Cilappatikaram

Published by Ilango Adigal

The first Tamil epic is called Cilappatikram, also known as Silappathikaram or Silappatikaram. It is a 5,730-line poem written almost entirely in the akaval (aciriyam) metre, and it tells the tragic love story of Kannaki and her affluent husband Kovalan.

The story takes place in the early Chola kingdom's port city of Poompuhar. Kovalan and Kannaki, a young married couple, are happily in love. Over time, Kovalan runs across courtesan Madhavi and develops feelings for her. Kovalan then decides to leave Kannaki and move in with Madhavi. He generously spends money on her. Despite her husband's adultery, Kannaki waits as the chaste woman despite her heartbreak. There is a poem recital competition held during the festival honouring the rain god Indra. In a poem, Kovalan reads the story of a lady who injured her boyfriend. Then Madhavi sings a song about a lover who was betrayed. Everybody sees the song as a letter to the other. Kovalan leaves Madhavi because he believes she is being unfaithful to him and goes back to Kannaki. Kovalan, who is in need, relocates to Madurai and tries to start over. He receives one of a pair of jewelled anklets from Kannaki to sell in order to raise money. A merchant buys it from Kovalan after growing suspicious of the stranger and falsely accusing him of stealing the queen's lost jewelled anklet. By hastening the legal checks and procedures, the king orders his execution. Kannaki finds out what took place. In the courtroom, she breaks the last anklet of the pair to demonstrate Kovalan's innocence after objecting to the unfairness. The king acknowledges his error. When the public is there, Kannaki cuts off her left breast and tosses it at them while cursing the king and the people of Madurai. The city of Madurai is destroyed in a fire, and the king passes away from sadness. The gods and goddesses meet Kannaki in the third chapter of the epic, and she ascends to heaven with the deity Indra. When the Chera kingdom's royal family learns about her, they decide to have a temple built with Kannaki as the main deity. They travel to the Himalayas, fetch a stone, engrave a picture of her, refer to her as goddess Pattini, dedicate a temple, direct daily prayers, and carry out a royal sacrifice.