d04124 LESSION - 4

New Trends in the Classification of Epics

    This lesson examines the new trends in the classification of Tamil epics.
‘Dandialangaram’, a treatise on poetics, classifies epics into 2 types:
‘Perungkappiam’ and ‘Kappiam’ also known as ‘Sirukappiam’. According
to Ki. Va. Jagannathan, a Tamil scholar, ‘Ithikasam’ ,     ‘Puranam’,
‘Perungkappiam’ , ‘Kappiam’ , ‘Kathaip Padal’ and     ‘Sittrilakkiyam’
can be classified under the genre called ‘Epics’.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.

    Scholars like Ka. Subramanya Pillai, Dr. Mu. Va. and Mu. Arunachalam classified epics on the basis of the age in which they were written. Mu. Va.
disagrees with the classification of epics into ‘Perungkappiam’ and
‘ Sirukappiam.’ He is of the opinion that ‘Choolamani’ by virtue of its
similarity to ‘Seevagasinthamani’ must be classified under ‘Perungkappiam.’
He also classifies ‘Perungathai’ under Perungkappiam. Similarly, he
classifies ‘Periya Puranam’ under Saivite Literature and ‘Kambaramayanam’
under Vaishnavaite Literature. According to him these 2 texts cannot be
classified under the genre of epics. Va. Suba. Manikkanar classifies Tamil
Epics as ‘Nilak Kappiam’ and ‘Thazhuvu Kappiam.’‘Nilak Kappiam’ refers
to epics originally written in Tamil without the influence of the epics
written in Sanskrit. ‘Thazhuvu Kappiam’ signifies epics based on Sanskrit
and other North Indian literature. Dr. Tamizhannal, another noted scholar,
classifies epics into 12 types.

    The 20th century witnessed new trends in the classification of epics.
However, it must be mentioned that the scholars did not completely
reject the past in the name of novelty. Dr. Tamizhannal is hailed as the
pioneer in charting a new approach to the classification of epics.
Barathiyar’s ‘Panchali Sabatham’, and ‘Kuyil Pattu’, Barathidasan’s ‘Pandian
Parisu’ and ‘Irunda Veedu’ , Kavimani Desika     Vinayagam     Pillai’s
‘ Marumakkal Vazhi Manmeeyam’ , Kannadasan’s ‘Adimandhi- Attanathi’,
Mudiarasanar’s     ‘Poongodi’     and     Suthananda Barathi’s     ‘Parasakti
Mahakaviyam’ are some examples of 20th century epics. In the 20th century,
prose narratives of epic proportions were also classified as epics. It is no
longer necessary that epics must only be rendered in the form of verses.
Vairamuthu’s     ‘Karuvachi     Kaviyam’ and ‘Kallikkattu Ithikasam’ are
considered to be the ‘Irattai Kappiam’ or ‘twin epics’ of the 20th century.
Abandoning traditional verse forms, a number of poets also explored the
possibilities of writing ‘Puthuk Kavithai Kappiam’or epics in free verse. Mu.
Mehta’s ‘Desapithavukku Theruppadaganin Anjali’is a laudable effort in this
direction. Thus     ‘Nadaga Kappiam’ , ‘Puthiya Irattai Kappiam’     and
‘ Puthukkavithaik Kappiam’ are classified as new forms of epic literature.
Translations of epics from other Indian and European languages are also
classified under epics today. 20th century scholars are also of the view that
‘ Kathaip Padalgal’ can be classified under epics.