Akananuru

Akananuru is a classical Tamil poetic work containing four hundred short poems. It is one of the anthology of Sangam literature in the classification of Eight Anthologies (Ettuthokai). The poems mainly concentrated on the introspective themes. This means that the poets have dealt with matters of love and separation. Other names for Akananuru include Neduntogai or Nedunthokai (“the long anthology”). Most of the poems in Akananuru collection were extensively independent before they were collected and categorized in the present form.Over 145 poets are said to have contributed to Akananuru collection. The anthology is dated around 100 BCE and 200 CE. Some of the poems could belong to the period of 400 BCE – 200 BCE , as some of the poems (251,69,281) have references to the Maurya empire.

Akananuru contains 401 stanzas and is divided into three sections:

Kalintruyanainirai            121 stanzas Manimidaipavalam         180 stanzas Nittilakkovai                      100 stanzas

List of the Akananuru poets in Akananuru:

Aiyur Mudavanar, Alamperi Sathanar, Alankudi Vankanar, Allur Nanmullaiyar, Ammoovanar, Andar Makan Kuruvaluthiyar, Anjitathai Makal Nakaiyar(F), Anthil Ilankeeranar, Arkkadu Kilar Makanar Vellai Kannathanar, Athiyan Vinnathanar, Avur Kilar Makanar Kannanar, Avur Moolankilar, Avur Moolankilar Makanar Perunthalai Sathanar, Avvaiyar I, Chenthan kannanar, Cheraman Ilankuttuvan, Eelattu Poothanthevanar, Eloo Uppandri Nagan Kumaranar, Erukkattur Thayankannanar, Erumai Veliyanar, Erumai Veliyanar Makanar Kadalanar, Eyinanthai Makan Ilankeeranar, Idaikkadanar, Idaiyan Chenthankotranar, Idaiyan Nedunkeeranar, Ilankadunko, Ilankousikanar, Immen Keeranar, Irankukudi Kundra Nadan, Irunkon Ollaiyan Chenkannanar, Kadiyalur Uruthirankannanar, Kaduthokai Kavinar, Kaduvan Mallanar – Madhurai Tamil Koothanar Kaduvan Mallanar, Kalarkeeran Eyitriyar,Kalladanar, Kannam Pullanar, Kapilar, Karuvur Kalinkathar, Karuvur Kannam Pullanar, Karuvur Kannampalanar, Karuvur Kathapillai Sathanar- Karuvur Kanthapillai Sathanar, Karuvur Nanmarpan, Karuvur Poothanchathanar, Kattur Kilar Makanar, Kavanmullai Poothanar, Kavanmullai Pootharathanar, Kavattanar, Kaviripoompattinathu Chenkannanar, Kaviripoompattinathu Karikkannanar, Kavuthaman Sathevanar, Kayamanar, Kodiyur Kilar Makanar Neythal Thathanar, Kondimankalathu Vathuli Narchenthanar, Kotampalathu Thunjiya Cheraman, Kudavayil Keerathanar, Kumili Gnalalar Nappasalaiyar, Kundriyanar, Kurungudi Maruthanar, Kuruvaluthiyar, Madhurai Alakkar Gnalalar Makanar Mallanar, Madhurai Aruvai Vanikan Ilavettanar, Madhuraiasiriyar Nallanthuvanar or Nallanthuvanar, Madhurai Chenkannanar, Madhurai Eelathu Poothanthevanar or Eelathu Poothanthevanar, Madhurai Eluthalan, Madhurai Eluthalan Senthan Poothanar or Senthan Poothanar, Madhurai Ilampalasiriyan Chenthan Koothanar, Madhurai Ilankousikanar, Madhurai Kallin Kadaiyathan Vennakanar, Madhurai Kamakani Nappalathanar, Madhurai Kanakkayanar, Madhurai Kanakkayanar Makanar Nakkeeranar or Kanakkayanar Makanar Nakkeerar, Madhurai Kanchipulavar, Madhurai Kannathanar, Madhurai Kavuniyan Poothathanar, Madhurai Kollan Vennakanar or Madhurai Pon Sey Kollan Vennakanar, Madhurai Koothanar, Madhurai Maruthan Ilanakanar,Madhurai Maruthankilar Makanar Perunkannanar, Madhurai Nakkeeranar, Madhurai Nakkeerar, Madhurai Nalvelliyar or Nalvelliyar, Madhurai Palasiriyar Nappalanar, Madhurai Palasiriyar Natramanar, Madhurai Panda Vanikan Ilanthevanar, Madhurai Peralavayar, Madhurai Ponseykollan Vennakanar, Madhurai Pothanar, Madhurai Pullankannanar, Madhurai Tamil Koothan Kaduvan Mallanar, Madhurai Tamil Koothan Nakanthevanar, Madhurai Thathankannanar,Madurai Koolavanikan Cheethalai Sathanar, Mamoolanar, Mangudi Maruthanar, Marokokathu Kamakkani Nappalathanar, Marungur Kilar Perunkannanar, Marungur Pakai Sathan Poothanar, Marutham Padiya Ilankadunko,Matroor Kilar Makanar Kotram Kotranar, Mosi Karaiyanar, Mosi Keeranar, Mudangi Kidantha Neduncheralathan, Mulliyur Poothiyar, Nakkannaiyar or Perunkoli Nayakkan Makal Nakkannaiyar, Nakkeeranar, Nakkeerar, Nallavur Kilar, Nanpalur Sirumethaviyar, Naraimudi Nettaiyar, Neythal Saythuytha Avur Kilar, Neythal Thathathanar, Nochi Niyamankilar, Noy Padiyar, Okkur Masathanar, Okkur Masathiyar, Ollaiyan Chenkannanar, Ollaiyur Thantha Poothapandiyan, Ootiyar, orampokiyar, orodakathu Kantharathanar, Palai Padiya Perunkadunko, Pandiyan Arivudainampi, Pandiyan Enathi Nedunkannanar, Paranar, Pavai Kottilar, Perunkundrur Kilar, Perunthalai Sathanar, Perunthevanar, Peyanar, Pisiranthaiyar, Ponthai Pasalaiyar, Porunthil Ilankeeranar, Pothumpil Kilan Vennkannanar,Pothumpil Pullalan Kanninar, Puranattu Perunkotranar, Sakalasanar, Seethalai Sathanar Madhurai Seethalai Sathanar, Madhurai Koolavanikan Seethalai Sathanar, Seethalai Sathanar Madhurai Seethalai Sathanar, Madhurai Koolavanikan Seethalai Sathanar, Sellur Kilar Makanar Perumpoothankotranar, Sellur Kosikan Kannanar, Seyalur Ilanpon Sathan Kotranar, Thankal Porkollanar orThangal Mudakkollanar, Thangal Porkollan Vennakanar or Thankal Mudakkotranar, Thayankannanar, Tholkapilar, Thondi amur Sathanar, Ukkira Peruvaluthi, Ulochanar, Umattur Kilar Makanar Parankotranar, Umparkattu Ilankannanar, Uraiyur Maruthuvan Thamotharanar, Uraiyur Muthukootranar or Uraiyur Muthukoothanar, Urodakathu Kantharathanar or Urodakathu Karathanar or Orodakathu Kanthrathanar, Uvarkannoor Pullankeeranar, Vadama Vannakkan Perisathanar or Perisathanar, Vadamothankilar, Vannappura Kanthrathanar, Veerai Veliyan Thithanar, Velladiyanar, Vellai Kannathanar, Velliveethiyar, Vempatrur Kannan Koothanar, Venkannanar, Veri Padiya Kamakanniyar (F), Vitrutru Mutheyinanar.

According to scholars, roughly during the period 200CE, Pandya king Ukkiraperu Vazhuthi, who ruled from Kanapperel (present name: Kalayar Kovil) order his court poet Rudrasarman to compile the poems in “Akananuru” anthology.

After long decades, In 1918 Madars Kambar Book depot, Mypalore is the first to publish it in a book format. Unfortunately, they were unable to find the first version. However, In 1923, R. Ragava Iynger works are considered to be a detailed note in the Akananuru anthology.

Link for Akananuru anthology in Tamil: https://adakshinamurthy.wordpress.com/category/sangam-classics/akananuru/