The glorious Sangam age has seen the existence of numerous war-like tribes and their leaders who held sway in parts of South India during the period. The Malavar, the Kosar, the Eyinar, the Aruvalar, the Kongar, Karunadar and Gangar are some among them who are prominently mentioned in the poems of the times.

The Nagas were the most important tribes of South India. The origin of the Nagas is unclear. Some of the writers opine that the Nagas belong to the South India. The story of the matrimonial alliance of Killivalavan with Peelivalai, a Naga princess, mentioned in Manimekhalai, seems, on the other hand, to point to the foreign origin of these people. There is, however, no doubt that the Nagas in early times were highly civilized and were in power in several parts of South India.

Of the other tribes, the Malavar and the Maravar were of the same category. They generally occupied the eastern coast of the peninsula. They are represented in our ancient poems as great archers, who used horses on the battlefield for the first time. Great chieftains like Pittan Korran of the Kuthiraimalai region, Adigaman of Tagadur and Palayan Maran of Madurai belonged to this tribe of war-like people.

Known for their predatory habits the Eyinar was a hunting tribe. They worshipped Goddess Kali and offered sacrifice of buffaloes on her altar, consulted omens and waited for opportunities for cattle lifting, robbery and murder. The Aruvalar occupied the region between the Palar and Pennai and are described as rulers of the region, until Karikala defeated them as is mentioned clearly in Pattinappalm.

With the knowledge of epigraphic sources connected with Ganga history that has come down to us, this reference in Silappudikaram only confirms the view that the history of the Gangas begins very early and their first king Konganivarman, is to be placed in Kongu in the early years of 5th century A.D. Vels or Velir of whom several great patrons of letters are mentioned in the Sangam poems and to whom reference have been made earlier also appear to have had the Ganges valley as their home of origin. The nine Velir chieftains and the eleven chieftains said to have been defeated by the early Tamil kings in the ancient Tamil poems like Pattinappalai are mentioned in combination with one or other of these tribes.