தவரத தரமறகளல யபபமதகள: ஓர ஆழமன பனவல ஆயவ

In the history of Tamil literature, the Bhakti period is considered a golden age for both linguistic development and the evolution of prosodic structures. Specifically, the Devaram pathigams (hymns) that emerged in the 7th century provided a new dimension to Tamil poetry. This article extensively analyzes the various prosodic structures utilized in the Devaram. Through a textual study, it explains how complex poetic forms such as Idaimadakku (interstitial repetition), Egapatham, Ezhukutrirukkai (seven-tiered arrangement), Chakkaramatru, and Maalaimatru (palindromes) function in harmony with devotional sentiment. Furthermore, it highlights the close relationship between Isaitamil (musical Tamil) and prosody, illustrating how saints like Thirugnanasambandar masterfully employed intricate poetic techniques like Chithirakkavi (visual/pattern poetry). The structure of the Devaram hymns is subjected to critical scrutiny against the backdrop of grammatical treatises like Yapparungalakkarigai. This paper explains the link between ancient Tamil musical traditions and prosody, while also discussing the contributions of modern Devaram scholars.