Is the God-Praise Song in Sirupāṇāṟṟuppaṭai Actually Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai? — A Literary Inquiry

சிறுபாணாற்றுப்படையின் சாயலில் பாடப்பட்ட கடவுள் வாழ்த்துப்பாடலா திருமுருகாற்றுப்படை?

Abstract

The Āṟṟuppaṭai genre in classical Tamil Sangam literature is a poetic form designed to guide a bard or traveler toward a generous patron. Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai, attributed to Nakkirar, occupies a unique and debated position within the Pattuppāṭṭu anthology. This article examines whether Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai conforms to the grammatical norms of Āṟṟuppaṭai literature as defined by Tolkāppiyam, and explores its close stylistic resemblance to Sirupāṇāṟṟuppaṭai. The study investigates shared literary features, structural patterns, and the distinctive use of the phrase "Atā aṉṟu" found in both texts. It further analyzes the transformation of the Āṟṟuppaṭai tradition from secular to devotional purpose, as Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai redirects the traveler toward the divine rather than an earthly patron. The article also traces the manuscript and publication history of the text across the Panniru Tirumuṟai and Sangam anthologies. Scholarly opinions from Nacciṉārkkiṉiyar, Ma. Irācamāṇikkam, and others are critically assessed. The conclusion suggests that Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai likely originated as an invocatory praise poem for other Āṟṟuppaṭai works before being incorporated into the Pattuppāṭṭu collection.