எட்டுத்தெகையில் அரசமைப்பு

Constitution in Ettuthogai

Abstract

During the Sangam period, just as there were various officials to implement the king’s orders, there were also ministers. Their primary duty was to advise the king on governance matters and provide guidance in situations of uncertainty. When the king deviated from righteous governance, it was the ministers’ responsibility to correct him. In the political structure, ministers held the highest authority next to the king. Court poets and scholars in the Sangam period played a crucial role in emphasizing ethical governance. Their praises and proverbial sayings served as moral guidelines for rulers to ensure good governance. In this way, the Sangam-era kings who ruled over Tamil lands, the citizens of that time, wise intellectuals, poets who documented historical events through their literary works, and influential figures in royal courts and warfare all contributed to shaping the political framework. The political principles that various individuals were expected to adhere to in governance have been highlighted in different places within Sangam literature through the works of poets. This research paper aims to analyze and explain the political structures reflected in the Ettuthokai literary collection, based on these insights.