Tamil
language is as old as Sanskrit and Tamil has a hoary past. The Epics in Tamil
literature revealing the relativity of our own values. The Five Great Epics in
Tamil literature which are large narrative in Tamil namely Cilappatikaram,
Manimekalai, CivakaChintamani, Valayapathi and Kundalakesi.
The 5 Great Epics,
also known as Aimperumkappiyam.. The Five Great Epics were composed during the
period between 1st Century CE and 10th Century CE..Out of these, only
Kundalakesi and Valayapathi are in existence. Amongst the Five Great Epics,
Kundalakesi and Manimekalai are Buddhist religious literary works, Valayapathi
and Civaka Cintamani are Jain literary works and Cilappatikaram has a neutral
religious observation. then the 'discovery' and enjoyment of Tamil literature.
Recently
I read one of the unique epic
Kundalakesi. These epic provide the historical verification of cultural,
social, religious and academic life of the people of that era and it points out
the common folly in being attached to worldly things and how important it is to
follow the path to enlightenment through a religion or by wisdom. I am glad
that I could explore a small part of Tamil literature today.
The
Story of Kundalakesi has inspired me a lot ever since I read .. Kundalakesi was
composed before fifth century. Originally there are ninety nine verses but only
nineteen verses are available. The story of these epics too, is not clear.
However, from what is available, we know that epics belonging to other religions
were destroyed, though they have their own literary merits.
The poet who composed this epic was
Nagakutthanaar. He was an ardent Buddhist, who is believed to have known all
about his previous births. He is supposed to have lived during the 10th century
A.D. ‘Kesi’ means a lady’s plait. As
her hair was curly, she was called Kundalakesi. Her name has been taken as the
title of this epic..
Story
Of Kundalakesi:
Kundalakesi
was the leading character and was born in a merchant family in Puhar. Initially
she was known as Bhadra. She lost her mother at a young age and lived a
sheltered life. One day she saw a thief being paraded in the streets and falls
in love with him. His name was Kaalan and he was sentenced to death. Obsessed
with Kaalan, she begs her father to save him. Her father appeals to the king
for the release of the thief. In order to release Kaalan he pays Kaalan's
weight in gold and 81 elephants to the treasury.
Kundalakesi and Kaalan are married. Although
she loved her husband very dearly, her husband being a thief, was only
attracted to her property and her jewels. One day in a light vein she refers to
him as a thief. This enrages Kaalan and he decides to kill his wife. One day,
he coaxed her to put on all her jewellery and led her to a mountain saying that
he wanted to make some offerings to the guardian spirit of the mountain because
that guardian spirit had saved his life when he was about to be killed.
Kundalakesi went along with her husband, but when they reached their
destination, the thief revealed that he intended to kill her and take her
jewels. She is shocked to hear this and. She pleaded with him to take her
jewels, but to spare her life, but it was of no avail. She then realized that
if she did not get rid of her husband, there would be no way of escape for her.
She felt she must be cautious and crafty. So she asks him to grant a final wish
- she wishes to worship him by going round him three times said to her husband,
she wanted to pay respect to him for the last time. So saying, and going round
the man respectfully. He agrees and when she gets behind him, Kundalakesi
pushes him, thereby killing him.
After
this, she had no desire to return home. She left all her jewellery hanging on a
tree, and went on her way, without any idea where she was going. She happened
to come to a place of some Paribbajikas (female wandering ascetics) and she
herself became a Paribbajikas a Buddhist monk and spends the rest of her life
spreading the teachings of Buddha. She carries out theological battles with
Jains and Hindus, defeating them in debates. She finally attains superior
liberation. In one of the versions, it is believed that she was a Jain in her
initial life and she shattered conventions by becoming a nigrantha or naked
monk.
The
story actually amazed me! Feminism was so strong and bold those days. We preach
these days about being bold women, do not know actually know if we are !
There
is also a small message in this story True penance is controling your feelings.
pleasure and Praise belongs to those who having Mind Purity.everything is seemed to be predestination
A man may conquer a million men in battle, but one who
conquers himself is, indeed, the greatest of conquerors.Real freedom is
freedom from all forms of bondage. It can be achieved only through proper
spiritual development and purification of one's own mind - purging and
cleansing oneself from all taints of greed, hatred and delusion.
Links: Verses with Meaning-
http://temple.dinamalar.com/news_detail.php?id=6864
http://ilakkiyam.com/iyal/25-tamil/iyal/imperunkapiyam/3971-kundalakesi
http://searchko.in/literature/ta-cached.jsp?idx=0&id=388
