Naming conventions of ancient Tamil country - Revision history

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-The Cankam literature is thematically divided into [[akam (poetry)|akam]] and [[puram]]. The poets worked under a convention of anonymity, not exposing the names of the heroes, heroines and friends in their poems, particularly in the former, in order to underline the universality of the feelings expressed in their poetry.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chattopadhyaya|first=Brajadulal|title=A Social History of Early India|year=2009|publisher=Pearson Education India|isbn= 9788131719589|page=30|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0tX4wzIUY3QC&q=akam+cankam+names&pg=PA30}}</ref>
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imported>DB1729: new key for Category:Names by culture: "Tamil" using HotCat

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new key for Category:Names by culture: "Tamil" using HotCat

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{{TNhistory}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
'''Naming conventions of the [[Tamilakam]]''' in the [[Sangam literature]] have been one of the foremost concerns of [[Tamilology]]. ''The Surnames of the Caṅkam Age: Literary & Tribal'', published in 1968 sought to offer one of the earliest treatments in this area.

==Background==
The Cankam literature is thematically divided into [[akam (poetry)|akam]] and [[puram]]. The poets worked under a convention of anonymity, not exposing the names of the heroes, heroines and friends in their poems, particularly in the former, in order to underline the universality of the feelings expressed in their poetry.<ref>{{cite book|last=Chattopadhyaya|first=Brajadulal|title=A Social History of Early India|year=2009|publisher=Pearson Education India|isbn= 9788131719589|page=30|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0tX4wzIUY3QC&q=akam+cankam+names&pg=PA30}}</ref>

==''Tolkappiyam'' classifications==
The ''[[Tolkāppiyam]]'' identifies ten categories of names. An̲n̲i Mirutalakumāri Tāmacu claims to have completely revealed the basis on which the Tamils adopted their names.{{sfn|Tāmacu|2003|p=4}}

==''Wilden'' classifications==
Eva Wildern identifies four types of names found in the [[Sangam literature]]: proper names, proper names connected with a name of a place or a dynasty, proper names with epithets and imagery names.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wildern|first=Eva|title=Literary Techniques in Old Tamil Caṅkam Poetry: The Kuruntokai|year=2006|publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag|isbn=9783447053358|page=23|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_f3_3gT_NmcC&pg=PA23}}</ref> This convention was codified in the '' Tolkāppiyam''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Journal of Tamil Studies, Issues 49-50|year=1996|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies|page=82|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EW5kAAAAMAAJ}}</ref>

==''Tantaipeyar''==

This tradition involves firstly having the father's name followed by one's own name. This system was carried even into the medieval period.<ref>{{cite book|title=Karandai Tamil Sangam Plates of Rajendrachola I, Volume 1|year=1984|publisher=Archaeological Survey of India|page=59|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kWtmAAAAMAAJ&q=sangam+%22names%22}}</ref>

Examples include ''cēramān'', meaning "son of [[Chera dynasty|Chera]]" composed of ''cēra'' and ''makan'', or ''vēlmān'', meaning "son of Vel" composed of ''vēl'' and ''makan''.<ref>{{cite book|last=N. Subrahmanian, Tamil̲an̲pan̲, S. Jeyapragasam|title=Homage to a Historian: A Festschrift|year=1976|publisher=Dr. N. Subrahmanian 60th Birthday Celebration Committee|page=218|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CbgBAAAAMAAJ&q=family+name+sangam}}</ref>

==Fives parts of a name==
The convention is remains that dynastic name is followed by the proper name. However, in the case of distinguished persons, there may be up to five parts to it.

[[Parimelazhagar]]<ref>{{cite book|last=E. J. Brill|title=Literatur und Bühne: Abschnitt. Zvelebil, K. V. Tamil literature|year=1975|page=83|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IRwgAAAAIAAJ&q=five+components}}</ref> (c. 13th century) codified the Classical-era conventions in his explanation of the correct name of [[Yanaikatchai Mantaran Cheral Irumporai]] as ''Kōccēramān Yāṇaikkaṭcēi Māntarañcēral Irumpoṛai''. ''Kō'' meaning 'king' signifying his official title; ''Cēramān'' is the dynastic name; ''Yāṇaikkat'' 'Elephant-eyed' is a distinctive feature; ''Cēi'' is the ''iyatpeyar'', or proper name; and ''Irumporai'' is an appellate.

Another example is ''Malayamān Cōzhiya Ēnati Tirukkaṇṇan''. ''Malayamān'' is the dynastic name; ''Cōzhiya'', "of the [[Chola Nadu]]; 'Ēnati" is the title of conferred by the King to the chief of the army in a ceremony known as ''Ēnatippatiyam'';<ref>{{cite book|last=Ka. Ta Tirunāvukkaracu|title=Chieftains of the Sangam Age|year=1994|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies|pages=21, 36|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0S1uAAAAMAAJ&q=enati+title}}</ref> and ''Tirukkaṇṇan'' is his ''iyatpeyar'', or proper name.{{fact|date=August 2020}}

===Dynastic name===
Poets spoke to kings about the need for children for carrying on the family or dynastic name.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sastri|first=Nilakanta|title=Sangam Literature: Its Cults and Cultures|year=1972|publisher=Swathi Publications|page=98|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_UEfAAAAMAAJ&q=%22dynastic+name%22+sangam}}</ref>

The dynastic or family name acts as a prefix and occurs before the actual name.<ref>{{cite book|author1=G. Ramakrishna |author2=N. Gayathri |author3=Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya |title=An encyclopaedia of South Indian culture|year=1983|publisher=K.P. Bagchi|page=78|isbn=9780836411881 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BIkeAAAAMAAJ&q=%22dynastic+name%22+}}</ref>

===Titles===
Some titles such as 'Kō' meaning 'king' were acquired, while others were conferred by the King. Three titles particularly renowned were known as Etti, Enati and Kaviti.<ref>{{cite book|title=Vidyodaya Journal of Arts, Science, and Letters, Volume 4|year=1971|publisher=Vidyodaya University of Ceylon|page=37|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nfg7AQAAIAAJ&q=enati+etti+kaviti}}</ref> Talaikkoli, Peraiyan and Marayan are a few of the other titles bestowed to eminent personalities in consideration to their talents in particular fields.<ref>{{cite book|title=Puratan - Volumes 2-3|year=1984|publisher=Department of Archaeology and Museums, Madhya Pradesh|page=50|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LCduAAAAMAAJ&q=enati+etti+kaviti}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Indian name#Tamil|Tamil naming conventions]], for Tamil naming conventions in modern times

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book|last=Tāmacu|first=An̲n̲i Mirutalakumāri|title=Social Heritage of the Tamils: Proceedings of the National Seminar on the Social Heritage of the Tamils, 18-12-91 to 20-12-91|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ae_ZAAAAMAAJ|year=2003|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies}}
* {{cite book|first=Eva|last=Wilden|title=Literary Techniques in Old Tamil Caṅkam Poetry: The Kuruntokai|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_f3_3gT_NmcC&pg=PA23|year=2006|publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag|isbn=978-3-447-05335-8}}

{{Names in world cultures}}

[[Category:Names by culture|Tamil]]
[[Category:Tamil history]]
[[Category:Naming conventions]]
[[Category:Tamilakam]]