Cilappatikāram, the epic of the anklet, is the first known epic of the Tamils and the first of the five great epics in Tamil. Arguably, it is among the greatest epical compositions in the classical languages of the world.

It was written by Iḷaṅkōvaṭikaḷ. Structurally, Cilappatikāram is a blend of literary, musical and dramatic components by which it is famously called an epic of threefold Tamil, and a work interspersed with prose and music. Thematically, this epic is defined by the threefold truths, viz.

If a king deviates from the path of righteousness, he will bring down upon himself a great disaster; a chaste woman would be adored and worshipped by all; and the good and evil deeds will visit upon the doer.

The story begins at Pukār in the Chola country; the selling of the anklet and the consequent tragedy to Kōvalaṉ occurs at Madurai in the Pandya country; the deification of kaṇṇaki and consecrating a temple for her take place at Vañci in the Chera country. Thus the three kingdoms of Tamil Nadu are involved in this epic.

This epic is divided into 3 kāṇṭams (cantos) and 30 kātais (episodes). It witnesses to the poet’s expansive knowledge of music and dance. It is remarkable for the various kinds of metres employed therein. This has an excellent commentary by Aṭiyārkku Nallār. It has also a gloss, arumpatavurai, whose authorship is unknown.