Thus culture is basically mental and spiritual. Culture is complementary to civilisation. All civilised people need not be equally cultured. Cultured people are always civilised. Yet all educated people need not be cultured.

Each and every race has its own individual behaviour and customs. These can be revealed from their activities, games, recreation, social and political actions. In the following pages, Tamil Civilisation and Culture in its day to day life is examined.

It is now universally acknowledged that Tamil Culture has a long antiquity. Many of the ancient Tamil customs are still in practice. Some of them have undergone changes. A few have become extinct. Most of the customs can be traced from literatures, inscriptions, from the folklore and so on. For convenience the daily life can be divided in to the beginning of the day, bahing, dressing food etc.

At times colours are added to kolam powder mix. Occasionally red coloured water formed part of these decorations. Bharathiar, the revolutionary patriot poet of Tamilaham whose writings and thoughts inaugurated Renaissance Movement in Tamil Society and Tamil Language and Literature, hailed these daily morning routine of the women at Home in the celebrated poem 'Kudumba Vilakku,' Thus Tamils start their daily life with external cleanliness processes.

2) BATHING:

BATHING: We find that in olden days people took bath in rivers, mountain pools, waterfalls and the seas. This habit is in vogue even to day. The VAIGAI songs of PARIPADAL, (6,7,8,12, 21,22) and many other SANGAM poems like KURUNTHOKAI, (294,) throws light on the love for bathing in different water sources is described. Silappadhigaram refers to the practice of mixing bath waters with fragrant and healthy perfumes. Madhavi, one of the leading female characters in the later classic, has been described of taking bath in water mixed with ten kinds of astringents, five spices and thirty-two herbs. (Sila: 6:76-18.) Pulanadal or river bath is described as a significant act in all Tamil Classics. The Tamil proverb " Even if it be the humble gruel to consume, have it after a bath." Summarise the significance attached to the daily bathing.

3) USE OF TURMERIC:

Turmeric use by women in Tamilaham is almost a daily habit for women, in particular the married women which continues to this day. KURUNTHOKAI (113) refers to women cleansing their hair with the river sand. The practice of regular oil bath, men taking on Wednesdays and Saturdays and women folk on Tuesdays and Fridays has been in vogue In Tamilaham from ancient period. Its origins are unknown. Yet its significance can be understood by the advice of AVVAIYAR'S statement that one should is regular in Saturday's oil baths. (Athi-16.)  

 4) MODE OF DRESSING:

Dress forms an important part of study in understanding the quality of life and civilisation of a people. It depends on people's mental and physical requirements, age-old customs, and climatic conditions of a country. Dresses vary as also the methods of wearing and peoples aesthetic tastes. In Tamilaham SARIS for women, and DHOTIS for men, has been the custom for centuries.

  PURANANUIR describes two parts of the dress namely the upper garment and the lower garment. ( 189.) Sangam period had its speciality in the TALAIYURAI,( Made up of leaves and flowers,) which was very popular among the ladies.    (Akananuru:201; Narrinai:8; Kurunthokai: 295.)

Pattinapal: 103-115; and Silappadikaram: 9.4; speak about the practice of the ladies changing their dress in the evenings. This practice continues to this day.  

5) WEARING NEW CLOTHS:

Wearing new dresses during festivals and other important days like the birth days etc, is an important practice in the social and cultural lives of the Tamils. Usually Wednesdays and Thursdays are regarded auspicious for wearing new dresses. In those days applying the incense of the eagle wood  to the new cloths, was an important practice in those days. Madurai kanchi (654) Silappadikaram (14: 106-107) and other classical texts refer to this habit. Perunkadai observes that the perfume applied to a new cloth had its effect often for the duration of one year. To day many sweet smelling perfumes have come to stay.

6) USE OF SILK CLOTHS.

Wearing Silk dress known as PATTU for various auspicious occasions, functions and festivities, has always been an important feature tradition and culture, among the Tamil-speaking people.

(Ahananour: 36; Naladiyar: 264; Silappadhikaram: 14:65; Kambaramayanam: 10: 455; Periyapuranam: 5: 16.) The Silk Saris and Silk dresses of Tamilham enjoy a world-wide reputation right from the Sangam Age.  

7) WIDOW'S DRESS:

 It has been the practice to avoid the white garments by the young maiden and by the married women as it is considered the widow's dress. Some widows wear red colour instead of the white. Due tot he spirit of enquiry that has characterised the era of Tamil Literary Renaissance in the forties and fifties has resulted in the decline of this practice even in rural areas.

8) Fascination for flowers.

Tamils have given much importance for bodily adornment right through the ages. Flowers and Jewels had the supremacy in all ages. There are references in the classical texts to this practice equally by men. All parts of the body such as hands. Body, head were decked with flowers and decorated with jewellery. Pattinapalai  (10:110), refers to the gender-wise  differences  even in the making of garlands for adornment. It is interesting to note  KAPILAR'S  reference  to 99

specific flowers used for adornment  used as garlands. There are references to garments made of leaves. (Kurinch pattu, 6-10) The Pookkoy patalam, (Fetching flowers,) in Kamba Ramayanam shows the prominence given to by the Tamils in their every day life. There is no function without flowers whether it is a happy or sad one. Women  adore their tresses with flowers even now. As flowers are considered as auspicious, they are used  while leaving home to visit Temples, of relatives or friends. Visiting women guests are offered flowers, in particular when they take leave from their hosts. Flowers are carried to places of worship, taken to the Homes of friends and relatives even during formal/casual visits.

9) ADORNMENT WITH JEWELS:                                                  

The ornaments used by men and women include Toti, Rings, Kalal, Chain etc. Women bedecked their bodies with a variety of ornaments. In his Silappadikaram, Ilango describes the jewellery adorned by Madhavi from head to foot. (Sila: 6: 8-105.) The following is the translation rendered by V.R.Rama Chandra Dikshitar, describing the variety of ornaments adorned by Madhavi.  

A pair of earrings, in which emeralds alternated with diamonds, glittered in her beautiful ears. Tress ornaments, (for Madhavi's soft and dark tresses) such as Daiva Vutti, Sri Devi, Valampurri, Talappalai-made of conch, Toyakam and Pullakam formed part of her elaborate bodily adornment enhancing her natural beauty several times. One can observe to this day among the Tamils the custom adorning with ornaments to almost all parts of the body such as head, neck, ears, nose, hands, fingers, arms, wrists, legs, ankles, waist etc. Married women wear rings on their toes (Minchi,). It is a custom that married women would not remove the 'Mangala-Sutra,' or the sacred thread, (Thali,) which remains as a badge of honour and respect in Social Circles. It is equivalent to the wedding ring among the Christians. The widows are deprived of this badge of honour(Thali,) and the toe ring, (Minchi,) The Tamils don't like to have their hands and neck bare. Even though they may not be rich enough to buy ornaments, made of any other materials.

10) COLLYRIUM:

The Tamil women have also other ways of adding to their beauty. From the very early days the habit of putting Collyrium to the eye is very familiar. (Kanmai.)

11)HAIR STYLES:

The Indus Valley believed to be of the Dravidian origin, through various finds such as seals, terracotta figurines, bronze mirror etc, throw light on the existence of 400 different hair styles.

Tamil classics refer to the practice of applying the vapour of the eagle wood and other such thing fragrances to the hair by the Tamil women. The hair oils were also mixed with sever types of herbal perfumes. ( Sil: 6: 80-81.) Different styles of hair dresses are found to have been used in

Tamil literary references and in the sculptures found in Temple's etc. Four popular and prominent styles have been referred in the Sangam and in the post Sangam literature.                  

12)USE OF SANDAL PASTE:

Both men and women gave importance in those days to the smearing the bodies with the sandal paste. ( Padirru;8:11-12 and Thiru murugarrupadai: 30) The residue of this custom has been found in important functions, festivals and among the prosperous using during he hot summer days.  

13)USE OF HENNA LEAF PASTE: (marudhani,)

Drawing figure and smearing Kumkum on the chest was very popular among the ladies in early times. (Sila: 69.) Applying the Henna leaf paste on the hands and legs is in vogue in Tamilaham as well as in other parts of India.  

14)USE OF KUMKUM.(kungumam.)

Another important custom is to have Kumkum on the fore head. We can find this in early period as well.( Paripada:99.) Like the use of flowers is also considered very auspicious. Along with the Turmeric paste(Manjal, ) it is offered as a blessing in particular to the married women (Sumangalis.). From early times the widows are deprived this privilege of using Turmeric, Kumkum and Flowers. 

NON-VEGETARIAN: Their non-vegetarian items included sheep, tortoise, deer and hare. Consumption of toddy by both men and women was popular in those days.

                                       In mediaeval period non-vegetarian diet was no longer popular due to the spread and influence of Jainism in Tamil Nadu. Presently Non-Vegetarian diet is no longer a taboo among various communities Tamils other than Brahmins. Yet on several days in a year, due to festivals and fasting days/ days of austerity, (Nonbu,) the no-vegetarian food is avoided by a majority of the Tamils. In earlier days the morning food used to be the night rice soaked in water and kept to the coolness of the night. This cold rice mixed with curd, or millet gruel, was the healthy breakfast preferred by all irrespective of class and castes. This practice is fast disappearing even in rural areas was under modern influence of consuming more popular items such as the Idlis and Dosas, styled in the north as Madrasi diet.  Earlier the morning drink used to be the night-rice water- a nourishig liquid and in modern times replaced by familiar drinks such as coffee, tea etc. Among the sweet liquids the Payasam, a kind boiled porridge mixed often with milk, and cereals with dry fruits and nuts and spices is still familiar on special occasions. Ulunthu kali or the paste pottage made of black gram flour was consumed in olden days normally on oil-bath days.  

16) USE OF BETEL CHEWING:

Betel leaves (Thamboolam,) its  usage's for auspicious occasions continue to this through the ages. Normally betel is chewed after meals for digestion and as a matter of pleasure. Thamboolam is exchanged whenever marriages are finalised, when guests leave after their stay, while inviting for the weddings and while offerings are made to the Deities. To the visitors it is offered as a mark of courtesy.  

17) OFFERINGS TO THE CROWS:

This custom of offering food to the crows on auspicious occasions, as well as the anniversaries of the departed souls  in the family are observed. Normally, after the due worship of the family Deity, the food is offered to the crows and only when they begin to taste, the feeding by the family members takes place. (Kurun togai;210) Some offer in the mornings daily.  

18) HOSPITALITY:

The Tamils have been giving much importance to Hospitality, through the ages. Valluvar says, "The Goddess of wealth will gladly abide where pleasing smiles welcome worthy guests." THIRUKURA, the Tamil Veda also says, " Takingfood with the guests is the beauty of the meals."(Verriverkai-16) The Sangam poets point out that the Hero removes the sulks of the heroine by entering the Home accompanied by the guests. ( Narrinai-120) Mostly all  the  literatures whether it is a stray verse or an Epic talks about the hospitality of the people towards heir guests. ( Sirupa narru padai: 234-235); Sila: 16:71-73; Kamba Ramayanam: 1013-1015.) Bharathi Dasan gives equal importance to this age old custom of "Virundombal." In his work'Kudumba Vilakku.'  In Tamil tradition it is part of good manners to accompany guests for some distance when they take leave. Porunarru padai (166-16)  refers to this custom while descibing the send off given to a poet by Cheran Karikal Valavan who walked behind the poet seven steps. Accommodating the guest by satisfying their desires were part of the hospitality custom. The ladies are given KUMKUM while taking leave from their hosts.  

19) WORSHIP:

Despite their many Gods and Goddesses, the Tamils also worship Nature. Daily  worship of the Sun  in the mornings used to be once a  common practice. Pongal the Harvest festival is celebrated mainly to celebrate the Sun worship. In rural areas it is almost equal to the thanks giving festival. Daily Lighting of  the Lamps in the evenings, offerings of flowers fruits and in rural areas paddy and other agricultural produce is a common practice. This is referred in Mullai Pattu:6-10; Sila: 9,11,13.) Tamils observe several austerity days such as Krittigai, New Moon Day and so on. Practices such as Fasting, worship of Ancestors with food offerings are observed to this day.

( Puram:9) . There are many that begin their daily routine and end the same with morning and evening prayers.( This is observed by he Elderly Housewives in the Family Prayer Rooms

20) SOME TAMIL HABITS:

A) Daily brushing of teeth with the Banyan tree (Alan,) roots, or a country tree called the Velan's sticks or with the sticks of the Margosa (Veppai,) tree is a common practice with the Tamils. The roots of 'Nayurivi' also used for brushing.  

B) After the evening lights are arranged all give and take transactions, in particular monetary transactions are not undertaken. Even the household waste products are not thrown out and are kept in a corner for disposal in the mornings. On Fridays the old or damage articles are not disposed.

C) Daily cleaning /sweeping home with broomstick is a routine. On Fridays the Homes are given a special washing/cleaning as the days are believed to be auspicious for the Goddess of Wealth. Hence her visits on Fridays are made auspicious. 

D) Homes are white washed twice every year. On the eve of Pongal and Deepawali festivals and often when children's marriages are planned white washing and painting works are carried out to make the look like Home, pleasant, pleasurable and presentable.

In rural areas red soil paint (Semman,) is used to decorate in particular mud walls and floors

24) Role of Women in Daily life:

Women were respected and honoured. At home they reigned and their counsels were taken seriously by womenfolk. (Puram: 614.) The mother attends to the childcare. Their songs of lullaby made the children to sleep. The lullabies are familiar at all levels both in the rural and urban areas. Women spent their time fruitfully engaged in handicrafts and were permitted to participate in social work.  

CONCLUSION:

We can see that every day affairs of the Tamils contain seeds of morality and culture. Bharath Dasan elaborates with minute details of the daily Family- life styles of the Tamils in his classic work 'The Kudumba Vilakku.' As the well known Tamil proverb asserts namely that a single rice from a boiling pot would reveal the nature of the entire quantity inside the pot, so also the study and understanding of some Tamil Customs or Habits would enable to understand the sure pointers that go in the making of THE TAMIL CULTURE AND CIVILISATION.