Teaching

MA – S (A): Maṇimēkalai: the Buddhist epic of Tamil Nadu [W: 2 LP] 

Tuesdays 16:15–17:45, AT1 R-113, from 14.10.2025    Eva Wilden

In continuation from last term, this course will be focused on the Maṇimēkalai, a long narrative poem and one of the few surviving pieces of Classical Tamil Buddhist literature. This term, the reading will begin from Canto 20.

SLV (A): Introduction to Classical Tamil [W: 3 LP]

Mondays 14:15–15:45 & Thursdays 16:15–17:45, AT1 R-113, from 13.10.2025    Eva Wilden

This introductory course will prepare students to read a wide range of genres in Classical Tamil, from the earliest anthologies of love poetry to the devotional songs of the Bhakti age.

S (A): Puṟanāṉūṟu (Tamil Textual Criticism) [IND 4] [W: 4 LP]

Tuesdays 14:15–15:45, AT1 R-113, from 14.10.2025   Eva Wilden

The Puṟanāṉūṟu is the oldest extant anthology of old Tamil heroic poetry, extolling the triumphant deeds of chiefs, kings, and famous donors. This seminar will examine the manuscript evidence alongside early modern print editions, to try and reconstruct the history of its textual transmission.

S (A): Readings in Tamil Traditional Śāstras (grammar, lexicography, metrics) [W]

Thursdays 14:15–15:45, AT1 R-113, from 16.10.2025    Jean-Luc Chevillard

In this course, students will be introduced to the Tolkāppiyam, the oldest extant long work of Tamil literature. Although often described as a grammatical treatise, it also contains a section on lexicography as well as an exposition of Classical Tamil metrics. This term continues with the iṭaiyiyal, the chapter on particles.

S: Cilappatikāram, canto XIII [W]

Mondays 12:00–13:30, AT1 R-113, from 13.10.2025    Neela Bhaskar

This term will focus on the thirteenth chapter. The story continues with Kōvalaṉ and Kaṇṇaki's travels through the Pāṇṭiya kingdom into its capital of Madurai. In this particular chapter, they discover the outskirts of the great city of Madurai and are compelled to break their journey there, for Kaṇṇaki is too tired to continue walking. They encounter Kaucikaṉ, a Brahmin messenger bearing news of Mātavi.