INDIAN HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Tolkappiyam refers to the Five-fold division of lands – Kurinji (hilly tracks), Mullai (pastoral), Marudam (agricultural), Neydal (coastal) and Palai (desert).

Detailed explanation-2: -Tolkappiyam refers to the five-fold division of lands called Tinais in the whole of Tamilakam. These were Kurinji (hilly tracks), Mullai (pastoral), Palai (arid zone), Marudam (agricultural land) and Neital (sea coast).

Detailed explanation-3: -Mullai-Forests Mullai or Jasmine (Jasminum auriculatum) is the flower of the forests. The inhabitants were known as kovalar, ayar and idaiyar, whose occupation included livestock, shifting cultivation, husbandry and dairy farming. The kovalars were cowherder and the ayar were pastoralist involved in cattle herding.

Detailed explanation-4: -The Sangam Age is so called because it refers to the gatherings of poets and bards where the bulk of Tamil literature was written. The word ‘Sangam’ is the Tamil form of the Sanskrit ‘Sangha’ which means an association.

Detailed explanation-5: -The five divisions of land as Marudham, Kurinji, Paalai, Mullai and Neidhal have high value in Tamil literature with the people and the chieftains leading lives as dictated by the nature of the terrain in which they lived.