The verses are austere with no frills but in austerity each word contributes in evoking feelings, of pathos in death, of love, and assumes gravity when counseling kings. Red earth around the agricultural areas of Jaffna is "Chembadu". Incessant pouring monsoon rains induces an exquisite feeling. This savored in a mood of solitude; you just watch the rain dissolving the red earth and flowing in streamlets. Themes like these ( Chempulapeyarinar's below) and many others could be related in any era. Omens such as cawing of a crow , harbinger of the news of the arrival of much awaited guests (kakkai patiniyar's verse given here). Another omen of ghekko "telling" events ahead (depending on the direction it shouts from) are even today widely followed among the Tamils SathiMuththa pulavar's "narayf narayf .....nA[KAr PAr kA[ Krlf plfli paDparftftiRkfKmf... describes an anxious wife trying to fortell what is happening to her husband far away. In another poem: a young wife, cooking amidst smoke filled kitchen, her slender fingers pureeing "solid curd" wiping her hands in the dress. Domestic scenes ( Mqityirf piAcnft kanftqf emlfvirlf ) as seen through the eyes of the girl's best friend after her marriage, told with a poetic tenderness.

The underlying thread of social views of that era found in these poems surprisingly still runs its own program in us, along with other threads of modern believes. We are the puppetts at the end of all this multi threaded programs. The idea such as that 'a few good men are the kingpin of orderly social behavior' is more than a practical wisdom. That by interaction good man becomes a role model, an anchor and a mediator, is obvious. But this idea goes further than the obvious. It has its roots in mysticism. A Saint need not interact, his just being there is enough. His influence will permeate and enrich the society. This is the belief. Is there is any relevance of Sangam poetry  to modern living ? On this I have already said above what appears to me.

This World Lives Because....