Beerkam Boo in Sangam Literature

தமிழ் இலக்கியங்களில் பீர்க்கம் பூ

Abstract

Flowers are integral to the lifestyle of the Tamil people. The different regions in Tamil literature, such as Kurinji, Mullai, and Neythal, are named after flowers. Among the flowers that bloom on trees, shrubs, and creepers, the Peerkam flower is associated with creepers. It is scentless and blooms in yellow. This flower typically blossoms in the evening and grows by spreading over fences. It is also referred to as Peer and Peeram. Sangam poets have compared the yellow hue of the Peerkam flower to the pallor that spreads over the heroine’s body due to the sorrow of separation.