Were Ancient Tamils the first to Write about a 6th sense?!

Long before modern science explored intuition or interoception, ancient Tamils wrote about a “sixth sense” in the Tholkappiyam.

For anyone looking to learn Tamil, they are met with two paths: இலக்கணம் (ilakkanam) Grammar and இலக்கியம் (ilakkiyam) Literature.

We often neglect grammar. However, I believe both Literature and Grammar can tell us a lot about what ancient Tamils knew and how they lived.

For example, take the Tamil alphabet. Its composition explains existence.

Or consider the grammar concept திணை (thinai) with its two divisions:

• உயர்திணை (uyarthinai)

• அஃறிணை (agrinai)

  
  

The traditional translation tells us that உயர்திணை (uyarthinai) refers to living things and அஃறிணை (agrinai) refers to non-living things.

But here's where it gets interesting: animals fall under அஃறிணை (agrinai) according to the grammar rule.

If agrinai means "non-living," why would living animals be classified there? The translation doesn't add up.

The Real Distinction

In basic Tamil grammar, we learn that anything with 6 senses or more, such as humans or divine beings, falls under உயர்திணை (uyarthinai). And anything with 5 senses or less, such as animals or objects, falls under அஃறிணை (agrinai).

Wait... a sixth sense?!

What the Ancient Tamils Knew

According to the Tholkappiyam, the oldest surviving Tamil text (dating back over 2,000 years), after touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing, we have the mind.

Mind in this context couldn't just mean the ability to make decisions and problem-solve — we know animals can do this too.

So what did Tholkappiyar mean?

I believe "mind" in this context speaks to intuition or an extrasensory perception that humans possess.

This means the sixth sense unique to humans was understood by ancient Tamils thousands of years ago.

Modern Science Catches Up

Considering we learn there are only five senses in elementary school, we may be missing something.

Researchers are only now exploring (and perhaps accepting) this idea of  a sixth sense under names like interoception, or proprioception over the past few decades.

It makes you wonder: What other ancient wisdom is hidden within the grammar rules of Tamil?

This was from the opening article of my very first newsletter.

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