Lesson - 3

A01123 KAMBA RAMAYANAM - AN INTRODUCTION

     This lesson teaches you all about the references to the Ramayana in Tamil, the life of Kamban and the structure of the Kamba Ramayanam.

     The greatest poets in the world are Homer, Virgil, Dante, Milton and Goethe. Kamban is considered as equal to these world poets. In Tamil literature, he is referred to as Kavi Chakravarthi. There are two Indian epics which are considered as part of world literature. They are Valmiki’s Ramayana and Vyasa’s Mahabharatha. Several versions and variations of these two epics have appeared in all the Indian languages. In Tamil too, there are innumerable legends and stories about the Ramayana. However, no work written before or after Kamban, can be compared to the Ramayanam which he composed. Initially, he called it Ramakaathai. But in view of its greatness, it was later called Kamba Ramayanam.

     The story of the Ramayana is too well-known to be repeated here. We should however, learn something about Kamban. He was born in Thiruvazhunthoor in Tanjavoor District. He is said to have inaugurated his Ramayanam in 885 A.D. Apart from the Ramayanam, Kamban has written Eer zhupathu, Thirukkai Vazhakkam, Saraswathy Anthaathy and Mummanikkovai.

     Kamba Ramayanam consists of six cantos - Bala kaandam, Ayodhya kaandam, Aaranya kaandam, Kishkintakaandam, Sundara Kaandam and Yudddha Kaandam. Each canto in turn is divided into several padalangal.

     There are references to the Ramayana even in Sangam literature. In Cilappathikaaram, for example, there are two verses which encapsulate the Ramayana. After Kamban too, several works on the Ramayana were produced.