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VOL. 11, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Messenger (Thūthu) in Akathinai Literature
Authors
Dr. Kamaraj S
Abstract
Akathinai literature, a core component of
Sangam Tamil tradition, focuses on the inner world of love and human emotions.
One of its most distinctive features is the concept of Thūthu (messenger),
through which emotions, intentions, and conflicts between lovers are
communicated. Unlike conventional messengers, Akathinai poetry employs a wide
range of symbolic agents such as friends (thozhi), bards (pāṇan), dancers (viraḷi),
birds, animals, plants, and natural elements like wind, clouds, moon, sea, and
evening time. These messengers function not merely as carriers of information
but as expressive devices reflecting psychological states such as longing,
sorrow, hope, and impatience. The friend occupies a central role as a mediator,
advisor, and emotional anchor, while nature-based messengers reveal the deep
ecological consciousness of Sangam society and its intimate bond with the
natural world. Through the use of Thūthu, Akathinai literature transforms
private emotions into poetic expression, highlighting the emotional depth,
symbolic richness, and refined aesthetic sensibility of ancient Tamil culture.
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Pages:14-17
How to cite this article:
Dr. Kamaraj S "Messenger (Thūthu) in Akathinai Literature". International Journal of Multidisciplinary Education and Research, Vol 11, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 14-17
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