Cilappatikāram
சிலப்பதிகாரம்
About the Work
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.
Digital Resources & Editions
20 editions| S.No | Details of the Book | Year | Category | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cilappatikāram (Editor: Ti.Ī. Srinivāsarāghavācāriyār; Kalvi Viḷakkam Press) | 1872 | Text | |
| 2 | Canto I Pukārkkāṇṭam (Editor: Ti.Ī. Srinivāsarāghavācāriyār; Kalaratnakaram Press) | 1876 | Text | |
| 3 | Pukārkkāṇṭam with Aṭiyārkkunallār's Commentary (Editor: Ti.Ka. Cupparāya Cheṭṭiyār; Memorial Press) | 1880 | Commentary | |
| 4 | 13. Puṟañcēriyiṟutta Kātai (Editor: U.V. Swaminatha Iyer; Memorial Press) | 1897 | Commentary | |
| 5 | Text with Arumpatavurai & Aṭiyārkkunallārurai (Editor: U.V. Swaminatha Iyer; Commercial Press) | 1920 | Commentary | |
| 6 | Pukārkkāṇṭam (Commentator: Sir R.K. Sanmugam Chettiyar; Pudhumalar Nilaiyam) | 1946 | Commentary | |
| 7 | Text with Na.Mu. Vēṅkaṭacāmi nāṭṭār's Commentary (South India Saiva Siddhanta Works Publishing) | 1953 | Commentary | |
| 8 | Cilampiṉ Takuti (Author: Markkabandhu Sarma; Tholkappiyar Noolagam) | 1962 | Commentary | |
| 9 | Nāṭakac Cilampu (Author: K. Thirumeni; Ilakkiya Nilaiyam) | 1966 | Drama | |
| 10 | Cilampil Avalam (Author: K. Muthusami; Andril Pathippagam) | 1966 | Research | |
| 11 | Kāṭṭum Tamiḻakac Camutāya Nilai (Author: N. Seyaprakasu; Vaanmazhai Pathippagam) | 1978 | Research | |
| 12 | Text with Commentary – Part 1 - Pukārkkāṇṭam (Po.Vē. Sōmasundaraṉār; South India Saiva) | 1979 | Text | |
| 13 | Text with Commentary – Part 2 - Maturaikkāṇṭam (Po.Vē. Sōmasundaraṉār; South India Saiva) | 1979 | Text | |
| 14 | Text with Commentary – Part 3 - Vañcikkāṇṭam (Po.Vē. Sōmasundaraṉār; South India Saiva) | 1979 | Text | |
| 15 | Cilappatikārattu Icait Tamiḻ (Author: S. Ramanathan; Tamil Writers' Co-op. Society) | 1981 | Research | |
| 16 | Vaḻi Vaḻic Cilampu (Author: Sarala Rasagopalan; Oli Pathippagam) | 1986 | Research | |
| 17 | Cilappatikārak Kāṭcikaḷ (Author: Ma. Rasamanikkanar; Pooram Publications) | 1985 | Research | |
| 18 | Cilampiṉ Kaṟpaṉai (Author: Markkabandhu Sarma; Manivasagar Pathippagam) | 1988 | Research | |
| 19 | Cilampiṉ Taṉittaṉmai (Author: Markkabandhu Sarma; Manivasagar Pathippagam) | 1988 | Research | |
| 20 | Cilappatikāram (Editor: T.E. Srinivasaragavachariyar; Kalvi Birasha Printing Press) | 1872 | Text |