Abstract:
This research paper examines the socio-ethical conceptualization of Mānam (honor, dignity, and self respect) as depicted in Nāladiyār, a foundational post Sangam Tamil didactic text compiled within the Pathinenkilkanakku anthology. Parallel to Thiruvalluvar's Thirukkural in its tripartite philosophical division (Aram, Porul, and Inbam), Nāladiyār serves as a critical repository of Jain moral philosophy. By analyzing specific textual aphorisms alongside comparative insights from the Thirukkural (specifically the chapter Mānam), this study deciphers how post-Sangam literature treats honor not merely as a passive psychological state, but as an active moral imperative. The findings reveal that both texts posit Mānam as a virtue superior to physical survival, material wealth, and celestial rewards, establishing a profound cultural paradigm where physical death is preferred over ethical compromise or social ignominy.
Keywords: Nāladiyār, Thirukkural, Mānam, Tamil Didactic Literature, Pathinenkilkanakku, Ethics, Self Respect.
How to cite: K.Alagar. “The Concept of Mānam (Honor and Self-Respect) in Nāladiyār: A Comparative Study with Thirukkural”. Perunthanmai Multidisciplinary Tamil Studies Book Series (PMTSB) : Ancient Tamil World, 1st ed., vol. 2, Poet Publication and Printers, 2026, pp. 1–6, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24134575
