The conference of the learned and wise people is known as ‘sangam’ in Tamil.
According to Tamil legends there were three sangams called ‘mudhal sangam’, ‘idai sangam’, and kadai sangam.
The works of the first sangam is not available because the city where they held the conferences was submerged by flood waters or sea level rise.
The ‘kadai sangam’ produced a rich source of Tamil literature: ‘patthuppattu’, ‘etthutthogai’, and ‘pathinenkiizhkkanakku’.
In the sangam age the land was divided into five regions according to the landscape, season, and mood.
The people of these five regions were in general called malavars, kadambars, mallars, nagars, and thiraiyars according to their way of living.
People in the Kurinji land worshipped mother goddess, ‘Kottravai’ and a male deity called ‘Sevvael’ or ‘Karthikeyan’.
People of this region also practiced different professions Viz.
People in this region worshipped ‘Thirumaal’.
The economic activities of the people were gathering forest products, cultivating lands wherever available, and cattle rearing.
People known by their professions are kurumporai nadan-kizhaththis, thonral-manaivi, idaiyars, and aiyars.
The people lived in this region were generally called “Thiraiyans”.
People known by their professions were saerppans, pulampans, paravas, nulaiyars, and alavars.
People lived in this region are known as eyinars or eyitriyars.
Buddhists and Jains who came from North India were accepted by the local people.
Musicians and dancers entertained the king and the common people.
Most of Sangam Age Tamilagam was on the rain shadow region.
Probably Nature expected people to be interdependent.
Maybe these people did not find enough opportunities in other lands.
The word ‘sangam’ is not a Tamil word.
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