Rashmun wrote:
The dating of the earliest tamil grammatical work Tolkappiam has been debated much and it is still imprecise and uncertain and has seen wide disagreements amongst scholars in the field. It has been dated variously between 8000 BCE and 10th CE...As the Tolkappiyam is often claimed as the earliest extant work of Tamil literature, the dating of Tolkappiam is inherently tied to the dates ascribed to the birth and development of Tamil literature as a whole.

http://controversialhistory.blogspot.com/2007/05/myth-of-antiquity-of-tamil-language.html#.Tzv-I2A6Jz8

Maria S wrote:Ayyo Rashmun!

Why this kola veri to make ancient tamil literature/epics controversial!

I can speak on behalf of ALL Tamilians/Tamils and say we will be glad to embrace you as - a new? future? Special Son-in-Law or if you wish Honorary. Son of TamilNadu!

Seriously, speaking for myself..I did not know any Sanskrit (obviously because I am a Christian, Tamilian who was born in the 20th Century..and there was no need to learn Sanskrit)..I was surrounded by plenty of Hindu Tamilians..some who were more familiar with Sanskrit- while there were plenty of Hindus who did not know Sanskrit..but, from what I could see- were very religious am sure worshipped with great reverence.

I did not have any reason to learn Hebrew, Latin, or Aramaic either..to be a Christian..by the time I came along (!)..the Bibles and Christian music - hymns were all in Tamil and English..so religion/religious traditions were evolving/evolved- and translations were/are in abundance..Now I can text or tweet..the Holy scriptures in cute text messages - when I want too..not to mention worship in virtual Churches!

I will certainly acknowledge that there are Hindu Roots in our "common ancestry"- to many of our native traditions..we we also have many "Non-Religious" cultural roots..and even as a believer..think "evolution" is part of how we embrace our religions (the debate about Contraception and Christianity- is one example of it).

*I can certainly bond with Indians-as an Indian..or with Tamilians- as a Tamilian..find much in common we share/can share.

Kayalvizhi wrote:Rashmun

You have an anti-Tamil agenda although harmless. I hope you do not run into some of my college mates in one of your trips to my home country.

Kayalvizhi wrote:>> do tamil christians have their own tamil dialect like tamil brahmins, chettiars, gounders, etc. do? can you tell whether a tamil word is of sanskritic origin?



Maria says "sokothara sakothar". Her neighbors say "annan akka". MGR would say "en raththaththin raththame". I say it "en kuruthiyin kuruthiye". Most are Tamil words. We are Tamils. You are an anti-Tamil trouble maker here although harmless.

Kayalvizhi wrote:The great Hindu Saivaite prioest Marai Malai Adigal was a strong proponent of pure Tamil and this Hindu priest is considered the father of Pure Tamil movement by some.

I was a good friend of late Kundra Kudi Adigal (another Hindu priest) who also spoke in pure Tamil.



You can read about Maraimalai at

http://www.tamiltribune.com/07/0801.html

Dr. Thanjai Nalankilli writes "

There is a false impression among some Tamil people that Tamil nationalism is opposed to Hinduism. This is far from the truth. Hinduism and Tamil nationalism are not opposing or contradictory philosophies. A Tamil nationalist can be a pious Hindu (or a Muslim or a Christian or a Buddhist or an atheist or of whatever religious belief)."

Kayalvizhi wrote:my funeral rite will be in tamil if i am buried in my homeland. if i die as an exile in my adopted country, it would be in English because most of my friend here do not know Tamil

Kayalvizhi wrote:The great Hindu Saivaite prioest Marai Malai Adigal was a strong proponent of pure Tamil and this Hindu priest is considered the father of Pure Tamil movement by some.

I was a good friend of late Kundra Kudi Adigal (another Hindu priest) who also spoke in pure Tamil.



You can read about Maraimalai at

http://www.tamiltribune.com/07/0801.html

Kayalvizhi wrote:>> The reason he was an ass is that he started indulging in brahmin bashing.

When did he do that? I have nothing against Brahmins or Kounders or Nadars or Mudaliars or who ever. I do not divide Tamils by caste or religion.