Purananuru

Purananuru also known as Puram, Purappaattu and Purambu Naanuru, is a classical Tamil poetic work consists of four hundred short poems. It is one of the Eight anthologies (Ettuthokai) of Sangam literature in the classic Tamil language. These poems mainly concentrate on extrospective themes.Purananuru is a source of information on the political and social history of prehistoric Tamil Nadu. It is a treatise on kingship: what a king should be, how he should act, how he should treat his subjects and how he should show his generosity. It is dated between 1st century BCE and 3rd century CE. A more reliable source for the period of these poems is based on the mentions one finds on the foreign trade and presence of Greek and Roman merchants in the port of Musiri (poem 343), which give us a date of between 200 BCE to 150 CE for the period of these poems. This is further strengthened by the mention of a reference to Ramayana in poem 378, and a reference to Maurya in poem 175, which indicates a late date of about 187 BCE. A combination of these two considerations indicates a composition date range during the 200 BCE century.

Even though, 400 poems are in Purananuru. Poem 267 and 268 are lost, and some of the poems exist only in fragments. The author of 14 poems remain unknown. The remaining poems were written by 157 poets.

List of the known poets of Purananuru are as follows:

Aiyathi Siruventheraiyar, Aiyur Moolankilar, Aiyur Mudavanar, Alankudi Vankanar, Alathur Kilar, Allur Nanmullaiyar, Andar Nadum Kallinar, Arisil Kilar, Ariyappadai Kadantha Neduncheliyan, Avaduthurai Masathanar, Aviyar, Avur Kilar, Avur Moolankilar, Avvaiyar I(F), Cheraman Kanaikkal Irumporai, Cheraman Kottampalathu Thunjiya Makothai (F), Cholan Kulamutrathu Thunjiya Killivalavan, Cholan Nalankilli, Cholan Nalluruthiran, Chonattu Mukaiyalur Sirukarunthumpiyar, Erukkattur Thayankannanar, Erumai Veliyanar, Idaikkadanar,Idaikkundrur Kilar, Irumpidarthalaiyar, Kadalul Mayntha Ilamveruvaluthi, Kakkai Padiniyar Nachellaiyar, Kalaithin Yanaiyar, Kalathalaiyar, Kalladanar, Kallil Athiraiyanar, Kaniyan Poonkundranar, Kannakanar, Kapilar, Karikilar, Karunkulal Athanar, Karuvur Kathapillai, Karuvur Kathapillai Sathanar- Karuvur Kanthapillai Sathanar, Karuvur Perumchathukkathu Poothanakanar, Kathaiyankannanar, Kavarpendu (F), Kaviripoompattinathu Karikkannanar,Kavittanar, Kayamanar, Kodai Padiya Perumpoothanar, Konattu Erichalur Madalan Madhurai Kumaranar, Koodalur Kilar, Kookai Koliyar, Koperuncholan, Kothamanar, Kotrankotranar, Kovur Kilar, Kudapulaviyanar, Kudavayil Keerathanar, Kulampanthayanar, Kundrukat Paliyathanar, Kundrur Kilar Makanar, Kuramakal Ilaveyini, Kurunkoliyur Kilar, Kuttuvan Keeranar, Madhurai Alakkar Gnalalar Makanar Mallanar, Madhurai Aruvai Vanikan Ilavettanar, Madhuraiasiriyar Nallanthuvanar or Nallanthuvanar, Madhurai Ilampalasiriyan Chenthan Koothanar, Madhurai Ilankanni Kosikanar, Madhurai Kallin Kadaiyathan Vennakanar, Madhurai Kanakkayanar, Madhurai Kanakkayanar Makanar Nakkeeranar or Kanakkayanar Makanar Nakkeerar, Madhurai Maruthan Ilanakanar, Madhurai Melaikkadai Kannampukuthar Ayathanar, Madhurai Nakkeerar, Madhurai Padaimangala Manniyar, Madhurai Padaimangala Manniyar, Madhurai Peralavayar, Madhurai Poothan Ilanakanar, Madhurai Tamil Koothanar, Madhurai Velasan, Madurai Koolavanikan Cheethalai Sathanar, Mangudi Maruthanar, Maripithiyar, Markandeyanar, Marokathu Nappasalaiyar, Maruthan Ilanakanar, Mosi Keeranar, Mosi Sathanar, Muranjiyur Mudinakanar, Nakkannaiyar or Perunkoli Nayakkan Makal Nakkannaiyar, Nalliraiyanar, Nampi Neduncheliyan, Nariveruuth Thalaiyar, Nedumpalliyathanar, Nedunkalathu Paranar, Nettimaiyar, Nochi Niyamankilar, Okkur Masathanar, Okkur Masathiyar,Ollaiyur Kilan Makan Perunchathan, Ollaiyur Thantha Poothapandiyan, Oonpothi Pasunkudaiyar, or er Uluvanar,orampokiyar, Oru Sirai Periyanar, Oruuthanar, Pakkudukkai Nankaniyar, Pandarankannanar, Pandiyan Arivudainampi, Pandiyan Ariyappadai Kadantha Neduncheliyan, Pandiyan Thalaiyalankanathu Cheruvendra Neduncheliyan, Paranar, Pari Makalir, Pereyil Muruvalar or Pereyin Muruvalar, Perumpathumanar, Perunchithiranar, Perunkoli Nayakkan Makal Nakkannaiyar, Perunkundrur Kilar, Perunthalai Sathanar, Peymakal Ilaveyiniyar (F), Piramanar, Pisiranthaiyar, Ponmudiyar, Poonkanuthiraiyar, Porunthil Ilankeeranar, Pothiyar, Poykaiyar, Pullatrur Eyitriyanar, Purathinai Nannakanar, Queen Perunkopendu: Pandiyan PoothaPandiyan, Sangavarunar Ennum Nakaraiyar, Sathanthaiyar, Seethalai Sathanar Madhurai Seethalai Sathanar, Madhurai Koolavanikan Seethalai Sathanar, Siruventheraiyar, Thamarpal Kannanar, Thankal Porkollanar orThangal Mudakkollanar, Thangal Porkollan Vennakanar or Thankal Mudakkotranar, Thayankanniyar, Thiruthamanar, Thodithalai Viluthandinar, Thondaiman Ilanthiraiyan, Thumpai Sokinanar, Thuraiyur odai Kilar, Ulochanar, Uraiyur enicheri Mudamosiyar, Uraiyur Ilampon Vanikanar, Uraiyur Maruthuvan Thamotharanar, Uraiyur Muthukannan Sathanar, Uraiyur Muthukootranar or Uraiyur Muthukoothanar, Vadama Vannakkan Perisathanar or Perisathanar, Vadama Vannakkan Perunchathanar, Vadama Vannakkan Thamotharanar, Vadamothankilar, Vadanedunthathanar, Vanmeekiyar, Vanparanar, Veerai Veliyanar, Vellai Maranar, Vellaikudi Nakanar, Vellerukkilaiyar, Vempatrur Kannan Koothanar, Venni Kuyathiyar, Veri Padiya Kamakanniyar(F), Virichiyur Nannakaiyar, Viriyur Nakkannar,

In the late 11th century, The commentator Nachinarkiniyaar, has written a complete commentary on all the poems. Later, U. V. Swaminatha Iyer (1855-1942 CE) reprinted the literature present in the palm leaf form to paper books format. He published Purananuru for the first time in 1894. Being the first time, Swaminatha Iyer had to face many difficulties in terms of interpreting, finding the missing leaves, textual errors and unfamiliar terms. He went on tiring journeys to remote villages in search of the missing manuscripts. Along with the text, he added abundant commentary and explanatory notes of terms, textual variations and approaches to explaining the context.

Link for Purananuru anthology in Tamil : https://ta.wikisource.org/s/8ox3 Link for Purananuru anthology in Tamil : https://sangamtranslationsbyvaidehi.com/ettuthokai-purananuru-1-200/