Lesson - 3

D03133 Kaapia Ilakkanam - The Grammar of Epic Poetry

    This lesson discusses the characteristic features of epic poetry. It lists the different types of epics or (kaappiam), analyses their structure and outlines the grammar governing epic poetry.

Of the 4 types of verses, epic poetry falls under the category of ‘Porul Thodarnilai Cheyyul’. The earliest epics in Tamil are traced to the post sangam period. Epics or ‘kaappiankal’ are also known as ‘Thodarnadai Cheyyul’, ‘Vithaarakavi’, ‘Kathaippattu’, Urai idaiitta Paattudai Cheyyul’, ‘Saridam’, ‘Nadagam’ and ‘Kathai’.

The term epic or kaappiam was first used in ‘Manimekalai’. The verses in an epic may be of the same type or may follow different metric structures. Sometimes one may also find the use of prose and other loan words in epics.

Epics are broadly classified into 2 types: ‘Perungaappiam’ and ‘Sirukappiam’. While Perungaappiam deals with the 4 themes of ‘aram’, ‘porul’, ‘inbam’ and ‘veedu’, Sirukappiam deals with only one or two of these themes. The 5 Perungappiangal in Tamil are ‘Silappathigaaram’, ‘Manimekalai’, ‘Seevagasinthamani’, ‘Valaiyaapathi’ and ‘Kundalakesi’. The 5 Sirukappiams are ‘Yasodarakaaviyam’, ‘Neelakesi’, ‘Udayanakumarakaaviyam’, ‘Naagakumarakaaviyam’ and ‘Choolamani’.

Epics usually begin with ‘Vaazhthu’ and ‘Vanakkam’- i.e., invocation to God. Vaazhthu and Vanakkam are followed by ‘Varuporul Uraithal’, a kind of preface or prologue that announces the theme of the epic. The actual story or plot in the epic is divided into several sections or chapters named ‘Sarukkam’, ‘Ilambagam’, ’Parichedam’, ‘Kaathai’ or ‘Puraanam’. Epics generally encompass all the 9 rasas or emotions. The main aim of epic poetry is to explore and enunciate the themes of ‘aram’, ‘porul’, ‘inbam’ and ‘veedu’. The most important characteristic of epic poetry is the elaborate and vivid descriptions or (kappia varunanai) that punctuate the narrative. Another poetic technique that is central to epic poetry is the use of epic similes.

The first section in the ancient grammar text ‘Dandialangaaram’ called ‘Poduvaniiyal’ speaks extensively of the grammar of epic poetry. ‘Silappathigaaram’ has the distinction of being the first epic in Tamil. Following this, a number of epics were written in Tamil. Some of these were based on Sanskrit texts. Epics revolving around religious themes were also written.