Abstract The Narriṇai, the foundational anthology of the classical Sangam corpus (Ettuttokai), serves as a vital literary repository documenting the cultural practices, social values, and lived experiences of the ancient Tamil country. This paper explores the sociological landscapes preserved in Narriṇai, focusing specifically on the structural dynamics of the early Tamil family unit. By analyzing the thematic representations of romantic love (Kadhāl), marital systems (Thirumanam), the value of progeny (Makkadpeṟu), and the institutionalized practice of concubinage (Parathaimai), this study illustrates the sophisticated socio-cultural matrices of the era. The paper concludes that while the family operated as the primary institutional vehicle for cultivating individual virtue, it concurrently maintained an asymmetric moral economy that demanded rigid domestic fidelity from women while accommodating structural liberties for men.
Keywords: Narriṇai, Sangam Society, Classical Tamil Literature, Domestic Structures, Gender Asymmetry, Aram
How to cite: V. Kavitha. “The Sociological Blueprint of Early Tamil Life: A Study of Domesticity and Gender in Narriṇai”. Perunthanmai Multidisciplinary Tamil Studies Book Series (PMTSB) : Ancient Tamil World, 1st ed., vol. 2, Poet Publication and Printers, 2026, pp. 20 -24, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24138067
