Timeless Gems of Wisdom from Ancient Tamil Literature

Erotic poems from the cankam collections, the most ancient Tamil poetry
From the tirukkuraL, the ancient Tamil book of wisdom
From the tirumantiram — selection of verses with Tantric meaning
Bharatiyar, the great Tamil poet

Key to Tamil transliteration and Tamil pronunciation (PLEASE READ THIS FIRST)


ônkal iTaivant uyarntôr tolaviLanki ênkoli ñâlat tiruLakarrum,
ânkavarruL minnêr taniyâli venkatiron rânaiyatu tannêr ilâta tamil.
There are two things born from mountains, shining so brilliantly that the great bow down, driving darkness from earth circled by roaring waters. One is the flaming sun, single wheel bright as lightning, the other is Tamil that has no like.
—from the taNTiyalankârum