“Tholkāppiyam” is an ancient (before 200 BCE) Tamil text and one of the earliest works of Tamil literature. It is primarily a treatise on grammar and poetics, detailing the rules of Tamil language, literature, and prosody. While “Tholkāppiyam” is not focused on cosmology or the origin of the Earth, it does provide insights into the cultural and philosophical contexts of ancient Tamil society.
நிலம் (land), தீ (fire), நீர் (water), வளி (air), விசும்போடு (space) ஐந்தும் கலந்த (physical change) மயக்கம் (chemical change) உலகம் (world) ஆதலின் —தொல். 1589: 1-2
This translates as, “Land, fire, water, air, and space elements underwent physical and chemical change, and the resulting cohesion is this world.”
This statement encapsulates the ancient Tamil philosophical perspective that the world is the result of the interactions and transformations of basic elements. It implies the following:
- The thinker has attempted to understand the natural world through observation, reasoning, and the identification of fundamental principles.
- The world is composed of fundamental elements.
- Change and transformation are inherent aspects of nature and existence.
- The statement underscores a holistic worldview where everything in existence is interconnected and part of a greater whole.
Thus Tholkāppiyam represents an early form of natural philosophy and this perspective contrasts with many ancient traditions that attribute creation to supernatural forces.
Tholkāppiyam’s perspective aligns closely with other ancient elemental theories, emphasizing a holistic and interconnected worldview, while differing significantly from modern scientific evolution which is grounded in empirical data and biological processes.