Department of Philosophy Ancient and Mediaeval Tamil abounds in philosophical treatises.The works of these periods bear an ample testimony to the richness of thought and cultural identity of the Tamils. An in-depth study of this ancient philosophical thought with reference to Saivism, Vaishnavism and Vedic Hinduism is one of the main objectives of this Department. Funded with a sumptuous grant of the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Board and later on of the UGC, the Department aims at an advanced research on various aspects of Saivism, Vaishnavism and Vedic Hinduism besides a chronological study on Temples. Plans are afoot to extend this analytical study towards Buddhism, Jainism and Islam. A chair on Christianity has already been established. A rapport with other faculties of the University enables the Department to do research on the inter-disciplinary topics in the areas of Language, Science, Arts, etc., and also to compare the Tamil philosophers and their thoughts with those of other Indian Philosophers. This comparative aspect of philosophical study is meant to have widen the study of Eastern and Western philosophical thoughts. Due emphasis is given for Moral and Ethical outlook on Education since these two noble objectives are relegated to the background nowadays. Stress is given to Yoga and Yogic practices are given in the form of training and instruction in the Department. The temple provides a meeting point for a social integration. Its rituals, ceremonies, festivals and myths invigorate the spirit of unity and hence the school of philosophy has been instrumental for having brought out a Temple Encyclopaedia in Four Volumes. A set of devoted scholars have brought out creative and critical works on Logic Psychology and Philosophy under the aegis of this school.

Other Departments in Language Department of Literature Department of Linguistics Department of Folklore Department of Tribal Research Centre Department of School of Indian Languages