The Doctrine of Charity in the Books of Aatruppatai

Abstract

In the Aatruppatai texts, under the title of Eegai (Charity), it is examined how it has been developed from the position of the character to duty, with the change of meaning over time. It has been highlighted that hospitality is the foundation of Tamil culture. Out of the patthuppaattu, the information about the charity is discussed through the five Aatruppatai books: Thirumurukaatrupadai, Porunaratrupadai, Sirupanatrupadai, Perumbaanatrupadai, and Kootharaatrupadai, which is also known as Malaipadukadam, whereby poverty, on one hand, and prosperity, on the other, the unequal compromise that exists in society between the giver and the receiver, has been examined. It has been pointed out that the gift to the Panars differs from the gift given to the poets. It is summed up that the emperors, chieftains, and chieftains gifted them rich dresses, ornaments, their ruled kingdoms, towns, mountains, lotus made of gold, chariots, horses, elephants, and oxen, and food items to the people who came to them, and the ordinary people supplied food items and toddy in their possession in return. The Tamils who excelled in charity have been explained in detail.