An Introduction
To The Book
‘SCIENCE DURING
THE SANGAM AGE’
‘ANDRE SONNA
ARIVIYAL-SANGAKAALAM’
By Ilakkuvanar
Thiruvalluvan
8/8
In the chapters 41 and 42 the author has made mention of the
different types ordinary houses also.
There were several types of dwelling
places like Veedu(well built abode), Kuṭaṅkar (Cottage), akam (House), illam (Bungalow), kuṭicai
(Hut), kuṭiñai, Kuṭil (well built cottage), maṉai (House), maṭam (Hermitage), paḷḷi
(school, choultry), uṟaiyuḷ (Quarters), kuṭilam (Curved House), kūṭu
(Round shaped house), koṭṭakai (A thatched roof resting on rectangular sides
erected by bamboo sticks), toḻuvam (Cow shed)), koṭṭil (Cattle stall, small
armoury), āyutaccālai (armoury), cālai (an edifice with many halls), vaḷavu (An enclosure with many small houses
dwelt by close relatives), Vaḷaivu (houses in an enclosure), maṭa vaḷākam (Shelter for saints) māḷikai (Mansion), māṭi vīṭu
(Terraced house), ōṭṭu vīṭu (tiled house) and araṇmaṉai (Royal Palace).
There were houses sarounded by compuound walls
called as cuvar, matil, uvaḷakam.
There were Forts with adamantine walls .
They were known as ārai. eyil (there were places to deposit war
equipments), iñci, nocci, puricai.
In these days we had no air-conditioned
houses. But our wise ancestors built
such houses. They were called செழுந்தண் மனை - CEḺUNTAṆ MAṈAI (ice cool house).
it is mentioned in the anthology titled
NAṞṞIṆAI(Poem 271-3).
There were lofty mansions like those
carved out of a rock(AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 93.12).
The same point is stressed in other
poems (AKANĀṈŪṞU Poems 17.1, 22.9, 22.16 &35.2)
There were huge houses in Uṟantai city
(AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 385.4-5).
The tuck of the drum was heard from the
top of huge mansions (Puṟanāṉūṟu, Poem 68.17)
There were big mansions whence came
fragrant fume of burning sandal wood. (PUṞANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 281.6)
In ancient days there were large
mansions with a barn full of paddy (PUṞANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 287.9)
There
were mansions proud of wealth (Kalittokai, Poem 57.6) (Naṟṟiṇai 258.4)
Naṟṟiṇai
speaks of houses full of plenty.
Akanāṉūṟu
gives a picture of granaries full of grains. (AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 49.14)
There
were lofty sky scrapers fitted with bright light that shone till day break.
(AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 87.13)
There
were huge aburn houses in Uṟantai city (AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 385.4-5)
There
were big houses in the front of which there were sprawling open space and
verdant gardens. On the top most floors there were roof gardens.
The
houses were roomy with massive doors.
The
houses were airy as they had windows and ventilators that let into the houses balmy breeze.
Tamil
literature adduces proof to the fact that our ancestors had enginering skills
to construct houses, 2000 years back.
There were large fragrance houses (Puṟanāṉūṟu,
Poem 337.11),splendid fine rich huge houses (Nattrinai 339.6), very large house
where sand filled in front of the house (Nattrinai, Poem 361.6), sky touching
huge house where night lights shine until dawn (AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 87.13), large
broad house with high entrance (AKANĀṈŪṞU, Poem 103.8), houses with abundant
rice and great wealth and the houses were very broad and so they had strong
double door.
All the houses had windows and
ventilators.
The construction engineering works
before 2000 years, was explained in the chapters 54 - 56
Rain guages were fitted in the high
houses. They are explained in the chapter 57.
Two thousands year before thamizh people
used ice-pots and hot-pots. It was explained in the chapter 58.
These are all
not imaginery. Science books in thamizhs are not available. But in the
literature the poets spread the science news. Through this we can understand
the knowledge behind it.
-
Prof. G.MARIA JOSEPH XAVIOR
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