3 Ettutokai is the name given to eight big collections. They are :- 1. Narriņai 2. Kuruntokai 3. Ainkurunūru 4. Kalittokai 5. Akanānuru 6. Purananúru 7. Padirrupattu 8. Paripadal Opinion is not unanimous in assigning all the eighteen smaller works (going by the name of Padinenkilkanakku) to the same age as the preceding two collections. Works such as Nāladiyar are found on closer scrutiny to belong to a later age than the second century A.D. Thirukkural, however, is one of the works comprised in Padinenkil- kaņakku which can be placed in a century not later than the second century A.D. Pattupattu or Ten Idylls is a collection of 10 long poems of agaval metre. The work consists of the follow- ing: - 1. Thirumurukārrupadai 6. Mullaipatiu 2. Cirupāņārrupadai 7. Kurinjipattu 3. Perumpănrrpadai 8. Maduraikānji 4. Porunārarrupadai 9. Pattinapālai 5. Küttar Arrupadai or 10. Neçtunalvāçlai Malaipadukadám These major poems fall mainly into two categories, namely, those that describe the prowess and valour and generosity of kings and chieftains of those times, and those that describe the domestic life of the people of the time Of course, there are also poems among these which are praises of the Almighty. However, in the religious poetry like Thirumurukārrupadai and Paripädal, descriptions of the landscape give a peculiar colour and splendour to the whole work. Puranānūru and Padirrupattu give an account of the ways in which one king fought with another and the ways in which chieftains and warriors took part in the wars of the times and the ways in which messengers 8
