Silappadhikaram
(Literary Appreciation)
5
Characters
in the court of King Pandiyan Nedunchezhiyan after the
death of her husband, Kovalan:
" Oh wisdom-less king!(Literary Appreciation)
5
Characters
2. Kannagi
Before studying the character, let us see what Kannagi says about herselfin the court of King Pandiyan Nedunchezhiyan after the
death of her husband, Kovalan:
You asked me who am I?
Now hear, what I say pertains to me.
I am from such a place where-
A fault-less famous king
cured the sufferings of the bird
to the praise of gods.
Also,
The king who killed his own son
under the chariot in the process of
justice to a cow who lost her calf,
The place bears the great name, Puhar.
From such famous place from great family
hails a great trader by the name Maasaathuvaan.
His son, driven by the fate
came to sell my anklet and
murdered by you, is kovalan.
I am his wife by the name Kannagi. "
Very emotional outburst of a chaste woman who lost her husband.
For any relationship, you can cite or show the equal and
parallels to console. But not for the wife, who lost her husband.
Even in distress, she quotes about the play of fate.
She quotes justice by the rulers even to birds and animals
For any relationship, you can cite or show the equal and
parallels to console. But not for the wife, who lost her husband.
Even in distress, she quotes about the play of fate.
She quotes justice by the rulers even to birds and animals
Thus Ilango Adigal. the author finely condenses the
objective of the epic in this dialogue.
wedding of Kovalan & Kannagi
Kannagi is from rich business family.
Very young and beautiful girl with rich ornaments and jewels.
These girls generally move only with their girl friends,
and they come out of the house for going to the temple,
and attending family and social functions with parents,
very orthodox and reserved bringing up.
Even their education in those days, it was the practice,
private teachers coming home and teaching them.
They used to invariably and excessively, but naturally
exhibit the grammatical four qualities of women,
achcham, madam, nanam and payirpu,
fear, innocence, shy and disgust respectively.
Achcham, fear may be to God, parents, teachers, elderly etc.
and this may be due to the respect they show to them.
Also, they fear for the unknown people and strangers,
new people and places. This may be due to women's inherent
protective method and way of their brought up.
To overcome this fear, they move out in groups
or they take the shelter and company of parents,
brothers or husband. Normally, they do not venture
out lonely. Prefer to remain safely in their houses.
That is why they were called, " Padi thanda paththini ",
chaste women who never cross the foot-steps of the house.
Madam, innocence about the outside world. May be this is
to give the superiority feelings to their male
counterparts. Even if they know the things or
have the knowledge, they project ignorance
and they say " you know better ".
In real terms, they had enough knowledge
and give advise necessary in family and other
matters to the male members.
Nanam, is that quality in a person to inhibit their
physical and mental exposure. When exhibited ,
they show their reaction. This may be the inhibition
in showing, exhibiting their body and revealing their
thoughts or emotions in public. This quality is very
excessive in females -
e.g. love shy, talking or reacting with males,
stage or public expression etc
This is a genetic factor groomed by bringing up
Payirpu, the disgust revealed for the matters which
are bad socially and morally. They withdraw from the
matters, places and situations concerning bad things.
Especially explicit sex matters, thieving etc frustrate them
and try to abstain from them.
In the south Indian context, Kannagi had all the above
relevant qualities of a family woman. Generally, women are
compared to the flower. One is the physical beauty and
the other is inherent qualities, the fragrance.
Beauty and fragrance of the flower gives to the
flower desirability. Similarly the beauty in the women
coupled with good qualities make them more desirable.
Kannagi was a beautiful young lady bubbling with youth
and all desirable qualities of a family girl.
Still, the beauty and grace of Madhavi invited Kovalan.
Why ? Human nature is unpredictable !
We may further discuss as we proceed.
......... 6
objective of the epic in this dialogue.
Kannagi is from rich business family.
Very young and beautiful girl with rich ornaments and jewels.
These girls generally move only with their girl friends,
and they come out of the house for going to the temple,
and attending family and social functions with parents,
very orthodox and reserved bringing up.
Even their education in those days, it was the practice,
private teachers coming home and teaching them.
They used to invariably and excessively, but naturally
exhibit the grammatical four qualities of women,
achcham, madam, nanam and payirpu,
fear, innocence, shy and disgust respectively.
Achcham, fear may be to God, parents, teachers, elderly etc.
and this may be due to the respect they show to them.
Also, they fear for the unknown people and strangers,
new people and places. This may be due to women's inherent
protective method and way of their brought up.
To overcome this fear, they move out in groups
or they take the shelter and company of parents,
brothers or husband. Normally, they do not venture
out lonely. Prefer to remain safely in their houses.
That is why they were called, " Padi thanda paththini ",
chaste women who never cross the foot-steps of the house.
Madam, innocence about the outside world. May be this is
to give the superiority feelings to their male
counterparts. Even if they know the things or
have the knowledge, they project ignorance
and they say " you know better ".
In real terms, they had enough knowledge
and give advise necessary in family and other
matters to the male members.
Nanam, is that quality in a person to inhibit their
physical and mental exposure. When exhibited ,
they show their reaction. This may be the inhibition
in showing, exhibiting their body and revealing their
thoughts or emotions in public. This quality is very
excessive in females -
e.g. love shy, talking or reacting with males,
stage or public expression etc
This is a genetic factor groomed by bringing up
Payirpu, the disgust revealed for the matters which
are bad socially and morally. They withdraw from the
matters, places and situations concerning bad things.
Especially explicit sex matters, thieving etc frustrate them
and try to abstain from them.
In the south Indian context, Kannagi had all the above
relevant qualities of a family woman. Generally, women are
compared to the flower. One is the physical beauty and
the other is inherent qualities, the fragrance.
Beauty and fragrance of the flower gives to the
flower desirability. Similarly the beauty in the women
coupled with good qualities make them more desirable.
Kannagi was a beautiful young lady bubbling with youth
and all desirable qualities of a family girl.
Still, the beauty and grace of Madhavi invited Kovalan.
Why ? Human nature is unpredictable !
We may further discuss as we proceed.
......... 6
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