Tamils
(top row, left to right): Chandrasekhar • Subbulakshmi • Ramanujan • Rajaratnam
Total population
77,000,000  [1]
Regions with significant populations
India 60,793,814 (2001)[2]  Sri Lanka 3,092,676 (2001)[3]  Malaysia 1,060,000 (1993)[4]  Canada 200,000 (2007)[5]  Singapore 111,000 (1993) [4]
Languages
Tamil
Religions
Predominantly Hinduism; minorities are Christianity, Islam and a small number of Jainism. Padma Vibhushan Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, FRS ( Tamil: சுப்பிரமணியன் சந்திரசேகர் English ˌtʃʌndrəˈʃeɪkɑr( Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi ( popularly known as MS or M Early life The second child of Sabapathy Pillai Sinnathamby and his wife both of Sri Lankan Tamil descent Rajaratnam was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Singapore Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India.
Related ethnic groups
Dravidian people · Brahui people · Kannadigas · Malayalis · Tamils · Telugus · Tuluvas · Gonds

Tamil people (also called Tamils or Tamilians) are a Dravidian language speaking people from the Indian subcontinent with a recorded history going back more than two millennia. Dravidian peoples refers to the peoples that natively speak languages belonging to the Dravidian language family. The Brahui people or Brohi people ( Brahui / Urdu: بروہی are a distinct ethnic group of about 2 Kannadiga ( Kannada: ಕನ್ನಡಿಗ | masculine|) or Kannadati ( Kannada: ಕನ್ನಡತಿ | feminine|) refers to populations The Malayali people (also spelled Malayalee; Malayalam: മലയാളി are the inhabitants of Kerala or their descendants Telugu people refer to the group of peoples who natively speak the Telugu language. The Tuluvas ( Tulu: ತುಳುವ are speakers of the Tulu language. The Gondi (Gōndi are a people in central India. The Gondi or Gond people are spread over the states of Madhya Pradesh, eastern Maharashtra The Dravidian family of languages includes approximately 73 languages (including the four literary languages of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia For geopolitical treatments see South Asia. A millennium (pl millennia) is a period of Time equal to one thousand Years (from Latin la mille, thousand and la annum ^[6] The oldest Tamil communities are those of southern India and north-eastern Sri Lanka. South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union Sri Lankan Tamil people ( or Ceylon Tamils, are an Ethnic group native to the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka who predominantly speak There are also a number of Tamil emigrant communities scattered around the world, especially in central Sri Lanka, Malaysia, South Africa, Singapore, Pakistan and Mauritius with more recent emigrants found in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United States, and Europe. "Emigrant" redirects here For the Butterflies, see Catopsilia. The Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka are Tamil people of Indian origin in Sri Lanka. For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Singapore Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Mauritius (pronounced məˈrɪʃəs L’île Maurice /il mɔ'ʁis/ Mauritian Creole: Maurice) officially the Republic of Mauritius, République New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The United States of America —commonly referred to as the There are an estimated 77 million Tamils around the world.

The art and architecture of the Tamil people encompass some of the greatest contributions of India to the art world. The music, the temple architecture and the stylised sculptures favoured by the Tamil people are still being learnt and practiced. The ancient Tamil music was the music of the ancient Tamil people, who resided in the lands of the Ancient Tamil country. The classical language of Tamil, one of the oldest languages in India, has the oldest extant literature amongst other Dravidian languages. Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. Tamil literature refers to the Literature in the Tamil language. The Dravidian family of languages includes approximately 73 languages (including the four literary languages of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada ^[7]

Unlike many ethnic groups, Tamils were not governed by a single political entity during most of their history; Tamilakam, the traditional name for the Tamil lands, was politically united for only a brief period, between the 9th and 12th centuries, under the Chola Empire. Tamiḻakam ( Tamil தமிழகம் is a Tamil word meaning the Tamil country or the Tamil home. The Tamil identity is primarily linguistic, although in recent times the definition has been broadened to include emigrants of Tamil descent who maintain Tamil cultural traditions, even if they no longer regularly speak the language. Cultural identity is the (feeling of identity of a group or Culture, or of an Individual as far as he or she is influenced by her belonging to a group Tamils are ethnically, linguistically and culturally related to the other Dravidian peoples of the Indian subcontinent. Dravidian peoples refers to the peoples that natively speak languages belonging to the Dravidian language family. This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia For geopolitical treatments see South Asia.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Pre-historic period 1.2 Classical period 1.3 Imperial and post-imperial periods 1.4 Tamils in Sri Lanka 1.5 Modern period 2 Geographic distribution 2.1 Indian Tamils 2.2 Sri Lankan Tamils 2.3 Tamil emigrant communities 3 Culture 3.1 Language and literature 3.2 Visual art and architecture 3.3 Performing arts 3.4 Religion 3.5 Cuisine 3.6 Martial arts 4 Institutions 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 7.1 Population data

History

See also: History of Tamil Nadu

Pre-historic period

The origins of the Tamil people, like those of the other Dravidian peoples, are unknown, although genetic and archaeological evidence suggests a possible migration into India around 6000 BC. The region of Tamil Nadu in modern India has been under continuous human habitation since prehistoric times and the history of Tamil Nadu and the civilization Rajaraja Chola I (இராஜராஜ சோழன் is one of the greatest kings of the Chola Empire, who ruled between 985 and 1014 CE Dravidian peoples refers to the peoples that natively speak languages belonging to the Dravidian language family. Genetics (from Ancient Greek grc-Latn genetikos, “genitive” and that from grc-Latn genesis, “origin” a discipline of Biology, is Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country ^[8] The earliest clear evidence of the presence of the Tamil people in modern Tamil Nadu are the megalithic urn burials, dating from around 1000 BC and onwards, which have been discovered at various locations in Tamil Nadu, notably in Adichanallur. Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. Adichanallur is an Archaeological site near Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, India. ^[9][10] These burials conform to the descriptions of funerals in classical Tamil literature in a number of details, and appear to be concrete evidence of the existence of Tamils in southern India during that period. Tamil literature refers to the Literature in the Tamil language. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country ^[11] In modern times, ancient Tamil literature like Sangam poetry and epics like Silappatikaram have been interpreted as making references to a lost land known as Kumari Kandam. The Tamil Sangams are legendary assemblies of Tamil scholars and poets that according to traditional Tamil accounts existed in the remote past Silappatikaram ( Tamil: சிலப்பதிகாரம்; siləppəd̪iɡɑːrəm is one of the five great epics of ancient Tamil Literature Kumari Kandam (ta குமரிக்கண்டம் Kumarikkaṇṭam) is the name of a legendary sunken landmass said to have been located to the south of present-day ^[12]

An Indian linguist, Bhadriraju Krishnamurthy argues that Dravidian language speakers did not enter the subcontinent from outside based on the fact that most archaic features of Dravidian in phonology and morphology are still found in the southern languages such as Tamil and as such Dravidian language is native to the Indian subcontinent. Phonology ( Greek φωνή (phōnē voice sound + λόγος (lógos word speech subject of discussion is the systematic use of sound to encode meaning Morphology is the field of Linguistics that studies the internal structure of words ^[13]

Classical period

Although it is unknown as to whether the term Tamilar and its equivalents in Prakrit such as Damela, Dameda, Dhamila and Damila was self designation or a term denoted by outsiders, epigraphic evidence of an ethnic group termed as such is found in Amaravati in present day Andhra Pradesh referring to a Dhamila-vaniya (Tamil trader) datable to the third century BC. Prakrit (also transliterated as Pracrit) ( Sanskrit: prākṛta प्राकृत (from pra-kṛti प्रकृति according to one WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Amaravati is a small town situated on the banks of the River Krishna in the Guntur District ^[14] Another inscription of about the same time in Nagarjunakonda seems to refer to a Damila. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Nagarjunakonda (meaning Nagarjuna Hill in Telugu) is a historical Buddhist town A third inscription in Kanheri refers to a Dhamila-gharini. In the well-known Hathigumpha inscription of the Kalinga ruler Kharavela refers to a Tramira samghata (Confederacy of Tamil rulers) dated to the first century BC. The Hathigumpha inscription ("Elephant Cave" inscription from Udayagiri near Bhubaneshwar in Orissa, was written by Kharavela, the king of Kalinga Kalinga was a Kingdom in central-eastern India, which comprised most of the modern state of Orissa, as well as some northern areas of the bordering state Kharavela (ଖାରେବଳ ( IAST: Khāravela Devanagari: खारवेल Oriya: ଖାରେବଳ (?209 – after 170 BCE was the greatest ^[14] In ancient Sri Lanka too number of inscriptions have come to light datable from third to first century BC mentioning Damela or Dameda persons. In the Buddhist Jataka story known as Akiti Jataka there is a mention to Damila-rattha (Tamil country). Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The Jātaka Tales ( Sanskrit जातक and Pali, Malay: jetaka Lao: satok refer to a voluminous body of Folklore -like literature Hence it is clear by at least the third century BC the ethnic identify of Tamils has been formed as distinct group. ^[14]

From around the third century BC onwards, three royal dynasties—the Cholas, the Cheras and the Pandyas—rose to dominate the ancient Tamil country. History In early Tamil literature the great Chera rulers are referred to as Cheral Kuttuvan Irumporai Kollipurai and Athan Origin The origin of the word “Pandya” has been a subject of much speculation The ancient Tamil country, also known as Tamilakam, refers to an ancient independent region in the areas of modern South India, corresponding roughly ^[10] Each of these dynasties had its own realm within the Tamil-speaking region. Classical literature and inscriptions also describe a number of Velirs, or minor chieftains, who collectively ruled over large parts of central Tamil Nadu. Sangam literature refers to a body of classical Tamil literature created between the years 300 BCE and 600 CE Velirs were tribal chieftains of Tamil Nadu in the early historic period Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. ^[15] Wars between the kings and the chieftains were frequent, as were conflicts with ancient Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island ^[16][17] These wars appear to have been fought to assert hegemony and demand tribute, rather than to subjugate and annex those territories. The kings and chieftains were patrons of the arts, and a significant volume of literature exists from this period. ^[15] The literature shows that many of the cultural practices that are considered peculiarly Tamil date back to the classical period. ^[15]

Agriculture was important during this period, and there is evidence that irrigation networks were built as early as 2nd century AD. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Irrigation is an artificial application of water to the soil usually for assisting in growing crops ^[18] Internal and external trade flourished, and evidence exists of significant contact with Ancient Rome. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC ^[19] Large quantities of Roman coins and signs of the presence of Roman traders have been discovered at Karur and Arikamedu. The main Roman currency during most of the Roman Republic and the western half of the Roman Empire consisted of coins including the Aureus (gold the Roman Trade was the engine that drove the economy of the late Roman Republic and the early Roman Empire. Karur ( Tamil: கரூர்) is a town and a Municipality in Karur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu situated Arikamedu is an Archaeological site near Pondicherry, Southern India, where Mortimer Wheeler conducted its best-known excavation in the 1940s ^[19] There is also evidence that at least two embassies were sent to the Roman Emperor Augustus by Pandya kings. The Roman Emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period (starting at about 27 BC Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was ^[20] Potsherds with Tamil writing have also been found in excavations on the Red Sea, suggesting the presence of Tamil merchants there. In Archaeology, a sherd is commonly a historic or prehistoric fragment of Pottery, although the term is occasionally used to refer to fragments The Red Sea is a Salt water Inlet of the Indian Ocean between Africa and Asia. Merchants function as professionals who deal with Trade, dealing in commodities that they do not produce themselves in order to produce Profit. ^[21] An anonymous first century traveler's account written in Greek, Periplus Maris Erytraei, describes the ports of the Pandya and Chera kingdoms and their commercial activity in great detail. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea ( Periplus Maris Erythraei) is a Greek Periplus, describing navigation and trading opportunities ||-||-|-||-||-||-||-||-||-|} A port is a facility for receiving Ships and transferring cargo Periplus also indicates that the chief exports of the ancient Tamils were pepper, malabathrum, pearls, ivory, silk, spikenard, diamonds, sapphires, and tortoiseshell. Black pepper ( Piper nigrum) is a flowering Vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its Fruit, which is usually dried Malabathrum, also known as Malobathrum or Malabar leaf, is the name used in classical and medieval texts for the leaf of the plant Cinnamomum tamala A pearl is a hard roundish object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled Mollusk. Ivory is formed from Dentine and constitutes the bulk of the Teeth and Tusks of animals such as the Elephant, Hippopotamus, Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons Spikenard ( Nardostachys grandiflora or Nardostachys jatamansi; also called nard, nardin,and muskroot) is a Flowering In Mineralogy, diamond is the allotrope of carbon where the carbon atoms are arranged in Sapphire (antique greek hyacinthos refers to gem varieties of the mineral Corundum, an Aluminium oxide (Al2O3 when it is a color other than ^[22]

The classical period ended around the fourth century AD with invasions by the Kalabhra, referred to as the kalappirar in Tamil literature and inscriptions. Identification Kalabhras The identification of the Kalabhras is difficult ^[23] These invaders are described as evil kings and barbarians coming from lands to the north of the Tamil country. ^[24] This period, commonly referred to as the Dark Age of the Tamil country, ended with the rise of the Pallava dynasty. Origins See also Origin of Pallava The exact origin of the Pallavas is shrouded in mystery ^[23][25][26]

Imperial and post-imperial periods

Although the Pallava records can be traced from the second century AD, they did not rise to prominence as an imperial dynasty until the sixth century. Origins See also Origin of Pallava The exact origin of the Pallavas is shrouded in mystery ^[27] The dynasty does not appear to have been Tamil in origin, although they rapidly adopted the local culture and the Tamil language. Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. The Pallavas sought to model themselves after great northern dynasties such as the Mauryas and Guptas. The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military The Gupta Empire ( Hindi: गुप्त राजवंश was ruled by members of the Gupta dynasty from around 320 to 550 C ^[28] They therefore transformed the institution of the kingship into an imperial one, and sought to bring vast amounts of territory under their direct rule. The Pallavas were initially followers of the Brahmanical tradition (Hinduism),for a short while,one of their kings embraced Jainism but later converted to Hinduism(Source- K. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. A. Nilakanta Sastri's "History of South India"). They encouraged the Bhakti movement, which had risen to counter the growing influence of Jainism and Buddhism. The Bhakti movement was a Hindu religious movement in which the main spiritual practice was loving devotion to God, or Bhakti. Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices ^[29] The Pallavas pioneered the building of large, ornate temples in stone which formed the basis of the Dravidian temple architecture.

The Pallava dynasty was overthrown in the 9th century by the resurgent Cholas. Origins See also Origin of Pallava The exact origin of the Pallavas is shrouded in mystery ^[27] The Cholas become dominant in the 10th century and established an empire covering most of southern India and Sri Lanka. ^[27] The empire had strong trading links with China and Southeast Asia. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National ^[30][31] The Cholas' navy conquered the South Asian kingdom of Sri Vijaya in Sumatra and continued as far as Thailand and Burma. Srivijaya or Sriwijaya was an ancient Malay kingdom on the island of Sumatra, Southeast Asia which influenced much of the Malay Archipelago. Sumatra (also spelled Sumatera) is the sixth largest island in the world (approximately 470000 km² and is the largest island entirely in Indonesia (two The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. ^[27] Chola power declined in the 12th and 13th centuries, and the Pandya dynasty enjoyed a brief period of resurgence thereafter during the rule of Sundara Pandya. ^[27] However, repeated Muslim invasions from the 15th century onwards placed a huge strain on the empire's resources, and the dynasty came to an end in the 16th century. During the late Middle Ages, several Islamic Empires were established in South Asia. ^[32]

The western Tamil lands became increasingly politically distinct from the rest of the Tamil lands after the Chola and Pandya empires lost control over them in the 13th century. ^[33] They developed their own distinct language and literature, which increasingly grew apart from Tamil, evolving into the modern Malayalam language by the 15th century. Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used ^[34]

No major empires arose thereafter, and parts of Tamil Nadu were for a while ruled by a number of different local chiefs, such as the Nayaks of the modern Maharashtra (see Serfoji II) and Andhra Pradesh regions. Maharashtra ( Marathi: mahārāṣṭra, IPA) is a state located on the western coast of India. Serfoji II (Marathi सर्फोजी Tamil‎‎சரபோஜி( September 24, 1777 – March 7 1832) was the last ruler of the From the 17th century onwards, European powers began establishing settlements and trading outposts in the region. The colonial era in India began in 1502 when the Portuguese established the first European trading center at Kollam A number of battles were fought between the British, French and Danish in the 18th century, and by the end of the 18th century most of Tamil Nadu was under British rule. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe

Tamils in Sri Lanka

See also: Sri Lankan Tamils, History of Eastern Tamils, and Jaffna Kingdom

There is little consensus on the history of the Tamil-speaking parts of Sri Lanka prior to the Chola period. Sri Lankan Tamil people ( or Ceylon Tamils, are an Ethnic group native to the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka who predominantly speak History of Eastern Tamils of Sri Lanka is informed by local legends native literature and other colonial documents The Jaffna kingdom (யாழ்ப்பாண அரசு (1215-1619 CE also known as Kingdom of Aryacakravarti, of modern northern Sri Lanka came into existence Koneswaram temple also Thirukoneswaram is a Hindu Temple which is located in the Town Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Trincomalee (திருகோணமலை Tirukōṇamalai තිරිකුණාමළය Tirikūṇamaḷaya is a district a bay and a port city on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island The Tevaram ( Tamil: தேவாரம் Teva means "God" aram means "garland") denotes the first seven volumes of the Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island Some Sinhala historians argue that there was no organised Tamil presence in Sri Lanka until the invasions from southern India in the 10th century, whereas many Tamil historians contend that Tamils are the original inhabitants of the island. The Sinhalese are the main ethnic group of Sri Lanka. They speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and number approximately 15 million people with the See also History An historian is an individual who studies and writes about History, and is regarded as an Authority on it South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union A theory by historian K. Indrapala concludes that the Sinhalese and Tamil languages were spread due to cultural diffusion from peninsular India into an already existing Mesolithic population with minimal population transfer by the activities of traders and others in centuries BCE. Cultural diffusion, as first conceptualized by Alfred L Kroeber in his influential 1940 paper Stimulus Diffusion, or trans-cultural diffusion in later reformulations The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age ^[36][37]

The historical record does establish that the Tamil kingdoms of India were closely involved in Sri Lankan affairs from about the 2nd century BCE. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country ^[16][17] There is epigraphic evidence of traders and others self identifying as Damelas (or Damedas) in Anuradhapura and other areas of Sri Lanka as early as 2nd century BCE. Epigraphy (ἐπιγραφολογία from Greek ἐπιγραφή — "inscription" is the study of inscriptions or epigraphs engraved Anuradhapura, (අනුරාධපුර in Sinhala, அனுராதபுரம் in Tamil) is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous ^[38] According to the primary source Mahavamsa, ethnic Tamil adventurers such as Elara invaded the island as far back as 200 BCE. The Mahavamsa, ("Great Chronicle " is a historical poem written in the Pali language of the kings of Sri Lanka. Elara (c 235 BCE - 161 BCE also known as Elalan, or Élaezha Chola, was a Tamil king who ruled Sri Lanka from c ^[39] South Indian soldiers were brought to Anuradhapura in ever larger numbers in the seventh, eight, ninth and tenth centuries leading to number of rulers relying on their help to consolidate and rule. There was also large scale mercantile activity from peninsular India primarily from the Coromandel Coast. The Coromandel Coast is the name given to the southeastern coast of the Indian peninsula By the eighth century there were epigraphic evidence of Tamil Villages collectively known as Demel-kaballa (Tamil allotment), Demelat-valademin (Tamil villages), Demel-gam-bim (Tamil villages and lands). ^[40] In the 10th century Pandya and Chola wars against Sri Lanka culminated in the Chola annexation of the island, which lasted until the latter half of the eleventh century. Origin The origin of the word “Pandya” has been a subject of much speculation ^[41][42][43]

The decline of Chola power in Sri Lanka was followed by the re-establishment of the Polonnaruwa monarchy in the late eleventh century. The second most ancient of Sri Lanka 's kingdoms Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I who defeated the Chola invaders in 1070 ^[44] In 1215, following Pandya invasions the Arya Chakaravarthi dynasty established an independent Jaffna kingdom^[45] in the Jaffna peninsula and parts of northern Sri Lanka. See also Jaffna kingdom The Aryacakravarti dynasty (ஆரியச் சக்கரவர்த்திகள் வம்சம் were kings of the Jaffna The Jaffna kingdom (யாழ்ப்பாண அரசு (1215-1619 CE also known as Kingdom of Aryacakravarti, of modern northern Sri Lanka came into existence Jaffna or Yazhpanam (யாழ்ப்பாணம் in Tamil meaning யாழ்= The Arya Chakaravarthi expansion into the south was halted by Alagakkonara,^[46] a man from a family of merchants from Kanchipuram in present day Tamil Nadu, who had become the chief minister of the Sinhalese king Parakramabahu V (1344–1359). Alagakkonara (அழகக்கோன் or Alakeshwara is a name of a prominent Feudal family that provided powerful ministers and military rulers during the medieval Kanchipuram, Kanchi, or Kancheepuram is a city and a Municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. Alagakkonara built a fortress at Kotte,^[47] and held the Arya Chakravarthi army there while he defeated the invading fleet at Panadura, southwest of Kotte. Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte (ශ්‍රී ජයවර්ධනපුර කෝට්ටේ in Sinhalese and ஸ்ரீ ஜயவர்த்தனபுரம் கோட்டே Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte (ශ්‍රී ජයවර්ධනපුර කෝට්ටේ in Sinhalese and ஸ்ரீ ஜயவர்த்தனபுரம் கோட்டே A descendant of Alagakkonara, Vira Alakeshwara later became King of the Sinhalese,^[48] but this line was deposed by the Ming admiral Cheng Ho (Zheng He) in 1409. The Ming Dynasty ( or Empire of the Great Ming ( was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol -led Zheng He ( Birth name 馬三寶 / 马三宝; Arabic / Persian name حجّي محمود شمس Hajji Mahmud Shams) (1371&ndash1433 was a Hui Zheng He ( Birth name 馬三寶 / 马三宝; Arabic / Persian name حجّي محمود شمس Hajji Mahmud Shams) (1371&ndash1433 was a Hui The Arya Chakaravarthi dynasty ruled over large parts of northeast Sri Lanka until 1619, when it was conquered by the Portuguese. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. The coastal areas of the island was then taken by the Dutch, and in 1796 these became part of the British Empire. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power.

Modern period

British colonists consolidated the Tamil territory in southern India into the Madras Presidency, which was integrated into British India. Madras Presidency, also known as Madras Province and known officially as Presidency of Fort St For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British Similarly, the Tamil parts of Sri Lanka joined with the other regions of the island in 1802 to form the Ceylon colony. They remained in political union with India and Sri Lanka after their independence, in 1947 and 1948 respectively. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island

When India became independent in 1947, Madras Presidency became the Madras State, comprised of present-day Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh, northern Kerala, and the southwest coast of Karnataka. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Karnataka (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ pronounced) is a state in the southern part of India The state was subsequently split along linguistic lines. Linguistics is the scientific study of Language, encompassing a number of sub-fields In 1953, the northern districts formed Andhra Pradesh. Under the States Reorganization Act in 1956, Madras State lost its western coastal districts. The States Reorganization Act of 1956 was a major reform of the boundaries and governance of India 's states and territories. The Bellary and South Kanara districts were ceded to Mysore state, and Kerala was formed from the Malabar district and the former princely states of Travancore and Cochin. Bellary ( Kannada: ಬಳ್ಳಾರಿ Telugu: బళ్ళారి ˈbəɭɭari is a city in Bellary District in Karnataka state Dakshina Kannada ( Kannada & Tulu:ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಕನ್ನಡ (earlier known as South Kanara, or South Canara) is a coastal The Kingdom of Mysore was one of the three largest Princely states within the erstwhile British Empire of India. Malabar District was an administrative district of British India and independent India's Madras State. For other uses see Principality, Other princely states A Princely State (also called Native State or Indian State) was a Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor ( Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ "Thiru" (respectful prefix which suggests either royal or In 1968, Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India.

There was some initial demand for an independent Tamil state following the adoption of the federal system. ^[49] However, the Indian constitution granted significant autonomy to the states, and protests by Tamils in 1963 led to the government adopting a new policy called the "three language formula". The Constitution of India ( Hindi: भारतीय़ संविधान see names in other Indian languages) is the supreme law of India. This has led to Tamils in India becoming increasingly satisfied with the federal arrangement, and there is very little support for secession or independence today.

In Sri Lanka, however, the unitary arrangement led to a growing belief among some Tamils of discrimination by the Sinhalese majority. The Sinhalese are the main ethnic group of Sri Lanka. They speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and number approximately 15 million people with the This resulted in a demand for federalism, which in the 1970s grew into a movement for an autonomous Tamil country. Political federalism is a Political philosophy in which a group of members are bound together (Latin foedus, covenant) with a governing Tamil Eelam ( Tamil: தமிழ் ஈழம் tamiḻ īḻam) is the name given by certain Tamil groups in Sri Lanka to the state which they aspire The situation deteriorated into civil war in the early 1980s. The Sri Lankan Civil War is an Ongoing conflict on the Island -nation of Sri Lanka. A ceasefire in effect since 2002 broke down in August 2006 amid shelling and bombing from both sides. Today Tamils make up 18% of Sri Lankas population.

Geographic distribution

Indian Tamils

Most Indian Tamils live in the state of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. Tamils are the majority in the union territory of Pondicherry, a former French colony. A Union Territory is a sub-national administrative division of India. Puducherry (formerly; புதுச்சேரி or பாண்டிச்சேரி పాండిచెర్రి പുതുശ്ശേരി Pondichéry is a This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Pondicherry is a subnational enclave situated within Tamil Nadu. There are also Tamil communities in other parts of India. Most of these have emerged fairly recently, dating to the colonial and post-colonial periods, but some—particularly the Hebbar and Mandyam Tamils of southern Karnataka, the Tamils of Palakkad in Kerala, and the Tamils of Pune, Maharashtra—date back to at least the medieval period. Karnataka (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ pronounced) is a state in the southern part of India For the district with the same name see Palakkad District. Palakkad, also known as Palghat (anglicized is a town and a Municipality Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Pune (ˈpuːneɪ Marathi: पुणे Hindi: पूना formerly Poona, is the second largest city in the state of Maharashtra Maharashtra ( Marathi: mahārāṣṭra, IPA) is a state located on the western coast of India.

Sri Lankan Tamils

See also: Sri Lankan Civil War, Sri Lankan Tamils, and Hill Country Tamils

There are today two groups of Tamils in Sri Lanka. The first are the Sri Lankan Tamils, who either descend from the Tamils of the old Jaffna kingdom or who migrated to the East coast. Sri Lankan Tamil people ( or Ceylon Tamils, are an Ethnic group native to the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka who predominantly speak The Jaffna kingdom (யாழ்ப்பாண அரசு (1215-1619 CE also known as Kingdom of Aryacakravarti, of modern northern Sri Lanka came into existence The second are the Indian Tamils or Hill Country Tamils, who are descendants of bonded labourers sent from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka in the 19th century to work in tea plantations. The Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka are Tamil people of Indian origin in Sri Lanka. An indentured servant is a form of Debt bondage worker The Laborer is under Contract of an Employer for some period of time usually three to Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. Tea refers to the cured agricultural product of the leaves leaf buds and internodes of Camellia sinensis, which have been prepared and cured for the market ^[50] Ceylon Tamils mostly live in the Northern and Eastern provinces and in the capital of Colombo, whereas hill-country Tamils largely live in the central highlands. Sri Lankan Tamil people ( or Ceylon Tamils, are an Ethnic group native to the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka who predominantly speak ^[51] The Hill Country Tamils and Ceylon Tamils historically have seen themselves as separate communities. In 1949, the United National Party Government, which included G. G. Ponnambalam, a leader of the Tamil Congress and of the Sri Lankan Tamils, stripped the Indian Tamils of their nationality, including their right to vote. The United National Party, often referred to as the UNP Sinhalese: එක්සත් ජාතික පක්ෂය (pronounced Eksath Jathika Pakshaya Ganapathipillai Gangaser Ponnambalam (8 November 1902 &ndash 9 December 1977 known as G All Ceylon Tamil Congress (in Tamil: அகில இலங்கைத் தமிழ்க் காங்கிரஸ்) is the oldest Tamil Sri Lankan Tamil people ( or Ceylon Tamils, are an Ethnic group native to the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka who predominantly speak Prominent Tamil political leaders such as S. J. V. Chelvanayakam and his Tamil opposition party opposed this move. Samuel James Veluppillai Chelvanayakam ( March 31, 1898 - April 27, 1977) was a Sri Lankan politician and leader of the Tamil ^[52]

Under an agreement between the Sri Lankan and Indian governments in the 1960s, around 40% of Hill Country Tamils were granted Sri Lankan nationality, and many of the remainder were repatriated to India. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country ^[53] However, the ethnic conflict has led to the growth of a greater sense of common Tamil identity, and the two groups are now more supportive of each other. ^[54] By the 1990s most Indian Tamils had received Sri Lankan citizenship. ^[55]

There is also a significant Tamil-speaking Muslim population in Sri Lanka. Islam in Sri Lanka is practised by a group of minorities who make up approximately 10% of the population Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island Unlike Tamil Muslims from India, however, they do not identify themselves as ethnic Tamils and are therefore usually listed as a separate ethnic group in official statistics. Tamil Muslim refers to Muslims of Tamil ethnicity found in South Asia and South East Asia. ^[56][51]

Tamil emigrant communities

See also: Tamil diaspora, Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora, Tamil Malaysians, Tamil South Africans, and Tamil Canadians

Significant Tamil emigration began in the 18th century, when the British colonial government sent many poor Tamils as indentured labourers to far-off parts of the Empire, especially Malaya, South Africa, Fiji, Mauritius and the Caribbean. The Tamil Diaspora is a term used to denote people of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lankan Tamil origin who have settled in many parts of the rest of The Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora refers to the global Diaspora of the people of Sri Lankan Tamil origin Tamil Malaysian or Malaysian Tamil refer to the Malaysians of Tamil ethnic origin from India and Sri Lanka in Malaysia Tamil South Africans are South Africans of Tamil descent Amongst the language groups represented among the Indian immigrants who came from India to Natal Tamil Canadian or Canadian Tamils are Canadians of Tamil ethnic origins mostly from Sri Lanka and other countries such as India, Malaysia An indentured servant is a form of Debt bondage worker The Laborer is under Contract of an Employer for some period of time usually three to The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula that were colonized by the British from the 18th and the 19th until the 20th century The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य Mauritius (pronounced məˈrɪʃəs L’île Maurice /il mɔ'ʁis/ Mauritian Creole: Maurice) officially the Republic of Mauritius, République The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting At about the same time, many Tamil businessmen also immigrated to other parts of the British Empire, particularly to Burma and East Africa. Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. East Africa is the Easternmost Region of the African Continent. ^[57] Many Tamils still live in these countries, and the Tamil communities in Singapore, Reunion Island, Malaysia and South Africa have retained much of their culture and language. Singapore Réunion ( French: Réunion or formally La Réunion; previously Île Bourbon) is an island located in the Indian Ocean, east of For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and The majority of South Africa's Asian population is Indian in origin many of them descended from indentured workers brought to work on the sugar plantations of the eastern coastal area then known Many Malaysian children attend Tamil schools, and a significant portion of Tamil children in Mauritius and Reunion are brought up with Tamil as their first language. Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. In Singapore, Tamil students learn Tamil as their second language in school, with English as the first. To preserve the Tamil language, the Singapore government has made it a national language despite Tamils comprising only about 10% of the population, and has also introduced compulsory instruction of the language for Tamils. Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. Other Tamil communities, such as those in South Africa and Fiji, no longer speak Tamil as a first language, but still retain a strong Tamil identity, and are able to understand the language, while most elders speak it as a first language. ^[58]

A large emigration also began in the 1980s, as Sri Lankan Tamils sought to escape the ethnic conflict there. These recent emigrants have most often fled to Australia, Europe, North America and Southeast Asia. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. ^[59] Today, the largest concentration of Tamils outside southern Asia is in Toronto, Canada. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page ^[60]

Many young Tamil professionals from India have also immigrated to Europe and the United States in recent times in search of better opportunities. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The United States of America —commonly referred to as the These new immigrant communities have established cultural associations to protect and promote Tamil culture and language in their adopted homes. The Federation of Tamil Sangams in North America (FeTNA established 1987 is an umbrella organization of many (but not all local North American Tamil diaspora organizations

Culture

Language and literature

Main articles : Tamil language, Tamil literature

Tamils have strong feelings towards the Tamil language, which is often venerated in literature as "Tamil̲an̲n̲ai", "the Tamil mother". Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. ^[61] It has historically been, and to large extent still is, central to the Tamil identity. ^[62] Like the other languages of South India, it is a Dravidian language, unrelated to the Indo-European languages of northern India. South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union The Dravidian family of languages includes approximately 73 languages (including the four literary languages of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada The language has been far less influenced by Sanskrit than the other Dravidian languages, and preserves many features of Proto-Dravidian, though modern-day spoken Tamil in Tamil Nadu, freely uses loanwords from Sanskrit and English. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Proto-Dravidian is the Proto-language of the Dravidian languages. A loanword (or loan word) is a word directly taken into one Language from another with little or no translation English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States ^[63] Tamil literature is of considerable antiquity, and was recognised as a classical language by the government of India. Tamil literature refers to the Literature in the Tamil language. A classical language, is a language with a Literature that is "classical"&mdashie "it should be ancient it should be an independent tradition that arose mostly

Classical Tamil literature, which ranges from lyric poetry to works on poetics and ethical philosophy, is remarkably different from contemporary and later literature in other Indian languages, and represents the oldest body of secular literature in South Asia. Sangam literature refers to a body of classical Tamil literature created between the years 300 BCE and 600 CE Lyric poetry refers to a usually short poem that expresses personal feelings which may or may not be set to music Poetics refers generally to the theory of literary Discourse and specifically to the theory of Poetry, although some speakers use the term so broadly as to denote Ethics is a major branch of Philosophy, encompassing right conduct and good life ^[64] Notable works in classical Tamil literature include the Tirukkural, by Tiruvalluvar, the five great Tamil epics, and the works of Auvaiyar. Thiruvalluvar (திருவள்ளுவர் is a celebrated Tamil poet who wrote the Thirukkural, an ethical work in Tamil literature. The Five Great Epics of Tamil Literature are Silappatikaram, Manimegalai, Civaka Cintamani, Valayaapathi Auvaiyar ( Tamil:ஔவையார்(also Auvayar was the name of more than one poet who was active during different periods of Tamil literature.

There are also currently a breed of Malaysian and Singaporean tamils who are very loyal to their respective countries and are fiercely patriotic to their nations. The tamils from Malaysia and Singapore have evolved from their ancestor from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.

Modern Tamil literature is diverse. It includes Indian Nationalism, in the works of Subramanya Bharathi; historical romanticism, by Kalki Krishnamurthy; radical and moderate social realism, by Pudhumaipithan and Jayakanthan; and feminism, by Malathi Maithri and Kutti Revathi. Indian nationalism refers to the consciousness and expression of political social religious and ethnic influences that help mould Indian national consciousness Subramania Bharati (சுப்ரமணிய பாரதி ( December 11, 1882 - September 11, 1921) was a Tamil poet from Tamil Nadu Kalki (கல்கி was the pen name of R Krishnamurthy (ரா Social Realism, also known as Socio-Realism, is an Artistic movement, expressed in the visual and other realist arts, which depicts Working class Jayakanthan (ஜெயகாந்தன் (born April 24, 1934) is a Tamil Writer, Essayist Feminism is a discourse that involves various movements theories, and Philosophies which are concerned with the issue of Gender difference, advocate Sujatha, an author whose works range from romance novels to science fiction, is one of the most popular modern writers in Tamil. Sujatha (May 3 1935 - February 27 2008 was the pseudonym of the Tamil writer S A romance novel is a literary Genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries Sri Lankan Tamil literature has produced several works reflecting the civilian tragedy caused by decades of war. Sri Lankan Tamil literature or Ceylon Tamil literature refers to Tamil Literature produced in the current day country of Sri Lanka by various There is also an emerging diaspora literature in Tamil. The term Diaspora (in Greek, διασπορά &ndash " a scattering or sowing of seeds " refers any population sharing common ethnic

There are a number of regional dialects in use by the Tamil people. These dialects vary among regions and communities. Tamil dialects are mainly differentiated by the disparate phonological changes and sound shifts that have evolved from Old Tamil. Although most Tamil dialects do not differ significantly in their vocabulary, there are a few exceptions. The dialects spoken in Sri Lanka retain many words that are not in everyday use in India, and use many other words slightly differently. The Sri Lankan Tamil dialects or Ceylon Tamil dialects form a group of Tamil Dialects used in the modern country of Sri Lanka by Sri Lankan India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The dialect of the Iyers of Palakkad has a large number of Malayalam loanwords, has been influenced by Malayalam syntax, and has a distinct Malayalam accent. Iyer (aiʝar Tamil: அய்யர் Malayalam:അയ്യര (variously spelt as Iyer, Ayyar, Aiyar, Ayer or For the district with the same name see Palakkad District. Palakkad, also known as Palghat (anglicized is a town and a Municipality Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used The Sankethi, Hebbar, and Mandyam dialects, the former spoken by groups of Tamil Iyers, and the latter two by Vaishnavites who migrated to Karnataka in the 11th century, retains many Vaishnavite religious and spiritual values. Sankethi is distinct from Tamil and is now an independent language according to Dravidian linguists such as Hampa Nagarajaiah Hebbar Iyengars, a formerly endogamous group constitute a part of the Iyengar sub-caste of Tamil Brahmins residing in Karnataka Mandyam or Mandyam Tamil is a dialect of the Tamil language spoken in Karnataka, India. Iyer (aiʝar Tamil: அய்யர் Malayalam:അയ്യര (variously spelt as Iyer, Ayyar, Aiyar, Ayer or Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and Karnataka (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ pronounced) is a state in the southern part of India Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and The Tamil spoken in Chennai infuses English words, and is called Madras Bashai (Madras language). English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Madras Tamil or Madras bashai (மெட்ராஸ் ^[65]

Visual art and architecture

See also: Chola Art

Most traditional Tamil art is religious in some form and usually centres on Hinduism, although the religious element is often only a means to represent universal—and, occasionally, humanist—themes. The period of the imperial Cholas (c 850 CE - 1250 CE was an age of continuous improvement and refinement of the Dravidian art and architecture Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Humanism is a broad category of ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people based on the ability to determine right and wrong by appealing to universal ^[66]

The most important form of Tamil painting is Tanjore painting, which originated in Thanjavur in the ninth century. Tanjore painting ( Tamil Language: தஞ்சாவூர் ஓவியம் Thanjavur Oviyam) is an important form of classical South Indian Painting Thanjavur ( Tamil: தஞ்சாவூர் also known by its Anglicised name Tanjore, and it is the Eleventh largest city in Tamil Nadu (after The painting's base is made of cloth and coated with zinc oxide, over which the image is painted using dyes; it is then decorated with semi-precious stones, as well as silver or gold thread. Zinc oxide is a Chemical compound with the formula ZnO It is nearly insoluble in water but soluble in Acids and Bases It occurs ^[67] A style which is related in origin, but which exhibits significant differences in execution, is used for painting murals on temple walls; the most notable example are the murals on the Kutal Azhakar and Meenakshi temples of Madurai, the Brihadishwara temple of Tanjore. A mural is a Painting on a wall ceiling or other large permanent surface The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple ( மீனாக்ஷி அம்மன் கோவில்) is a historic Hindu Madurai Thanjavur ( Tamil: தஞ்சாவூர் also known by its Anglicised name Tanjore, and it is the Eleventh largest city in Tamil Nadu (after ^[68] Tamil art, in general, is known for its stylistic elegance, rich colours, and attention to small details.

Tamil sculpture ranges from elegant stone sculptures in temples, to bronze icons with exquisite details. Bronze is any of a broad range of Copper alloys, usually with Tin as the main additive but sometimes with other elements such as Phosphorus ^[69] The medieval Chola bronzes are considered to be one of India's greatest contributions to the world art. ^[70][71] Unlike most Western art, the material in Tamil sculpture does not influence the form taken by the sculpture; instead, the artist imposes his/her vision of the form on the material. ^[72] As a result, one often sees in stone sculptures flowing forms that are usually reserved for metal. ^[73] As with painting, these sculptures show a fine eye for detail; great care is taken in sculpting the minute details of jewellery, worn by the subjects of the sculpture. The lines tend to be smooth and flowing, and many pieces skillfully capture movement. The cave sculptures at Mamallapuram are a particularly fine example of the technique, as are the bronzes of the Chola period. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Mahabalipuram (மகாபலிபுரம் also known as Mamallapuram (மாமல்லபுரம் A particularly popular motif in the bronzes was the depiction of Shiva as Nataraja, in a dance posture with one leg upraised, and a fiery circular halo surrounding his body. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva Nataraja /nɐtɐrɑdʒɐ/ ( The Lord (or King of Dance) Tamil கூத்தன் is the dancing posture of the Hindu god Shiva, who performs his

Tamil temples were often simply treated as sculptures on a grand scale. The temples are most notable for their high spires, known as Gopura, consisting of a number of stepped levels, and the vimanam, which rises above the sanctum sanctorum. A Gopuram or gopura (also known as a vimanam) is a monumental tower usually ornate at the entrance of a temple especially in Southern India. The Sanctum Sanctorum is a fictional building in the Marvel Universe. During the Chola period, the vimanams had more prominence, as seen in the Brihadīsvara temple of Thanjavur. The Brihadishwara Temple ( Tamil: ta பெருவுடையார் கோவில் also known as Rajarajeswaram, at Thanjavur is a brilliant Thanjavur ( Tamil: தஞ்சாவூர் also known by its Anglicised name Tanjore, and it is the Eleventh largest city in Tamil Nadu (after During the Nayak period, the spires became progressively more elaborate and ornate, as exemplified by the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, while the vimanam became much smaller. The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple ( மீனாக்ஷி அம்மன் கோவில்) is a historic Hindu Madurai From the 13th century onwards, the entrance gates to the temples, called gopurams in Tamil, also began to grow bigger, and more elaborate. A Gopuram or gopura (also known as a vimanam) is a monumental tower usually ornate at the entrance of a temple especially in Southern India. The temples at Chidambaram and Srirangam have particularly impressive gopurams, covered with sculptures and reliefs of various scenes and characters from Hindu mythology. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Chidambaram is a Municipality and taluk ( Tehsil) headquarters in the Cuddalore district This article is about a notable Hindu pilgrimage location in Tamil Nadu, India. Hindu mythology is the large body of Mythology related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and

As with Indian art in general, Tamil art does not traditionally aspire to portraiture or realism. The vast scope of the art of India intertwines with the cultural history religions and philosophies which place art production and patronage in social and cultural contexts A portrait is a painting, photograph, Sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person in which the face and its expression is predominant Realism in the Visual arts and Literature is the depiction of subjects as they appear in Everyday life, without embellishment or interpretation Much more emphasis is placed on the representation of ideal prototypes, and on depicting the symbols with which the theme of the artistic work is associated. This means that small details, such as the direction which a hand faces, the animals or trees portrayed, or the time of day depicted, are often of critical importance to understanding the meaning of a work of art. ^[74]

Performing arts

See also: Music of Tamil Nadu and Ancient Tamil music

The traditional Tamil performing arts have ancient roots. Music of Tamil Nadu has a long tradition and history going back several hundred years The ancient Tamil music was the music of the ancient Tamil people, who resided in the lands of the Ancient Tamil country. The performing arts are those forms of Art which differ from the Plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own Body, Face and presence ^[75] The royal courts and temples have been centres for the performing arts since the classical period, and possibly earlier. Descriptions of performances in classical Tamil literature and the Natya Shastra, a Sanskrit treatise on the performing arts, indicate a close relationship between the ancient and modern artforms. The Nātya Shastra ( Sanskrit: Nātyaśāstra नाट्य शास्त्र is an ancient Indian treatise on the Performing arts The aim of a performance in Tamil tradition, is to bring out the rasa, the flavor, mood, or feeling, inherent in the text, and its quality is measured by the extent to which it induces the mood in the audience. ^[75]

Tamil shares a classical musical tradition, called carnatic music, with the rest of South India. Music of Tamil Nadu has a long tradition and history going back several hundred years Carnatic music (also spelled Karnatak music or Karnatik music, and originally called Karṇāṭaka sangīta or Karṇāṭaka sangītam in India South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union It is primarily oriented towards vocal music, with instruments functioning either as accompaniments, or as imitations of the singer's role. A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. In Music, accompaniment is the art of playing along with a soloist or ensemble, often known as the Lead, in a Supporting manner Ancient Tamil works, such as the Cilappatikaram, describe a system of music that includes old Carnatic modes,^[76] and a seventh-century Pallava inscription at Kudimiyamalai contains one of the earliest surviving examples of Indian music in notation. Silappatikaram ( Tamil: சிலப்பதிகாரம்; siləppəd̪iɡɑːrəm is one of the five great epics of ancient Tamil Literature The ancient Tamil music was the music of the ancient Tamil people, who resided in the lands of the Ancient Tamil country. ^[77] Modern Carnatic music is organized around the twin notions of melody types (rāgam), and cyclical rhythm types (thāḷam). Unlike the northern Hindustani music tradition, carnatic music is almost exclusively religious. Hindustani Classical Music ( Hindi: हिन्दुस्तानी शास्त्रीय संगीत Urdu: ہندوستانی شاستریے سنگیت In sharp contrast with the restrained and intellectual nature of carnatic music, Tamil folk music tends to be much more exuberant. Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous Popular forms of Tamil folk music include the Villuppattu, a form of music performed with a bow, and the Naattupurapaattu, ballads that convey folklore and folk history. Villuppattu is a Tamil folk art of story telling where narration is interspersed with music Naattupurapaattu is a form of Tamil Folk music. Tamil Nadu has a very ancient and rich form of folk music some of which is disappearing due to the importance A ballad is a Poem usually set to Music; thus it often is a story told in a Song. History The concept of folklore developed as part of the 19th century ideology of Romantic nationalism, leading to the reshaping of oral traditions to serve modern ideological

The dominant classical dance amongst Tamils is Bharatanatyam. Bharatanatyam (பரதநாட்டியம்is a classical Dance form originating in Tamil Nadu, Bharatanatyam is performative, rather than participative. The dance is an exposition of the story contained in a song, and is usually performed by one performer on stage, with an orchestra of drums, a drone, and one or more singers backstage. The story is told through a complicated combination of mudras (hand gestures), facial expressions, and body postures. Dancers used to be exclusively female, but the dance now also has several well-known male practitioners. ^[75]

The most notable of Tamil folk dances is karakattam. Folk dance is a term used to describe a large number of dances mostly of European origin that tend to share the following attributes originally danced in about the In its religious form, the dance is performed in front of an image of the goddess Mariamma. Goddess Māri (மாரி is known as Mariamman, "Mother Mari" (மாரியம்மன் spelt also Maariamma (மாரியம்மா The dancer bears, on his or her head, a brass pot filled with uncooked rice, decorated with flowers and surrounded by a bamboo frame, and tumbles and leaps to the rhythm of a song without spilling a grain. Karakāṭṭam is usually performed to a special type of song, known as temmanguppattu, a folk song in the mode of a lover speaking to his beloved, to the accompaniment of a nadaswaram and melam. The nadaswaram (also spelt nadhaswaram, and also called nagaswaram) is one of the most popular classical instruments of The thavil ( Tamil: தவிள்) is a barrel shaped Percussion instrument from South India. Other Tamil folk dances include mayilattam, where the dancers tie a string of peacock feathers around their waists; oyilattam, danced in a circle while waving small pieces of cloth of various colors; poykkal kuthiraiyaattam, in which the dancers use dummy horses; manaattam, in which the dancers imitate the graceful leaping of deer; paraiyattam, a dance to the sound of rhythmical drumbeats; and thippanthattam, a dance involving playing with burning torches. Mayilattam is an artistic and religious form of Dance performed in the Hindu temples of Kerala in reverence to Lord Subrahmanya. A deer is a Ruminant Mammal belonging to the family Cervidae. ^[78] The kuravanci is a type of dance-drama, performed by four to eight women. The drama is opened by a woman playing the part of a female soothsayer of a wandering kurava tribe, who tells the story of a lady pining for her lover.

The therukoothu, literally meaning "street play", is a form of village theater or folk opera. It is traditionally performed in village squares, with no sets and very simple props. The performances involve songs and dances, and the stories can be either religious or secular. Secularity ( adjective form secular) is the state of being separate from Religion. ^[79] The performances are not formal, and performers often interact with the audience, mocking them, or involving them in the dialogue. Therukkūthu has, in recent times, been very successfully adapted to convey social messages, such as abstinence and anti-caste criticism, as well as information about legal rights, and has spread to other parts of India. Abstinence is a voluntary restraint from indulging a desire or appetite for certain bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure Castes are Hereditary systems of occupation, Endogamy, social culture, Social class, and Political power. ^[80]

The village of Melattur, in Tamil Nadu, has a special type of performance, called the bhagavata-mela, in honour of the local deity, which is performed once a year, and lasts all night. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Melattur (மேலத்தூர் is a Panchayat town in Thanjavur district in the Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. Bhagavata, with the literal meaning of that which comes from Bhagavan or the Lord signifies in the context of Hinduism. Mela is a Sanskrit word meaning 'gathering' or 'to meet' It is used in the Indian subcontinent for all sizes of gathering and can be religious commercial cultural Tamil Nadu also has a well developed stage theater tradition, which has been heavily influenced by western theatre. A number of theatrical companies exist, with repertoires including absurdist, realist, and humorous plays. Absurdist fiction is a genre of Fiction, Drama or Poetry that centers on the behavior of Absurd characters situations or subjects Realism in the Visual arts and Literature is the depiction of subjects as they appear in Everyday life, without embellishment or interpretation Comedy (from the Greek κωμωδίαkomodia has a popular meaning (any discourse generally intended to amuse especially in Television, Film, and ^[81]

Both classical and folk performing arts survive in modern Tamil society. Tamil people in Tamil Nadu are also passionate about films. The Tamil film industry, commonly dubbed Kollywood, is the second-largest film industry in India. Tamil cinema or Kollywood ( Tamil: கோலிவுட் kōlivūṭ) is the English name of the popular Tamil Film Industry based in the ^[82] Tamil cinema is appreciated both for its technical accomplishments, and for its artistic and entertainment value. The overwhelming majority of Tamil films contain song and dance sequences, and Tamil film music is a popular genre in its own right, often liberally fusing elements of carnatic, Tamil folk, North Indian styles, hip-hop, and heavy metal. Carnatic music (also spelled Karnatak music or Karnatik music, and originally called Karṇāṭaka sangīta or Karṇāṭaka sangītam in India Famous music directors of the late 20th century included M. S. Viswanathan, Ilayaraaja, and A. R. Rahman. M S Viswanathan (b June 24 1928 (or MSV) is a popular south Indian music director for five decades ( Tamil: இளையராஜா ɪləjəɹɑːdʒɑː (born June 2, 1943 as Gnanadesikan) is an Indian Film composer, singer Allah Rakkhha Rahman (ஏஆர்ரஹ்மான் born on January 6 1966 as A

Religion

About 90% of the population of Tamil Nadu are Hindu. Christians and Muslims account for 5% each. Most of the Christians are Roman Catholics. Among muslims, two-thirds of them speak Tamil and identify themself as Tamil muslims. Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. Tamil Muslim refers to Muslims of Tamil ethnicity found in South Asia and South East Asia. Rest of them speak Urdu, who settled in Tamil Nadu during Nawab's rule. Urdu ( ur '''{{Nastaliq اردو}}''' trans Urdū, historically spelled Ordu) is a Central Indo-Aryan language Urdu is a standardised Tamil Jains number only a few thousand now. Tamil Jains or Samanar are natives of Tamil Nadu, India. They are a micro community of around 85000 in number (Around 0 ^[83] Tamil Hinduism, like other regional varieties of Hinduism, has many peculiarities. Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The most popular deity is Murugan, who is same as Karthikeya, the son of Siva, but who may in origin have been a different deity, and has taken on a distinctly local character. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva ^[84] The worship of Amman, also called Mariamman, thought to have been derived from an ancient mother goddess, also is very common. Goddess Māri (மாரி is known as Mariamman, "Mother Mari" (மாரியம்மன் spelt also Maariamma (மாரியம்மா Goddess Māri (மாரி is known as Mariamman, "Mother Mari" (மாரியம்மன் spelt also Maariamma (மாரியம்மா A mother goddess is a Goddess, often portrayed as the Earth Mother who serves as a general Fertility deity the bountiful embodiment of the Earth. ^[85] Kan̲n̲agi, the heroine of the Cilappatikār̲am, is worshipped as Paṭṭin̲i by many Tamils, particularly in Sri Lanka. Kannagi or (Kaṇṇaki (கண்ணகி a Legendary Tamil woman is the central character of the South Indian epic Silapathikaram Silappatikaram ( Tamil: சிலப்பதிகாரம்; siləppəd̪iɡɑːrəm is one of the five great epics of ancient Tamil Literature Kannagi or (Kaṇṇaki (கண்ணகி a Legendary Tamil woman is the central character of the South Indian epic Silapathikaram Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island ^[86] There are also many followers of Ayyavazhi in Tamil Nadu, mainly in the southern districts. Ayyavazhi (aiavəɻɪ( Tamil:அய்யாவழி Ayyavali - "Path of the father") is a dharmic belief system that originated ^[87] In addition, there are many temples and devotees of Vishnu, Siva, Ganapathi, and the other common Hindu deities. For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva Ganesha ( Sanskrit: sa गणेश Gaṇeśa) also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh and also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar

The most important Tamil festivals are Pongal, a harvest festival that occurs in mid-January, and Varudapirappu, the Tamil New Year, which occurs around mid-April. Thai Pongal (தைப்பொங்கல் is a Harvest festival equivalent to a Thanksgiving event celebrated by Tamils across the world A harvest festival is an annual celebration which occurs around the time of the main harvest of a given region The New Year is an event that happens when a Culture celebrates the end of one Year and the beginning of the next year Both are celebrated by almost all Tamils, regardless of religion. The Hindu festival Deepavali is celebrated with fanfare; other local Hindu festivals include Thaipusam, Panguni Uttiram, and Adiperukku. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Diwali, or Deepavali, (also called Tihar and Swanti in Nepal (Markiscarali is a major Indian and Nepalese festival and a significant A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Thaipusam (தைப்பூசம் (or Thai Poosam Kavady) is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Adiperukku is a unique Tamil festival celebrated on the 18th day of the Tamil month of Adi (mid July While Adiperukku is celebrated with more pomp in the Cauvery region than in others, the Ayyavazhi Festival, Ayya Vaikunda Avataram, is predominantly celebrated in the southern districts of Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, and Thoothukudi. The Ayya Vaikunda Avataram ( Tamil: அய்யா வைகுண்ட அவதாரம் - Incarnation of Vaikundar) is a festival celebrated by the followers Tirunelveli (திருநெல்வேலி is a city in Tamil Nadu and was formed into a Municipal corporation in 1999 by merging three municipalities viz Thoothukudi (தூத்துக்குடி ^[88]

In rural Tamil Nadu, many local deities, called aiyyan̲ārs, are thought to be the spirits of local heroes who protect the village from harm. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ettayapuram ( எட்டையாபுரம் in Tamil) is a Panchayat town in Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. Ayyanar (ஐயனார் or அய்யனார் is a regional Tamil male deity who is popular among the rural Social groups of South India, specifically Their worship often centers around nadukkal, stones erected in memory of heroes who died in battle. This form of worship is mentioned frequently in classical literature and appears to be the surviving remnants of an ancient Tamil tradition. ^[89]

Saivism is particularly strong, although most of its bases are in the North. Shaivism, also spelled "Saivism" names the oldest of the four sects of Hinduism. The Alvars and Nayanars, who were predominantly Tamils, played a key role in the renaissance of Bhakti tradition in South India. The Alvars (ஆழ்வார்கள் (aːɻʋaːr ‘those immersed in god’ were Tamil poet saints of south India who lived between sixth and ninth centuries and espoused The Nayanars or Nayanmars were Shaivite devotional poets of Tamil Nadu, active between the fifth and the tenth centuries CE Bhakti ( Devanāgarī: भक्ति) is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning devotion. South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union In the 10th century, the philosopher Ramanuja, who propagated the theory of Visishtadvaitam, brought many changes to worshiping practices, creating new regulations on temple worship, and accepted lower-caste Hindus as his prime disciples. Ramanuja ( traditionally 1017&ndash1137 also known as Ramanujacharya, was a Theologian, Philosopher, and Scriptural Exegete. VishishtAdvaita Vedanta ( IAST Viśishṭādvaita Vedanta; Sanskrit: विशिष्टाद्वैत is a sub-school of the Vedānta ^[90]

Christianity is believed to have come to Tamil Nadu with the arrival of St. Thomas the apostle, but the number of Tamil Christians grew during the colonial period. Many Tamils are Catholic, Protestant, and Syrian Orthodox. Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. The Aramean-Syriac people ( Syriac: arc [[arcܣܘܪܝܝܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ ܐܪܡܝܐ]]) are an Ethnic group who are widely Tamil muslims are mostly either mainstream Sunni or can also be Sufi. Tamil Muslim refers to Muslims of Tamil ethnicity found in South Asia and South East Asia. Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Islam. Sunni Islam is also referred to as Ahl as-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘h (Arabic Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف

Cuisine

Main article: Tamil cuisine

Tamil cuisine is one of the oldest vegetarian culinary heritages in the world. Tamil Nadu is famous for its hospitality and its deep belief that serving food to others is a service to humanity as is common in many regions of India Rice, the major staple food in most of Tamil, is usually steamed and served with about two to six accompanying items, which typically include sambar, dry curry, rasam, kootu, and thayir (curd) or moru (whey or buttermilk). A staple food is a Food that forms the basis of a Traditional diet. Sambar or sambhar ( Kannada:ಸಾರು Malayalam: സാമ്പാർ Tamil:சாம்பார் Telugu:సాంబారు Curry is the English description of any of a general variety of spicy dishes best known in Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan Rasam, ( Tamil: Rasam; Kannada: Saaru; Telugu: Chaaru; sanskrit: Rasam) is a South Indian Kootu (கூட்டு is a Tamil dish made of vegetable and lentils and are semi-solid in consistency i Curd is a Dairy product obtained by curdling (coagulating Milk with Rennet or an edible Acidic substance such as Lemon juice Whey or milk plasma is the liquid remaining after Milk has been Curdled and strained it is a By-product of the manufacture of Cheese Buttermilk is a Fermented dairy product produced from Cow's milk with a characteristically sour taste

Tiffin or Light meals usually include one or more of Pongal, Dosai, idli, Vadai along with sambar and Chutney is often served as either breakfast or as an evening snack. In South India, especially in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and in Nepal, the term Tiffin is generally used to mean an in-between-meals snack Thai Pongal (தைப்பொங்கல் is a Harvest festival equivalent to a Thanksgiving event celebrated by Tamils across the world Preparation Regular dosa batter is made from Rice and split skinned Urad bean (black lentil blended with water and left to ferment overnight History Although the precise history of the modern idli is unknown it is a very old food in southern Indian cuisine A vadai - Tamil வடை- Malayalam വട - (also vada, wada, vade) pronounced 'vah-daa' 'vah-dey' or 'vah-die' is a savoury snack from South Sambar or sambhar ( Kannada:ಸಾರು Malayalam: സാമ്പാർ Tamil:சாம்பார் Telugu:సాంబారు Chutney ( Hindi: चटनी Urdu: چٹنی) (British spelling or chatni is a term for a variety of sweet and spicy Condiments, usually Breakfast is the first meal of the day The word derives from the idea of break ing the '''fast''' of sleep Ghee Clarified butter called neyyi in Tamil, is used to flavor the rice when eaten with dhal or sambar, but not with curds or buttermilk. Ghee ( Hindi घी ghī, Urdu گھی ghī, Punjabi ਘਿਉ/گھیو ghiu, Kashmiri ग्याव/گیاو Neyyi is the Tamil and Telugu name for clarified butter ( Ghee) (Hindi Sambar or sambhar ( Kannada:ಸಾರು Malayalam: സാമ്പാർ Tamil:சாம்பார் Telugu:సాంబారు Morkulambu, a dish which can be spiced with moru, is also popular with steamed rice.

Each geographical area where Tamils live has developed its own distinct variant of the common dishes plus a few dishes distinctly native to itself. The Chettinad region, comprising of Karaikudi and adjoining areas, is known for both traditional vegetarian dishes, like appam, uthappam, paal paniyaram, and non-vegetarian dishes, made primarily using chicken. Chettinad is a region of the Sivaganga district of southern Tamil Nadu state India. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Karaikudi is a city and a Municipality in Sivaganga District in the Indian state Uttapam Tamil - ஊத்தப்பம் is a Dosa -like dish that is made by cooking ingredients in a batter The chicken ( Gallus gallus, sometimes G gallus domesticus) is a domesticated Fowl which is traditionally believed to have descended from

Martial arts

Main article: Dravidian martial arts

Various martial arts including Kuttu Varisai, Varma Kalai, Silambam Nillaikalakki, Maankombukkalai (Madhu) and Kalarippayattu, are practised in Tamil Nadu and Kerala^[91]. Dravidian martial arts have been practiced by Dravidian peoples in South India and northeastern Sri Lanka since the Sangam period Martial arts are systems of codified practices and traditions of training for Combat. Kuttu Varisai (Empty Hand Combat (குத்துவரிசை is an Indian martial art practiced in Tamil Nadu, South India and in Northeastern Varma Kalai (also called Varmam) (வர்மக்கலை meaning " the art of vital points " is an ancient martial art which has its origins For the Tamil language Feature film see Silambattam. Silambam (சிலம்பம் or Silambattam (சிலம்பாட்டம் Kalarippayattu or kalaripayattu ( Malayalam കളരിപയറ്റ് kaɭəɾipːajətːɨ̆ is a Martial art with origins in Kerala Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; The weapons used include Silambam, Maankombukkalai, Yeratthai Mulangkol (double stick), Surul Pattai (spring sword), Val Vitchi (single sword), and Yeretthai Val (double sword)^[92].

The ancient Tamil art of unarmed bullfighting, popular amongst warriors in the classical period^[93][94], has also survived in parts of Tamil Nadu, notably Alanganallur near Madurai, where it is known as Jallikaṭṭu or mañcuviraṭṭu and is held once a year around the time of the Pongal festival. Bullfighting or Tauromachy (from Greek ταυρομαχία - tauromachia, "bull-fight" is a traditional spectacle of Spain Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Alanganallur is a Panchayat town in Madurai district in the state of Tamil Nadu, Madurai Jallikattu - ஜல்லிகட்டு is a wild bull taming Sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebration Thai Pongal (தைப்பொங்கல் is a Harvest festival equivalent to a Thanksgiving event celebrated by Tamils across the world

Institutions

The global spread of the Tamil diaspora has hindered the formation of formal pan-Tamil institutions. The Tamil Diaspora is a term used to denote people of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lankan Tamil origin who have settled in many parts of the rest of The most important national institutions for Tamils have been the governments of the states where they live, particularly the government of Tamil Nadu and the government of Sri Lanka, which have collaborated in developing technical and scientific terminology in Tamil and promoting its use since the 1950s. Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. TemplatePolitics of Sri Lanka Politics of Sri Lanka takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic Republic, whereby the President Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent.

Politics in Tamil Nadu is dominated by the Self-respect movement (also called the Dravidian movement), founded by E.V. Ramasami, popularly known as Periyar, to promote self-respect and rationalism, and to fight casteism and the oppression of the lowest castes. The Self-Respect Movement was founded in 1925 by EV Ramasami Naicker (also known as Periyar in Tamil Nadu, India. Periyar E V Ramasamy (பெரியார் ( September 17, 1879 &ndash December 24, 1973) also known as Ramaswami In Psychology, self-esteem reflects a Person 's overall evaluation or appraisal of her or his own worth In Epistemology and in its broadest sense rationalism is "any view appealing to Reason as a source of knowledge or justification" (Lacey 286 Castes are Hereditary systems of occupation, Endogamy, social culture, Social class, and Political power. Every major political party in Tamil Nadu bases its ideology on the Self-respect Movement, and the national political parties play a very small role in Tamil politics.

In Sri Lanka, Tamil politics was dominated by the federalist movements, led by the Federal Party (later the Tamil United Liberation Front), until the early 1980s. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island The Tamil United Liberation Front (in Tamil: தமிழர் ஐக்கிய விடுதலை முன்னணி in Sinhala: ද්රවිඩ එක්සත් In the 1980s, the political movement was largely succeeded by a violent military campaign conducted by several militant groups. Sri Lankan Tamil militant groups rose to prominence in the 1970s to fight the state of Sri Lanka to create an independent Tamil Eelam. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which emerged as the most important force amongst these groups in the 1990s, controls portions of northern Sri Lanka, and has attempted to establish its own government there, which it calls the government of Tamil Eelam. "LTTE" redirects here For the Led Zeppelin bootleg see Listen to This Eddie. Tamil Eelam ( Tamil: தமிழ் ஈழம் tamiḻ īḻam) is the name given by certain Tamil groups in Sri Lanka to the state which they aspire

In the 1960s, the government of Tamil Nadu held a World Tamil Conference, which has continued to meet periodically since then. Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. In 1999, a World Tamil Confederation was established to protect and foster Tamil culture and further a sense of togetherness amongst Tamils in different countries. The Confederation has since adopted a Tamil flag and Tamil song^[95] to act as trans-national symbols for the Tamil people; the words on the flag quote the opening line of a poem by the classical poet Kanian Poongundranaar, and means "Everyone is our kin; Everyplace is our home".

See also

• Tamil language
• Tamil diaspora
• Ancient Tamil music
• Tamil cuisine
• Dance forms of Tamil Nadu
• Tamil Jains
• Dravidian people
• Ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka
• Hill Country Tamils
• Sri Lankan Tamils
• Self-respect movement
• Chronology of Tamil history
• List of people from Tamil Nadu
• Martial arts of Tamil nadu

Notes

References

Population data

All population data has been taken from Ethnologue, with the exception of the data for Sri Lanka, which was taken from the CIA World Factbook's Sri Lanka page. The World Factbook ( ISSN; also known as the CIA World Factbook) is an annual publication of the Central Intelligence Agency of the

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