Tirikatukam

Tirikatukam, also known as Thirikatukam, is a Tamil ethical poetic work of didactic character and belongs to the Patinenkilkkanakku compilation series of Ethical Tamil Literature. Patinenkilkkanakku (Pathinenkilkanakku) is a compilation of eighteen poetic works in Tamil that were composed in the period after the Sangam age, between 100 CE and 500 CE. Tirikatukam was written in the post-Sangam age equivalent to between 100 CE - 500 CE. The literary work contains one hundred verses, each containing 4 lines in Venpa metre. It was composed by the eminent Tamil poet Nalla Thanaar (Nalattanar). The poetic work of Tamil literature is well known and much accepted for its composition and its clarity; effortless and easy readability and presentation. The literary work of Tirikatukam or Thirikatukam comprises of a number of didactic messages which were the outstanding characteristics of the era. The poems of Tirikatukam are exceptional in the execution of similes which help to teach the moral codes with the employment of basic occurrences from daily life.