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INTRODUCTION Tolkappian is the oldest book extant of a comprehensive nature in Tamil Literature. It is noteworthy that this grand work is a treatise on Grammar and Criticism. It presupposes a literary evolution of Tamil for ages before its birth. Although barring a few stanzas in Purananuru etc., we have at present got no complete work of Pre-Tolkappiam times, we have references in Tolkappiam itself to & vast literature of a rich variety which existed prior to it. There are allusions therein to literary, musical, mantric and yogic works and to Universal Phonetics. It is stated in the introductory stanza to the work that its author drew bis inspiration from the preexisting literature and a close study of the literary and colloquial aspects of the language as prevalent in the Tamil land bounded on the north by Venkadam and on the south by Kumari. The term Aindram ( 1) occurring in the introductory verse has given rise to a good deal of discussion, Some hold the viow that it is the name of a book on Sanskrit Grammar. It is simply referred to as a book with which the anthor was familiar and nothing is definitely stated as to its relation to Tolkappiam, itself. Another opinion is that it represents a Tamil work antecedent to Tolkappiam or one of the Saiva Upagamas. Some confuse it with the Indrakaliam' of the Jains. There is no internal reference to any of these works in Tolkappiam and no book of that name esists at present even in Sanskrit. Hence our researches in that direction are now next to impossible, Some are of opinion that it denotes the first Sanskrit Grammar which derived its name from the legend that Indra was the author of it. This much is probable that the great Sanskrit Grammar of Panini now extant did not exist at the time of Tolkappiam and was posterior to Aindram which is mentioned as one of its precursors. It may be that Saint Tolkappiar was conversant with the firsr Sanskrit Grammar at the time when he wrote his book. But the Tolkappiam could not have been based upon Aindram at all. It is quite probable. that the author referith the Indrene of the Sea Tamil work itself
