Agattiyam

Agattiyam(Tamil: அகத்தியம்), according to mentions in Sangam Literature, was the first known book on Tamil grammar. This was supposedly written by the sage Agathiyar, and believed to be lost beyond redemption. No authentic text from this work has been found so far and hence its existence is a matter of conjecture.

The sage Agathiyar, according to Hindu legends, brought the Tamil language and its syntax to the Tamil people from the god Siva.

Tolkappiyar (epithet), the author of Tolkappiyam, which is believed to be the oldest extant Tamil grammar, is held to be a disciple of Agathiyar.

Mentions in Sangam Legends

According to the Sangam Legends, Agastya was a participant in the first Tamil Sangam. This session was held at Then Madurai (South Madurai) on the banks of the river vaigai under the patronage of a Pandya king called Ma Kirti. Agathiyar convened this session and wrote Agattiyam Agathiyar is said to have had twelve students. Chief among them was Tolkappiyar, a member of the second Sangam. Little is known of the First Sangam. None of the writings attributed to this Sangam are present in their entirety.

References

• Mudaliyar, Singaravelu A., Apithana Cintamani, An encyclopaedia of Tamil Literature, (1931) - Reprinted by Asian Educational Services, New Delhi (1983)
• http://www.tamilnation.org/literature/

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