Siruppanchamulam contains 100 poems written by the poet Kariyaasaan.
This and the fact that he was a student of one Makkayanaar is known from the introductory poem of this book.
Siruppanchamulam uses the analogy of the traditional herbal medicine, which uses the roots of the five herbs kandankatthiri (a plant of the nightshade family – Solanum xanthocarpum), siruvzhuthunai, sirumalli, perumalli, and nerunji (a thorny prostrate plant – Tribulus terrestris) to cure certain maladies.
Siruppanchamulam similarly uses five different maxims to illustrate correct behaviour.
The following poem lists the five things, namely, a chaste girl, the humility of the learned, friendly neighbouring countries, benevolent kings under whose reign there are timely rains and loyal assistants as sweet as ambrosia.