Revisiting the Kar Narpattu and the Kalavazhi Narpattu: A Study of Indigenous Cultural Narratives in Tamil Didactic Literature

Abstract

The Pathinenkilkanakku, a storehouse of classical Tamil poetry, retains indigenous narrative and moral tradition. It contains eighteen poetic works including the Kar Narpattu and the Kalavazhi Narpattu offering cultural, moral, and social insights. These works, as part of ‘Na Narpattu’, are rich in representing the Tamil poetic tradition and socio-cultural realities of ancient Tamil Nadu. This research workanalyses these works from a critical perspective as indigenous cultural narrative poetry on the basis of their thematic issues, stylistic traits, and ethical discourses. Comparatively analysing these works, this investigation looks at their depiction of valour, war, culture and ethical behaviour highlighted in pre-modern Tamil society. The conclusions define the secular but culturally situated characteristic of such works, explaining how they are free from religious control without sacrificing a robust ethical basis. Situating them in Tamil didactic literary tradition, the research recognises their ongoing relevance to ethical philosophy and cultural debate. Through the use of literary analysis and historical knowledge, the research deepens the understanding of Tamil narrative traditions. Further, it stresses on the importance of the conservation and research of such texts as Tamil literary texts so that they can be enjoyed in modern literary and scholarly environments.