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Agattiyam, according to mentions in Sangam Literature, was the first known book on Tamil grammar. This was supposedly written by the sage Agastya. No authentic text from this work has been found so far and hence its existence is a matter of conjecture.

The sage Agastya, according to Hindu legends, brought the Tamil language and its syntax to the Dravidian Tamil people from the god Siva.

Tolkappiyar, the author of Tolkappiyam, the oldest surviving book on Tamil grammar, is believed to be a disciple of Agastya.

Mentions in Sangam Legends

According to the Sangam Legends, Agastya was a participant in the first Tamil Sangam. This session was held at "Then Madurai" (South Madurai) on the banks of the river Kanni under the patronage of a Pandya king called Ma Kirti. Sage Agastya convened this session and wrote Agattiyam Sage Agastya is said to have had twelve students. Chief among them was Tolkappiyar, a member of the second Sangam. Little is known of the First Sangam. None of the writings attributed to this Sangam are present in their entirety.

References

• Mudaliyar, Singaravelu A., Apithana Cintamani, An encyclopaedia of Tamil Literature, (1931) - Reprinted by Asian Educational Services, New Delhi (1983)
• http://www.tamilnation.org/literature/

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