Ullurai

Ullurai (Tamil உள்ளுறை uḷḷuṟai literally, "inner meaning") is a type of extended allusion or metaphor used in classical Tamil poetry.

Five types of ullurai are described in the Tolkappiyam, an early treatise on grammar and poetics. These are uṭaṉuṟai, uvamam, cuṭṭu, nakai and cirappu. The first two of these, the treatise says, were in use in the classical period. The other three had been used in earlier periods, but were no longer in use in his time. Few examples of their use survive outside texts on literary theory.

Ilampuranar, an early mediaeval commentator, describes the constituents of each of the five types of ullurai.