththar. In the subsequent epic period, including the Minor Epics (Ainchiru Kaappiam), fine arts experienced social decline and stigmatization. However, literature from this period reveals crucial technical details about dance performance, architectural measurements of dance arenas (aadarangku), and the preservation of artistic nuances. With the advent of the Bhakti era under Pallava rule, dance underwent a paradigm shift: secular human emotions were reoriented toward religious devotion, elevating dance into a sacred medium of worship in temples. This paper analyzes how literary texts capture the changing status, technical rules, and philosophical reinterpretation of dance in Tamil society.