Studies in Cola History and Administration c6.5

c6.5

We shall confine our attention, for purposes of the discussion that follows, to the Puram Four Hundred, although many of the arguments would apply with equal force to the other collections as well. The grammar of Tamil literature classifies its subject-matter under two broad divisions called *Aham* and *Puram*, often somewhat inadequately equated with Love and War respectively. Of these the *Puram* which deals with concrete objective situations (not relating to love) is naturally of more interest to us than the endless analysis and description of psychic attitudes which are the prime concern of the *Aham*. Not that verses pertaining to this last division contain no interesting allusions to historical events and social customs; but these allusions often lack the fullness and directness that is characteristic of the references in the *Puram* group.