The Ramavataram, popularly referred to as Kamba Ramayanam, is a Tamil language Tamil mythology that was written by the Tamil people poet Kambar during the 12th century. Based on Valmiki's Ramayana (which is in Sanskrit), the story describes the legend of King Rama of Ayodhya. However, the Ramavataram is different from the Sanskrit version in many aspects – both in spiritual concepts and in the specifics of the storyline.
Kambar wrote this epic with the patronage of Sadayappa Vallal, a chieftain of the Pannai lineage.
Early references in Tamil literature
Even before Kambar wrote the Ramavataram in Tamil in the 12 century CE, there are many ancient references to the story of Ramayana, implying that the story was familiar in the Tamil lands even before the Common Era. References to the story can be found in the Sangam literature of Akanaṉūṟu,(dated 200 BCE–300 CE)
and
Purananuru (dated 200 BCE–300 CE),
the twin epics of
Silappatikaram (dated 6th century CE)
and
Manimekalai,
and the
Alvars literature of Kulasekhara Alvar, Thirumangai Alvar,
Andal and
Nammalvar (dated between 8th and 10th centuries CE).
Structure
The book is divided into six chapters, called
Kandam in Tamil. The Kandams are further divided into 113 sections called
Padalam (படலம்) in Tamil. These 113 sections contain approximately 10569 verses of the epic.
-
Bala Kandam (Chapter: Childhood)
-
Ayodhya Kandam (Chapter: Ayodhya)
-
Aranya Kandam (Chapter: Forest)
-
Kishkindha Kandam (Chapter: Kishkindha)
-
Sundara Kandam (Chapter: Beautiful)
-
Yuddha Kandam (Chapter: War)
Compilation
As with many historic compilations, it was very difficult to discard the interpolations and addendum which have been added over a period of time to the original. This task was taken up a committee of scholars headed by T. P. Meenakshisundaram called the
Kamban Kazhagam (Kamban Academy). The compilation published by this committee in 1976 is what is used as the standard today.
Valmiki Ramayana in Sanskrit has seven chapters. The Tamil poet
Ottakoothar[The seventh kandam, (last chapter) Uttara Kandam of the Tamil epic was written by Ottakoothar. Tamil Ramayana's Uttara Kandam: page 59 Tamil Virtual University. Retrieved 26 April 2022.] wrote Uttara Kandam, the seventh (last chapter) kandam of the Tamil epic
.
Literary significance
Kamban's use of Virutham (Sanskrit: vṛttam) and Santham (Sanskrit:
chandas) in various verses is effective in bringing out the emotion and mood for storytelling. He achieves the Virutham and Santham by effective choice of words.
Religious significance
This epic is read by many Hindus during prayers. In some households, the entire epic is read once during the
Tamil calendar's month of Aadi (mid-July to mid-August). It is also read in
and other religious associations. On many occasions, Kambar talks about surrendering to Rama, who is a manifestation of
Vishnu himself.
The chapter Sundara Kandam is considered very auspicious and is the most popular. The chapter talks about the hardships faced by the main characters in the epic, their practice of restraint, and their hopes for a better tomorrow.
Translations
Kamba Ramayanam has been translated into English by P. S. Sundaram.
Nityananda Mohapatra translated the Tamil work into
Odia language.
See also
External links
