Indian Epigraphical Glossary c6.5409

c6.5409

*saṅgam*, Tamil; same as Sanskrit *saṅgha*; an assembly of ancient Tamil poets; the name given to an assembly of poets reported in tradition to have functioned in three different periods. The poets are believed to have been both literary critics and composers. Literary compositions of the age were later collected and compiled into anthologies known as Eṭṭuttokai, Pattuppāṭṭu and Padineṇkīlkaṇakku according to their contents and size. The *saṅgam* is stated to have flourished at Kūḍal (also called Madurai in later literature) in the first and last period and at Kavāṭapuram in the middle period. The latest limit for the first two anthologies may be placed round about 700 A.D. See M. S. Purnalingam Pillai, *Tamil Literature*, pp. 14-18; S. Vaiyapuri Pillai, *History of Tamil Language and Literature*, p. 38.