d04122 LESSON - 2

Perungkappiam and Sirukappiam

    This lesson offers a general introduction to the 5 great epics i.e
aimperungappiangal and 5 small epics i.e. ainchirukappiangal in Tamil
literature. Based on the ‘pancha maha kaviya marabu’ or the tradition of
5 great epics in Sanskrit literature, Tamil scholars also classified Tamil
epics     into 5 great epics and 5 small epics.     ‘Silappathigaram’,
‘ Manimekalai’ , ‘Seevagasinthamani’ , ‘Valayapathi’ and ‘Kundalakesi’ are
the 5 great epics. ‘Yasodara Kaviyam’ , ‘Udayana Kumara Kaviyam’,
‘ Neelakesi’, ‘Naga Kumara Kaviyam’ and ‘Choolamani’ are the 5 small
epics. ‘Dandialangaram’, a treatise, on poetics, expounds the characteristic
features of ‘perungkappiam’. According to ‘Dandialangaram’, a great epic
or ‘perungkappiam’ should begin with an invocatory verse;it should explore
the 4 great themes of ‘aram’,‘porul’, ‘inbam’ and ‘veedu’ and it must narrate
the story of a great hero. The lesson briefly outlines the other features of
great epics enumerated by ‘Dandialangaram’ and offers a comparative study
of the 5 great epics in Tamil. It then outlines the plot of the five great epics
and discusses their unique features and literary merits.

    ‘Dandialangaram’ refers to ‘sirukappiangal’ or small epics by the term
‘ kappiam.’ Tamil scholar Ci. Vai. Damodaram Pillai was the first person to
use the term ‘sirukappiam.’ The lesson briefly outlines the stories of the 5
small epics in Tamil and discusses their salient features.