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Re: kamba ramayanam

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Hari Krishnan • October 12, 2002 


The poetry of Kamban needs special mention.  He has taken the blueprint from Valmiki and built a structure of his own without altering the main elements in any way.  He shifts the emphasis, he plays around with characters, shapes and reshapes them adding to the beauty of the original in many ways.  If not anything else, his poetry has attracted scholars of other religions - Muslims in particular - to the Ramayana for a very long time.  Apart from Justice MM Ismail, there is a reference in the autobiography of U Ve Sa, the saviour of Classic Tamil literature, which states that he had met several Muslims who had mastered Kamba Ramayanam.

There are several important changes that he has made to the original, one of which is the way the ally with Sugriva is treated.  Kamban depicts very suggestively but without giving room for any doubt, that what was granted to Sugriva was saranagathi.  And from this perspective he builds the story beautifully that amply justifies Vali vadham.  Another interesting characterisation is that of Kumbakarna, who takes an altogether different shape in the hands of Kamban.  

There were three versions of Ramayana, Kamban says.  Valmiki, Vasistha and Bodhayana.  Kamban has followed the version of Valmiki.  I am reminded of a beautiful line by Kavimani Desigavinayagam Pillai that says 'ayan padaipaith thiruththi oru azhagu seydhaan.'  Valmiki's version was the creation of the very Brahma.  Yet Kamban could add more beauty to it.  The task was something like beautifying a thousand petalled lotus.  Who could add an iota of beauty to it excepting a master, a giant of a scholar and a poet like Kamban!

Just for information.  Apart from Kamba Ramayana, there are a few other versions in Tamil.  I would mention just two of them.  One is Thakkai Ramayanam, written by Emperumaan Kaviraayar of Kongu Naadu, in the 17th century.  Thakkai is a percussion instrument - resembling 'udukkai', bigger in size.  The verses are set to the rhythm of 'thakkai.'  There was a tradition of narrating Thakkai Ramayana in Kalakshepa style.  Emperumaan Kavirayar very carefully trods the path of Kamban only, and has given Kamba Ramayana in 3250 verses, one third of the size of what Kamban did.

The second one that I wish to mention is of more recent origin.  It is known as Madhurakavi Ramayana Venba written by a lesser known - but a marvellous - poet Sriman Madhurakavi Srinivasa Iyengar (1864-1937) of Hanumantapatti, Madurai.  He has authored several other works - Madhurakavi Thiruppugazh, Madhurakavi Kodhai Venba (on the life of Andal), Madhurakavi Thirumalai Thirupirabandhangal etc.  

And of course, there is the Rama Nataka Keerthanai by Arunachala Kavirayar, among others.  Rama Kadhai in Tamil is as old as the language.  References to Ramayana are seen in Sangam classics like Pura Nanuru.  

Sadly, the Kalakshepa tradition is slowly dying.  Something must be done to take this to our next generation.  Kamban has left a rich treasure house for us.  I do not think that Kamba Ramayana is neglected and given a back seat.  Kindly enlighten me if I am wrong.

Sincerely,
Hari Krishnan

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "raja gopal" 
To: 
Sent: Friday, October 11, 2002 10:57 PM
Subject: kamba ramayanam


| Srimathey Raamanujaaya Namaha:
| 
| It is an accepted fact that the kamba ramayanam is one
| of the master pieces in tamil literature.  however, in
| our sampradayam, in the pravachanams and kalakshepams,
| i find that it is generally ignored.  the same applies
| to certain other works like villiputturar's bharatham.
| i have always wondered why.  
| 
| i would like to be enlightened on this.
| 
| 
| adiyen
| s.v.r.gopalan
|


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