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A Chronological Listing of Tamil Literature
Part I (...BC - 17th C. AD)

Tamil literature history spans over two thousand years. During this period great number of anthologies, epics and works according to every known form of Tamil literary genre have been written. While good number of them have been published as books, large number still remain unpublished at the palm leaf manuscript level.
In this and following webpages, an attempt is made to present a chronological listing of the tamil authors and their literary works. Though we have tried to collect here all significant/classical tamil works from authentic works on the History of Tamil Literture, the list is by no means comprehensive.
Any help towards completing/correcting this table will be highly appreciated.

The goal of this listing is to provide a quick reference list of "who wrote what and approximately when". Assignment of a "date" to a very ancient tamil literary work is by no means a trivial task even for Tamil scholars. Arguments about specific assignments are very common. So the dates given below must be taken purely as indicative!!!

In his book "The Smile of Murugan", Prof. Kamil Zvelebil has provided an authoritative listing of the most ancient Tamil texts - Sangam Period (a description widely accepted by Tamil Scholars). For an extract of this listing, click here.

SANGAM PERIOD

AuthorWork
... aga nAnURu
... ainguRu nURu
kaliththogai
kabilar kuRaNYippabAttu
... kuRundhogai
nakkirar thirumurugARRuppadai
perungunRup perungAsikkanAr malai padugadAm
mAnguti marudhanAr madhuraik kansi
muththAmak kaNNiyArporunNARARttup padai
kadiyalUr uruththiran kaNNanAr perumbANARRuppadai
nappUdhanAr mullaip pAttu
... puRanNAnURu
... padhiRRup paththu
... paribAdal
naththAdhanArsiRubANARRuppadai
tholkAppiyar tholkApiyam
anthology naRRinai
nakkIrar nedunalvAdai
kadiyalUr urttiran kaNNanar pattinappAlai

Works of 2nd C. AD

AuthorWork
ilangOvadigaLsilappadhigAram
thiruvaLLuvarthirukkuRaL

Works of 4th C. AD

AuthorWork
nallAdhanAr thirukkadugam
kUdhalUr kizhAr mudhumozhik kaaNYi

Works of 5th C. AD

AuthorWork
kabila thEvarinnA nARpadhu
pUdhaNY sEndhanAr iniyavai nARpadhu
poygaiyAr kalavazhi nARpadhu

Works of 6th C. AD

AuthorWork
kaNNan kUththanAr kAr nARpadhu
kAraikkAl ammaiyaaraRpudhath thiruvandhAdhi
peruvAyin muLLiyAr AsArak kOvai
kaNitha mEdhaviyAr ElAdhi
UmuvAdhiyAr aindhiNai ezhubadhu
mAran poraiyanAr aindhiNai aimbadhu
kaNNambUdhanAr thiNaimozhi ambadhu
kaNitha mEdhaviyAr thinaimAlai nURRaimbadhu
thirUmular thirumandhiram
kAraikkAl ammaiyAr Umuththa thiruppadhigam
? muththoLLAyiram
munRuRaiyaraiyanAr pazhamozhi nAnURu
pullaNG kAdanNArkainNnNilai
kAriyAsAr siRubansoomulam
? nAladiyAr
vizhambi nAkanArnaaNmaNikkadigai

Works of 7th C. AD

AuthorWork
? paandikkOvai
anthology thevAram
anthology nAlAyira divya prabhandam

Works of 8th C. AD

AuthorWork
konguvEzhir perungadhai
iraiyanAr iraiyanAr agapporuL

Works of 9th C. AD

AuthorWork
kambar irAmayaNam
avin^AyanAr avinNayam
mANikka vAsagar thirukkOvaiyAr
sEramAn perumAL nAyanAr thirukkayilAya NYAna ulA
? hamizh neRi viLakkam
perundhEvanArmAvindham
perundhEvanArpAradha veNbA
? vaLaiyaabadhi
aiyanNAriththanAr puRapporuL veNbA mAlai
thiruththakka thEvar sivaga sindhAmaNi
? nandikkalambaham
aRivANar pancha marapu

Works of 10th C. AD

AuthorWork
? pazhanikkOvai
? vAmana saridhai
amidhAbadhiyudhaivar amidhAbadhi
nambi andAr nambi athisaya piLLaiyAr pirabandhangaL
? kundalagEsi
? thiruppadhi kOvai
pingalar pingala nigandu
ubEndhiraach sAriyAr singEndhira mAlai
thOlAmozhith thEvarcULAmaNi

Works of 11th C. AD

AuthorWork
? kUdhalsangamaththup paraNi
? koppaththup paraNi
kallAdanAr kallAdam
ponnavan kaNa nUl
kavigumudha sandhira pAndiyan kulOththunga sOzhan saridhai
amidha sAgarar yApperungaLam
amidha sAgarar yApperungaLak kArigai
puttamiththiranAr viragOzhiyam

Works of 12th C. AD

AuthorWork
pArAsamAyagOlAri mAmuni aththAdhasa purANam
ambigAbadhi ambigAbadhi kOvai
? aruNgalachcheppu
ottakkUththararumbeyth thoLLaayiram
ottakkUththaruththara kaandam
ottakkUththarkulOththungan piLLaith thamizh
ottakkUththarthakkaiyaap paraNi
ottakkUththarmUvar ulA
avvaiyAr AththichchUdi
avvaiyAr mUdhurai
avvaiyAr konRaivEndhan
auvaiyAr nalvazhi
thiruvArangaattamuththanAr irAmanuja nURRandhAdhi
seyangondAr kalingaththup paraNi
parasamaya kOzhari mAmuni kaNNivana purANam
kuNaaththan sEy kaguththan kadhai
? vachchaattOLLAyiram
kuNavira pandidhar vasanNandhi mAlai
aruNAsalap perumAL emberumAnAr viNNAna sAram
nErgunRavanaar thiruppugalUr andhAdhi
thirukkadavUr uyyavandha thEvar thirukkaruRRup pAdiyAr
thirukkarugai perumAL kavirAyar thirukkarugai mANmiyam
thandiyAchchAriyAr thandi alangAram
aruNAsalapperumAL emberumAnAr naaNaathithsavithi
kambar sadagOparandhAdhi
kambar saraSvadhi andhAdhi
kandhiyAr sindhaamaNip paripAdal
sEkkizhAr periya purANam
parasamAya kOzhari mAmuni poombuliyUr nAdagam
aruLaaLap perumAL emberumAnAr piramEya sAram
guNavIra pandithar nIminAtham

Works of 13th C. AD

AuthorWork
naRkavirAsa nambi agapporuL viLakkam
Adhichcha thEvariraNiyAvadaip paraNi
arunNandhi sivamirubA irubadhu
vadaguttiruvidhip piLLai iru muppaththariyap pathi
maNavasaNG kAththanAr uNmai viLakkam
? kulOththunga sOzhan kOvai
poyyAamozhip pulavar thansaivaaNan kOvai
? yasOdhara kAvyam
saththimuRRap pulavar thanip pAdal
? sangara sOzhan ulA
meyk kandAr sivaNYAna pOdham
aruLnNandhi sivam sivaNYAna siththiyAr
pattinaththArparamArththa tharisanam
pugazheendhip pulavar naLavenbA
pavananthi munivar nannUl

Works of 14th C. AD

AuthorWork
kurumuni adigaL agaththiyar thEvaraththirattu
pattirAkkiriyAr arutpulambal
a. maNavALap perumAL nAyanAr AsArya hirudhayam
kOvai ambalanNAdhath thambirAn Uruba sooruba agaval
iraththiyAr EgAmbaranNAdhar ulA
kAchchiyappa civAchchAriyAr kandha purANam
? kappal kOvai
? kalaviyAr karigai
avvaiyAr nANAk kuRal
aruL namachchivAyarnANAmirdham
aruL namachchivAyarnANAbusaith thiruviruththam
veRRimAlaik kavirAyar thiruchchendhUr puraaNam
avoorudhi nAdharthirunNURRanNthaadhi
tholgaappith thEvarthiruppAdhirippuliyUr kalambagam
oppilimaaNap pulavar thanip pAdal
umApathi sivasAriyAr thiruvaruttayan
sambandha saraNAlayar thaththuva viLakkam
sigazhi thaththuvap piragAsar thaththuva piragAsam
civAlaya munivarthevaarath thirattu
avvaiyAr vinNAyagar agaval
? varaiyaRuththa pAttiyal
vAmana munivar mErumandhira purANam
meymmozhith thEvar meym mozhich saridhai
? meyNYNYaana viLakkam
navanItha nAtharnavanItha pAttiyal
? jaina rAmAyaNam
aruL namachchivA yar pOsana vidhi
naiyinNArAsiriyar piLLaiyandhAdhi
villibuththUrAr pAradham
nimbai sankaran^AraNanAr madhuraik kOvai
kOvai ambalan^Adha thambirAnpiran pirasAdha agaval
vizhAsOlaip piLLai sapthagaadhai
pOsarAsar saRagOdi mAlai
parama munivar sindhAndha sAram
umApadhic civarAyarsivappiragAsam
sivavAkkiyar siva vaakkiyam
? palsandha mAlai
? palsandha mAlai
vA. azakiya maNavaLap perumaL bhAgavath geethai venbA
pattinattAr pattinattar pAdal thirattu

Works of 15th C. AD

AuthorWork
agappEych siththar agappEychchiththar pAdalgaL
? aththiyUrk kOvai
adhimadhura kavirAyar adhimadhura kavirAyar pAdalgaL
? arichchandhira veNbaa
pradhivAdhi payangaram aNNan amalanNAdhibirAn
azhagunichchiththarazhagunichchiththar pAdalgaL
? Adhinaar piLLaith thamizh
maNavALa mAmuni Arththip pirabandham
idaik kaattuchchiththar idaikkAttuchchiththar pAdalgaL
? irAmayaNa veNbA
kAandhiyAr udhayaNa kumAra kAvyam
kONiriyappa nAvalarubadhEsa kAndam
NYAnavArOdhayAr ubadhEsa kaandam
maNavALa mAmuni ubadhEsa rathna mAlai
? umavAna sangiragam
kaNNudhaiya vaLLal ozhivilO thukkam
kadhuvElich siththar kadhuvElich siththar paadalgaL
kaariyaar kaNakkadhigaaram
aaRumuga nAvalarkandha puraaNa vasanam
aruNagiri n^Adhar kandhar alangAram
aruNagiri n^Adhar kandhar anubUdhi
kabilar kabilar agaval
kayaadharar kayAdhara nigandu
kudhambaich siththar kudhambaich siththar pAdalgaL
AdhivarAga kavi kAdhambari
udhisith thEvar thirukkalambagam
pagazhik kUththar thiruchchendhUr piLLaiththamizh
thirunNeRiviLakka muththaiyAr thirunNeRi viLakkam
aruNagiri nAdharthiruppugazh
aruNagiri nAdharthiruvaguppuzh
? sri purANam
paravAdhi kEsariyArsrichaila vaibavam
appiLLai vaLLith thirumaNam
kaaLi muththammai varuNagulaththin mAdhal
kaNNuththaiya vaLLal maayappiralAbam
thAttavarAya suvAmigaL perundhirattu
.... puRaththirattu
appuLLAr sampradhaaya sandhirigai
kALamEgap pulavar siththira madal
uththaranNallUr nangaipaaychchallur padhigam
thaththuvaraaya suvAmigaL pAdhudhuRai
? navalinga liilai

16th C. AD

AuthorWork
rEvAnath chiththarar agarAdhi nigandu
kuru namachchivAyaraNNaamalai veNbA
kamalai nANabiragAsar aththivAk kattaLai
vIran Asugavirayan arichchandhira sariththiram
vIra kavirAyar arichchandhira purANam
kugai namachchivAyar aruNagiri andhAdhi
maRaiNYAna sambandhar aruNAsala purANam
varaguNarAma pANdiyan ambigai maalai
lOgAnsiyAr irAmayaNa AsArya thivya saridhai
haridhAsar irusamaya viLakkam
varadhungarAma pANdiyan ilinga purANam
ulaganNAdhar ulaga nIdhi
maraiNYNYAna sambandhar Ongu kOyir purANam
kachchi nAnAppiragAsar kachchik kalambagam
maRaiNYNYAna sambandhar kamalAlayam
karuvoorur siththarkaruvUrur pusavidhi
adhivirarAma pANdiyan kAsik kAndam
kAgabusundharkuRaL
kamalai naNAnap piragAsar thirumazhabaadhi purANam
adhiviirarAma pANdiyan thirukkaruvai kaliththuRai andhAdhi
adhiviirarAma pANdiyan thirukkaruvai padhiRRup paththandhAdhi
adhiviirarAma pANdiyan thirukkaruvai veNbA andhAadhi
siRakkaviraasa piLLai thirukkaazhaththi nAdhar ulA
thirukkarugai perumAL kavirAyar thiruppadhi kOvai
niramba azhagiya thEsigar thirupparaNGkiri purANam
virai kavirAsa pandidhar seLandharya lagari
niramba azhagiya thEsigar vENuvaana purANam
adhiviirarAma pANdiyan veRRivERkai
koNgaanach settiyaar vAlaik kummi
varaguNarAma pandidhan vAyusaNYchigai purANam
thirukkurugai perumAL kavirAyar mAran alangAram
thirukkurugai perumAL kavirAyar mAran agapporuL
? pirabandha marabiyal
kamalai nANappiragAsar putpavadhi
kamalai nANap piragAsar pirasAdha mAlai
aiyan perumALpUruruva saridhai
varadhungarama pANdiyan piramEththara purANam
? kUdhal purANam
adhiviraraama pANdiyan kUrma purANam
varadhungaraam pANdiyan kokkOgam
sidhambaranNaadha kavi sangara vilaasam
maRaiNYAna sambandhar sadamaNik kOvai
maRaiNYAna sambandhar sangarppa nirAgaraNam
kamalai nANappiragAsar sadhi nUl
paransOdhi sidhambarap pAttiyal
thirumalainNAdhar sidhambarap purANam
? magaa purANam
tirukkurukai perumAL kavirAyar namperumAL mummaNik kOvai
nallapiLLai nallapiLLai bAratham
cEnAthirAyar nallai kuravanchi
cEnAthirAyar nallai venbA
thirukkarugai perumAL kavirAyar pAppAviNam
sevvaich cUduvarpAgavadha purANam
aruLALath thAsarpAgavadha purANam
maRaiNYAna sambandhar padhibasubAsap paNuval
rEvaNach siththar sivaNYaana thibam
maRaiNYaana sambandhar sivadharumOththaram
sivagiri yOgigaLsivanNeRip piragaasam
kuruNYaana sambandhar sivabOgasAram
kamalai naaNappiragAsar sivaangandhabOdhaga sAram
anNandhaariyappar sundharabAndiyam
maRaiNYAna sambandhar saiva samaya neRi
kamalai nANap piragAsar saiva pUsai agaval
kamalai nANap piragAsar saiva nUththaaNa agaval
? nAkakumAra kAviyam
veerai ambikApathi nellai varakkakOvai
athiveerarAma pANdiyan naidatham

Works of 17th C. AD

AuthorWork
piLLaip perumAL ayyangAr ashdap pirabandham
Andip pulavarAsiriya nigandu
cuvAmin^Adha thItchadhar ilakkaNak koththu
vaithyan^Adha thItchadhar ilakkaNa viLakkam
agOra munivarkaNNapparp purANam
agOra munivarkumbagONap purANam
kumaragurubarar pirabandhath thirattu
an^thakkavi virarAgava mudhaliyAr thirukkazhukkunRa purANam
an^thakkavi virarAgava mudhaliyAr thirukkazhukkunRa maalai
sarkkaraip pulavar thiruchchendhUr kOvai
ellappa nAvalar thiruchchengAttAn kudi purANam
llappa nAvalar thiruvaruNai andhaadhi
andasuvaamik kavirAyar thanichcheyyuch sindhaamaNi
zhagiya siRRambalak kavirAyar thazhasinga maalai
pattikkaacup pulavar thoNdaimaNdala catakam
gOra munivar vEdhaaraNya purANam
cuppiradhibak kavirAyar kuzhappa nAyagan viRalividhiththu
Egasandhak kiraagi vadamaalai veNbA
savvaadhup pulavar mugaiyAdhin Andavar piLLaiththamizh
rAsai vadhamalaiyappap piLLai makka purANam
cupramaNiya thitchadhar pirayOga vivEgam
thu. sivappiragAsa suvAmigaL sivappiragAsa suvAmigaL pAdalgaL
aanandha kaviraayarsandhiravANan kOvai
kadhimaimuttup pulavar samuththira vilAsam
umaRup pulavar siRaap purANam
eLLappa nAvalar sevvandhip purANam
Anandha kavirAyar sennaik kalambagam
Anandha kavirAyar sEyUr murugan piLLaiththamizh
suppiradhibak kavirAyar kUzhappanNAyakkan kAdhal
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