Ilakkanavilakkam, which is popularly known as Tholkappiyam in parvo ' is a standard treatise of Tamil Grammar, containing all the three divisions of Tamil Grammar in three parts. The first part of the work, dealing with letters, called Ezhuthadhikaram, viz., Orthography, was edited and published by this Library recently with the original text, Sutra and Commentary. As there are several places in the original which present considerable difficulty to the modern students, a clear exposition of the text and commentary with relevant authorities are given under the heading Vilakkam. Subsequently the opposite views strongly expressed in llakkana Vilakka Sooravali by Sivagnana Swamigal are given with the note of the Editor on the merits of the criticism. Finally, parallel passages from the other original texts are also given so that the readers may have ready access to all original authorities. With all these explanatory notes and aids we hope that the edition would have given full satisfaction to the readers and won the appreciation of scholars.
We are extremely happy to place before the public the Second part of the work, dealing with words, called Solladhikaram within so short a period as two months after the publication of the first part. The third part, Poruladhikaram, dealing with subject matter, rhetoric, prosody, conventions etc., will follow soon. The author of this work, Vaithianatha Desigar, is a most respected person among the distinguished grammarians of the Seventeenth Century, coming from a family of Tamil scholars attached to the Dharmapuram Monastery; he was for sometime preceptor to the sons of one of the governors of Madura Naiks in the southern districts. As grammarian, poet, scholar and teacher, he has contributed substantially to the development of sound scholarship in his period, the continued effect of which is discernible even to-day. When presenting a treatise on Grammar, we think it necessary to say a few words about Grammar in General and its usefulness in directing the mental activities on right lines to achievo the ideal of human nature and to develop it harmoniously to the full perfection which it is capable of. But at the present context, a detailed introduction giving all particulars about our language, the grammatical studies in general and in particular and other linguistic information, seems essential to bring our language and grammatical studies in the proper perspective in the international academic studies. We reserve this introduction to the last volume of this work. We thank the learned editor Thiru. Panditha Vidvan T.V. Gopala Iyer, M. A , B. 0 L., for bringing out a self-contained volume giving all grammatical authorities and parallel citations which a student would like to know, exactly on the model of the first part. We are profoundly indebted to Thiru. N. Mahalingam, B. SC , M. I. E., leading industrialist and well-known savant of Tamil for his gift to this Library of a handwritten copy of Ilakkanavilakkam, which along with a very old printed edition, long since out of print, has been the main basis of this publication. We are thankful to our learned Librarian Professor V. Gopala Iyengar, M. A., for his general supervision of the editorial and printing work and to Messrs. Vetrivel Press for their neat execution of the printing. We wish to record our gratitude to the Government of Tamil Nadu for their annual publication grant which has made this publication possible.
For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist