Hospitality in Tamil Cultural Identity

“Even if it is medicine, it is said to be hospitality,” says Olavayiar, meaning that the quality of serving food to newcomers is inherent to Tamils. They say, “No one is despicable.” This reflects that both generosity and righteousness are protected by tradition, and through this, the virtue of giving to others is prominently seen among Tamils. Classical literature, Tholkappiyam, Tirumandiram, Agathiyam, Tirukkural, and many other texts beautifully articulate the concept of hospitality. In this article, one can observe the characteristics of the ancient Tamils' hospitality, its greatness, and its current state.