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Re: kamba ramayanam

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Mani Varadarajan • October 17, 2002 


Dear Gopalan,

You are correct that Kamban's Ramayanam is generally ignored.
I think that this is most probably because the
the average upanyasaka has not studied it in
depth enough to use verses from it extempore.
However, acharyas well-acquainted with the text
have not refused to cite Kamban, and cite him
often. I mention in this connection Sri Tirukkudandai
Andavan, popularly known as Kannan Swami, who 
regaled audiences with his vast grasp of Srimad
Valmiki Ramayana, Kamba Ramayanam, and Divya Prabandham.
In the Ramayana lecture series that I heard, in several
instances he cited a single sloka of Valmiki's and
then poured forth Kamban's Tamil verses, demonstrating
that Kamban has often elaborated a great deal on Valmiki's
original words.

Kannan Swami would oft mention a verse of Kamban's which
occurs in the preface to his narration, wherein Kamban
describes how he has drunk deep of the "honey-like words
of that great poet" Valmiki.  It is also generally
understood that Kamban was a devoted student of the 
Alvars' paasurams.  Several 'saaRRu paadals' (concluding
songs) appended onto some of the iyaRpa collection 
are attributed to Kamban, at least in the editions that
I have seen.

Kamban is said to have been a contemporary of Parasara
Bhattar and attended the latter's discourses in Srirangam.
I am told that Periyavaaccaan Pillai (or is it in the Eedu?)
has cited a few lines of Kamban in the 24000 commentary on
Tiruvaymoli.

adiyen ramanuja dasan
Mani

--- raja gopal  wrote:
> > 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.  



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