Question: what are the distinct characteristics of each thinai?
Answer: The word thinai means 'land'. These are Kurinji, Mullai, Pālai, Neythal and Marutham. Each of these have unique characteristics – not just about the tract of land that they are, but also in the people and animals who live there, the plants, trees, flowers and above all the feelings of the characters in the akam poems.