(My sincere thanks to Evidence : "Tolkaapiyam", "Tolkappiyam Uraigal", Paavaanar's "The Primary Classical Language of the World")
My dear Tamil Loving people, I am writing this article in English because, the contents of this article must also reach the Non-Tamil Speaking people also. However I have also given the Tamil translations below for those whose mother tongue is Tamil, for better understanding.
“Tolkaappiyam” the only earliest known TAMIL literary (Grammar) work available at present, depicts not only about the intricacies of the TAMIL Language and its grammar, but also the geographical features of ancient Tamils people. It is surprising to note that it is the only grammer work which explains in detail about the living conditions of people, based on the geographical/geological segregations. From the Tolkaapiyam, we have come to know that the localities, living conditions, life-styles, eating habits, cults, entertainments, fauna/flora etc., of Tamil people have been divided and fit into five separate habitations, based on their geological conditions and uniqueness. The names of the segregations are given below:
1) Hilly region (Kurinji Nilam) - குறுஞ்சி நிலம்
2) Pastoral Region (Mullai Nilam) - முல்லை நிலம்
3) Desert Region (Paalai Nilam) - பாலை நிலம்
4) Agricultural Region (Maruda Nilam) - மருத நிலம்
5) Littoral Region (Neidal Nilam) - நெய்தல் நிலம்
Now we will see the something about the above mentioned geological segregations one by one in detail. In today’s point of view/perception, the names like kudi, palli, paadi, kurichi, Oor, are mere names only. Even a Oor may be a village and a palli may be a big settlement like town. As such it is kindly requested to peruse those terms in light of the the period before 2000 years.
1) Hilly Region (Kuriji Nilam-குறிஞ்சி நிலம்):
a)Human Habitation (வாழுமிடம்): Hamlet (Sirukudi – சிறுகுடி) and Hill side Village (Kuruchi –குறிச்சி) (eg for names - sithankudi,kallakkuruchi – சித்தங்குடி, கள்ளக்குறிச்சி)
b)Inhabitants (வாழ்பவர்கள்): Sooth-sayers (Kuravar-குறவர்), Junglemen (kaanavar-கானவர்), hill-men (kundravar-குன்றவர்), hill-slope dweller (Iravular-இறவுளர்)
c)Occupation (தொழில்): Hunting, cultivations of Mountain millets, gathering of fruits/honey, digging of edible roots.
d)Main Food stuff (உணவுப்பழக்கம்): Mountain paddy (கார் அரிசி), Mountain Millets (வரகு/தினை), edible roots/fruits, honey, bamboo seeds (மூங்கில் அரிசி).
e) Cult (வழிபாடு): Murugan (seyon-சேயோன் (அ) முருகன்) worship.
f) Water sources (நீர்த்துறைகள்): Mountain pools and water-falls. (மலைச்சுனை அருவி)
g) Percussion Instruments (முழவுக்கருவிகள்): Drums played during Muruga worship and kuravai (குரவை) dance.
h) Melody type (இசை வகை): Kurinji yazh (குறிஞ்சி யாழ்).
i) Fauna (விலங்குகள்): Elephant, tiger, bear, hog, boar, monkey, stag, deer, mountain sheep, etc.
j) Birds (பறவைகள்): peafowls, parrots, myna, kaadai, kavudari, pigeon etc.
k) Flora (மரங்களும் செடிகளும்): Strobilanthes Kunthianus, Gloriasa superb, Blue nelumbo, East Indian kino, Sandal-wood, Teak-wood etc.
2) Pastoral Region (Mullai Nilam-முல்லை நிலம்):
a)Human Habitation (வாழுமிடம்): Group of low-rooted dwellings (Paadi –பாடி ) and group of closely-constructed huts (cheri –சேரி)and a group of shake-downs (Palli-பள்ளி) (eg for names – kurinjipaadi,Puducherry, kaattupalli –குறிஞ்சிப்பாடி, புதுச்சேரி, காட்டுப்பள்ளி)
b)Inhabitants (வாழ்பவர்கள்): Cowherds (Aayar-ஆயர், idayar-இடையர், poduvar-பொடுவர்).
c)Occupation (தொழில்): Cattle breeding and cultivation of Millets.
d)Main Food stuff(உணவுப் பழக்கம்): Common Millet (Kambu-கம்பு), Little Millets (கேழ்வரகு), Pigeon Pea (பட்டாணி), Field bean (payaru-பயறு).
e)Cult (வழிபாடு): Thirumaal (Maayon-மாயோன் (அ) திருமால்) worship.
f) Water sources (நீர்த் துறைகள்): Jungle streams and water ravines (காட்டாறுகள், நீரோடைகள்)
g) Percussion Instruments (முழவுக் கருவிகள்): Drums played tauronachy (காட்டுக் கூத்து).
h) Melody type (இசை வகை): Mullai Yazh (முல்லை யாழ்).
i) Fauna (விலங்குகள்): Fallow deer, spotted deer, hare etc.
j) Birds (பறவைகள்): Jungle fowls, partridge pigeons, myna, quails etc.
k) Flora (மரங்களும் செடிகளும்): Arabian Jasmine(முல்லை), Bedaly emetic-nut(ஒரு வகைப் பாக்கு), golden jasmine(வனமல்லி), Malabar Glory Lily(பெரிய அல்லி), Indian Laburnum, Wild lime (காட்டெலுமிச்சை) etc.
3) Desert Region (Paalai Nilam-பாலை நிலம்):