புன்னை மரமும் வரலாற்று நிகழ்வுகளும்/Chronology and Punnai Tree (Calophyllum Inophyllum)

Abstract

The Punnai tree seems an identity for the Tamils who lived very close to them. Two thousand years ago, the Tamil people lived amidst the Punnai tree. This tree often grows in the river banks and coastal areas that have pure water reservoirs. Moreover, this variety emits the maximum amount of oxygen and spread a good fragrance from its flowers. The people of the Sangam age lived ecologically balanced amid such trees. They trusted them as deities and safeguarded them with ecological awareness. This chapter details the cultural traditions followed by classical Tamil People. It details the Punnai (Calophyllum Inophyllum) species geographically and from the quotations taken from the Sangam literary works. There is ample evidence in Tamil literature to prove the chronological events politically and spiritually. The people gave more importance to the trees. It clearly portrayed in the chapter. Today, we are talking about the ecological crisis out of deforestation but Tamil society from the classical to the present age has extended more importance to live under the connections of environment. Hence, this chapter brings out the relationship of Punnai and Tamil culture.