Lesson - 5
D01145 Pathitrupathu - 1

Sangam Literature is made up of Pathupattu and Ettuthogai. Pathitrupathu is a book of poems that falls under Ettuthogai. Pathitrupathu is a compendium of 100 poems sung by 10 different poets on 10 Chera kings. Each poet has dedicated 10 poems to a Chera king who ruled during his time. This lesson discusses the 5th set of 10 poems written by Baranar , a renowned poet of sangam literature.

The protagonist of these 10 poems is King Chenguttuvan. He is also known as Kadalpirakottia Chenguttuvan as he put an end to the atrocities of pirates who looted merchant ships. Baranar hails the valour and generosity of king Chenguttuvan.

While Pathittrupathu is regarded as the literature of the Cheras, it is also deemed as a historical record of the Chera dynasty in Tamilnadu. Praising the courage of the king, Baranar remarks how Chenguttuvan spent much of his life in the battlefield. One of the poems narrates how for the sake of his friend King Chenguttuvan battled with Mokurpazhayan.

Baranar also pays rich tribute to the generosity and benevolence of king Chenguttuvan. Poets who came to visit the king were amply rewarded. In one of the poems Baranar compares the generosity of the king to the bounty of rain. Baranar also describes the king as a great patron of arts.

This lesson compares Pathitrupathu with Purananooru and also analyses the various stylistic aspects of Pathitrupathu.