Building Design in Sangam Period

Tamils and Technology

Unit - II:

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY

BUILDING DESIGN IN SANGAM PERIOD

1. House in Sangam Period (or) Plot Design

The residences referred to in the Sangam literature as Manai were designed with the structures of Thinnai, Pillar, Base, Courtyard, Staircase, Window, Gate and Maadam. These designs were featured during the development of residential architecture. It can be assumed that these might have bean the residential structures of people of slightly higher economic status.

Plot Description

The word 'Manai' in Sangam literature means dwelling house, family, cowshed, wife, life, a 2400 sqft or pit. Like that, it is found with many objects. Generally, 'Manai' mostly means house in abundance.

The literature speaks about the majesty of manai and the merits of manai setup. Settlements arranged in a systematic and orderly structures are referred to as manai in Sangam literature. This is confirmed by the following verses.

Proofs:

i) Nattrinai 79:2

ii) Iyngurunooru 324:3

iii) Akananooru 384:13

iv) Nattrinai 40:1

2. Classification of Houses or Plots for snar

Two types of houses are generally mentioned in Sangam literature.

1. Sirtil

2. Peril

1. The Design of Sirtil

In the Tamil dictionary, the meaning of Sirtil is given as 'little house', 'small house', 'small mud house' built by girls for playing. The literature refers to houses with miniature designs as Sirtil.

Proof: Purananooru 56:1

Such houses have pillared structures. The verse makes it clear that they were built with curved legs as pillars.

Proof: Akananooru. 394:9-10

In front of the house, the structure of the house is clearly visible with a fence of slanting spikes with a pandal structure. In these verses, it is mentioned that 'Sevvaai Sirtil' is said to be small houses covered with red sand.

Kurambai (or) Roofed Houses

Kurambai means a small house. People of the Sangam period used different types of grass for the roof of kurumbai. The roofs were made of Therai grass, Tharuppai grass,Thinaithal, Oogam grass. Eenthilai, Varagu hay leaves.

Even today, tribals keep domestic animals like goats, cows and chickens in their houses.

2. The Design of Peril

The Sangam literature refers to houses that were designed on a large scale. A large number of houses were in a dilapidated condition with decaying elements of habitable houses and damages caused by termites. This can be known through the following lyrics.

Proof: Purananooru 261:1

Nedunagar (or) Brick Houses (or) Manor Houses

Sangam people built houses and manor houses using burnt bricks. From Perumpaanartuppadai, it is understood that there were walls around the houses.

Proof: (Perumpaanartuppadai 105)

For the buildings constructed in this way, mud, stone, metal, wood and vengathai were used for beautifying them.

3. Design and Use of Parts of the House

1. Munril

'Munril' means the front part of the house. While knowing the culture of old Tamilians, it seems that the use of munril was abundant.

Sangam literature speaks of Kurambai, Kudil, Plot, House, Palace. In these, munril was also a part. Landscape in front of the house today remains the part of the high standard of living.

It can be seen that the 'Munril' was also a part of the residence to be used by the people who lived according to the types of land. During the developing stage, this area is also called 'Muttram' which is present in the house.

Munril Found in Kurinji Land Residence

The Munril settings are seen as open spaces in the Kurinchi Landscaping design. In this structure, plants and vines grow and spread like a tent, making its place suitable for sleeping and taking rest. It can be understood from the following lyrics that these structures were located in the natural environment due to the presence of plants like Jack-fruit, Vengai and Jasmine in the front.

Proof: i) Purnanooru 320:1-2 ii) Nattrinai 77: 4-6 iii) Akananooru 78:7

2. Iraippai Structure

The descending portion of the corridor is called the Iraippai. This system has been indicated in the literature of the Sangam period as Irai, Iravanam. It can be seen that the appearance of Irappai is the same in the design of Kurambas. According to the land tenure, the roof structures of the built up land tenure, the roof structures of the built up roofs of Kurambai are visible suggesting that they have narrow irappai. This is mentioned in the following lines.

Proofs:  i) Nattrinai 207:2 ii) Purananooru 129:1

The multisectioned lofts have been the resting places for the pigeons. It is clear from the following Puranaanooru lines that fire-sticks were inserted into the bottom of the house when it was not in use.

Proof: Purananooru 315:4

In ancient times, the irappai was a place where some useful items were inserted. This is traditionally followed even today.

3. The Structure of Pial

The place that is set up like a platform in front of the house is called the pial. This structure is referred to by the words Thinnai, Thertri, Vedhigai and Peedigai. The pial is a structure in front of the house and so it can be considered as an extension of the courtyard. It is a system designed based on the different purposes such as sitting, sleeping, resting and playing. The following lines of Puranaanooru confirm this.

Proof: Purananooru 283:1-2

Reports of stone-paved thinnai structures and cultivation of plants are found in Sangam literary references.