Cilappatikaram

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Template:Sangam literature Cilappatikaram (The Anklet) also spelled as Cilappadhikaram or Silappadhigaram, is one of the five great epics of ancient Tamil Literature. It was written by Prince Ilango Adigal, brother of king Cheran Chenguttuvan (in modern day Kerala), in South India.

Prince Ilango Adigal wrote Cilappadhikaram as an epic. It is a record of the lives of the Tamils of second century AD.

Cilappatikaram teaches three eternal truths. 1. A king failing in his duty will be punished by dharma or justice. 2. A chaste woman will be worshipped by all. 3. Fate is powerful. Ones past actions will have their repercussions in the next birth.

Cilappatikaram was written towards the end of second century AD. The story is rooted in the ordinary lives of the early Tamils. It is only one of three surviving Great Epics. No texts survive from either of the first two sangams. Coupling this extraordinary rarity with rich cultural information makes Cilappatikaram irreplaceably valuable in understanding ancient Tamil culture.

The story narrates the events in three kingdoms: Chera (western), Chola (eastern), and Pandian (in the middle of South India).

The story is full of information about contemporary events and personalities. From Sri Lanka, Gajabahu the First and Ellara the just Tamil ruler of Sri Lanka are first mentioned in this Epic only.

The Northern kingdoms like Chedi, Uttarakosala, and Vajra are also mentioned.

The warlike Yaudhayas who worshipped Karthikeya are mentioned as the people of Balakumara. This is the first reference in Tamil Literature to this Great People.

The towns like Thiruthangal mentioned by Ptolemy figure in Cilappadhikaram only.

The city of Madurai is fortified like the city of Ajathasathru, a contemporary of Buddha and many mechanical contrivances of both cities are similar. This shows the knowledge of the poet of northern trends which are rarely mentioned in the literature of the age.

The epic is more than a literary masterpiece. It is a predecessor of Nigandu. The Tamil lexicographic tradition is maintained by Nigandu. We find this tradition taking roots in Ilango's Epic. We know about the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the age where all religions lived together in harmony and understanding.

Though a Jain, the Poet is free from any parochial attitude. He records the hymns in praise of Sakthi, Murugan and Vishnu too. He also thus inaugrates the tradition of Bhakthi or devotion which is a unique feature of Tamil Literature.

Ilango also gives voice to the folk tradition like the Kuravai Dance.


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The story in brief

Kovalan, the son of a wealthy merchant in Kavirippattinam, married Kannagi, the lovely daughter of another merchant. They lived together happily, until, Kovalan met the dancer Madhavi and fell in love with her. In his infatuation he forgot Kannagi and gradually spent all his wealth on the dancer. At last he was penniless, and returned repentantly to his uncomplaining wife. Their only fortune was a precious pair of anklets (cilambu--- hence the name of the epic), filled with gems, which she gave to him willingly. With these as their capital they went to the great city of Madurai, where Kovalan hoped to recoup his fortunes by trade.

On their arrival at Madurai they found shelter in a cottage, and Kovalan went to the market to sell one of Kannagi's anklets. But the queen of Nedunjeliyan (king of Pandyas), had just been cheated of a similar anklet by a wicked court jeweller. The jeweller happened to see Kovalan with Kannagi's anklet, and immediately took it cunningly and informed the King. Guards were sent to apprehend Kovalan, who was then killed on the King's orders. When the news was brought to Kannagi, she went to the king, her eyes ablaze with anger. She asked him what the queen's anklets contained - pearls, and broke hers to reveal the gems there, proving her husband's innocence. But her anger not abated, she tore out her left breast in her strong emotion. At this cue, a fire erupted and spread through Madurai and proceeded to destroy the city. Meanwhile, weakened, Kannagi made her way to a hillock outside the city, where she soon died.

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Kannagi/Pattini

The Chera king Chenguttuvan built a temple honouring her thus inaugrating the Kannagi cult in Kerala now called the Bagawathi cult. King Gajabahu the First of Sri Lanka inaugrated the Pattini cult in Sri Lanka the cult having survived the King even today.

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Further reading

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