Folk Beliefs, Rituals, and Worship Practices in Ancient Tamil Literature

பழந்தமிழர் இலக்கியங்களில் காணப்படும் மக்கள் நம்பிக்கைகள், சடங்கு முறைகள் மற்றும் அவை சார்ந்த வழிபாட்டு முறைகள்

Abstract

Ancient Tamil texts record various ritualistic and ceremonial practices, including offerings, sacrifices, dances, and communal songs performed by caste or community groups. These texts also describe divination practices, such as predicting outcomes of events through the movement of kolam designs. Musical instruments accompanied dances, and songs were performed in praise of deities. The Sangam-period people performed these rituals with deep faith in the gods they worshipped. Dance and song played central roles in these ceremonial practices. The present study aims to document and bring to light these practices, which have been gradually fading from collective memory.