<P> There is a wealth of sources detailing the history, socio - political environment and cultural practices of ancient Tamilakam, including volumes of literature and epigraphy . </P> <P> Tamilakam's history is split into three periods; prehistoric, classical (see Sangam period) and medieval . A vast array of literary, epigraphical and inscribed sources from around the world provide insight into the socio - political and cultural occurrences in the Tamil region . The ancient Tamil literature consists of the grammatical work Tolkappiyam, the anthology of ten mid-length books collection Pathupattu, the eight anthologies of poetic work Ettuthogai, the eighteen minor works Patiṉeṇkīḻkaṇakku; and there are The Five Great Epics of Tamil Literature composed in classical Tamil language--Manimegalai, Cīvaka Cintāmaṇi, Silappadikaram, Valayapathi and Kundalakesi as well as five lesser Tamil epics, Ainchirukappiyangal, which are Neelakesi, Naga kumara kaviyam, Udhyana kumara Kaviyam, Yasodhara Kaviyam and Soolamani . </P> <P> The religion of the ancient Tamils closely follow roots of nature worship and some elements of it can also be found in Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta traditions . In the ancient Sangam literature, Sivan was the supreme God, and Murugan was the one celebrated by the masses; both of them were sung as deified Tamil poets ascending the Koodal academy . The Tamil landscape was classified into five categories, thinais, based on the mood, the season and the land . Tolkappiyam, one of the oldest grammatical works in Tamil mentions that each of these thinai had an associated deity such as Kottravai (Mother goddess i.e. Kali) and Sevvael (Murugan) in Kurinji (the hills), Thirumal (Maayon) in Mullai (the forests), Vendhan (Wanji - ko or Seyyon i.e. Indra) in Marutham (the plains i.e. Vayu), and Kadaloan (Varuna) in the Neithal (the coasts and the seas). Other ancient works refer to Maayon (Maal) and Vaali . </P> <P> The most popular deity was Murugan, who has from a very early date been identified with Karthikeya, the son of Siva . Kannagi, the heroine of the Silappatikaram, was worshiped as Pathini (பத்தினி) by many Tamilians, particularly in Sri Lanka . There were also many temples and devotees of Thirumal, Siva, Ganapathi, and the other common Hindu deities . </P>

Who was the chief diety of sangam age