Silappadhikaram - XII

Literary Appreciation

12

Kannagi was a traditional family girl from a rich business community.

She was of the age of twelve years at the time of her marriage to Kovalan

She was a happy girl with traditional Tamilian qualities, as we 

narrated in our earlier chapter, viz.,achcham, madam, naanam

and payirpu - fear, innocence, shy and disgust respectively.
 

For a traditional chaste family girl, her chastity is her prime importance

For which she sacrifices her everything including her life.

A good husband, family, society and the rulers  honored

her chastity and helped her in protecting it.
 

Next priority for her is her husband - his longevity of life,

welfare and his happiness and satisfaction.

Kannagi never questioned Kovalan leaving her and

living with Madhavi. She might have thought, the happiness

that she was not able to provide, let him get from other woman,

a prostitute. This is high profile character of Kannagi, which we

can not expect from other women.

For this quality of Kannagi, Kovalan repented after returning

to her from Madhavi. In his absence, she remained in his house
and took care of his old parents performing all the responsibilities 
and charity. She never complained to anybody including her parents.


But, when the husband was in trouble , his honor or life 
was threatened, they shed all their basic qualities and without
any shy or fear, went to fight for justice. This was the case
with Kannagi. When Kovalan was slain on false charges
of thieving the Queens anklet, Kannagi went to establish
the innocence Kovalan and established the justice.

The third priority for the woman is her children.

For their welfare, well-being and future, she toils, takes 

and bears any hardship in life. We may not be able to discuss

this aspect, as Kannagi had no children.  In the making of a goddess,

it is usual practice to project the woman without any children.


All these qualities and character go to make Kannagi
a personality deserving honor and worship.
But Fate played its hard role as she never enjoyed enduring
happiness in her married life. With early marriage at the age
of twelve and short span of married life , she became
a teen age widow.

No doubt, even to-day we have seen such women personalities,
for whom God showers mercy and rain on earth,
also, creates huge calamities for the injustice to them.
*****

Silappadhikaram - XI

Silappadhikaram

11

Literary Appreciation

Silappadhikaram is an Epic.

It is the first Tamil Epic, Mudhanmai  Kappium, as it is called.

Though all the three Tamil Kings, Chera, Chola and Pandiyan, 

are involved, it is not the story of a king.

It is the story of a common woman, Kannagi.

We have seen how the author, Ilango Adigal has beautifully

narrated the story in poetic-prose style,

And dedicated at the feet of Tamil Language as the Anklet.

A dedicated and sincere effort by the god- gifted author

with command over the language, knowledge and the content.

Wonderful monolithic embodiment of the story

with beautiful and sharp portrayal of the characters.

For the common man though structurally hard with granite- like 
vocabulary, the composition is with temple-like divinity. 

When we name Silappadhikaram, the foremost thought that comes
to our mind is Kannagi, the heroine of the Epic and her fragrant
chastity.  If we compare a lady to a flower , the beauty of the flower
is her essential outer attractive look and the fragrance of the flower is
her character, primarily her chastity, which she safeguards
and dedicates to her husband at their meeting in their first night.

She then remains dedicated to him life-long, maintains
her fidelity and remains chaste by body, mind and thoughts.
People then honored chaste women and offered the status
of divinity, why divinity, the various gods carried out
the orders of chaste women.

The great Tamil saint-poet, Thiruvalluvar says,
Pennin  perunthakka  yaula  karpennum
Thinmai  undaga  perin.
meaning
There is nothing bigger in the world than the woman with
strong conviction to chastity 
And
Deivam  thozhaal  kozhunan  thozhuthu  ezhuvaal
Peiyena  peyyum  mazhai.
meaning
If a woman with godly devotion and dedication to her husband
calls for rain, it will readily shower.

People believe in other parts of South India also that the chastity of
a woman saves the life of her husband.  In Kerala the fishermen
believe that they are safe in any rough sea till their women 
remain chaste on the shore.  This was the idea in the famous 
Malayalam story, Chemmeen by Tagazhi Sivashankaran Pillai.
Belief is based on experience, may not have any scientific basis.
Why then chaste Kannagi lost her husband in young age ?
The author, Ilango Adigal, conveniently calls it as fate,
yes, everything beyond our logic or comprehension is fate.

If married to a person the chaste women remained faithful 
to him for ever, as the Tamil saying stands,
Kal  aanalum  purushan,  pul  aanalum  purushan
Stone or grass, he is my husband.
Chastity is the purity of the character by body, mind 
and thoughts - one man, one woman ideology.
Even in adversity this was the litmus test - fire test of Sita 
as in the case of Ramayan.

Even with prevailing practice of polygamy, polyandry and
prostitution in vogue then,  chastity and chaste women were
given utmost respect. People considered such  women were having
extraordinary powers even to control the nature and 
command over gods.  They worshiped such women as deities
constructing exclusive temples for them.
Kannagi was one among them.

Though her name was revered with honor, why people 
are not preferring to name their children as Kannagi ?
Is it because of her sustained sufferings in married life ?
Or that she had become a widow in young age ?

Instead why they prefer to name as Madhavi, 
a women from the traditional family of prostitutes, called 
parathiyar or devadasis ?
*****
                                                                                              ......  12

Silappadhikaram - X

Silappadhikaram

(Literary Appreciation)

10

Towering Inferno

Burning Madurai City

Kannagi established the justice in the Court of Pandian Neduncheziyan.

She proved in front of the Court that her husband, Kovalan is an innocent

and not a thief. Understanding the truth and injustice caused to them,

the King and the Queen die immediately.

With this the burning anger of Kannagi is not quenched.

She goes to the Cathedral of Madurai city.

She calls the noble men, chaste women, learned, Brahamins and

other virtuous people of the city and with anger ask them,

" Is it the justice you people have done to me ? you were

mute witness for this."

She called the gods, they were standing in front of her 

and shivering with fear.

Yes, for the chaste women, even Gods fear and it is said they

carry out their orders.

In the fit of anger, with right hand she tore her left breast

and flung it with the curse and order to the fire god to burn

the City of Madurai, sparing the children, old and good lives.
Orders of Kannagi were carried out by the Fire God.
Towering Inferno in the City of Madurai and destruction..

Though her anger quenched, with overwhelming sorrow
she walks ...walks.....directionless, keeps on walking
without any food or water. She ultimately reaches
the hilly forest region of Chera Kingdom. The place is known
as Kodungalur. She remains there for 15 days without any food
or water under a vengai tree.

Then, resurrected Kovalan, her husband descends from
the heaven along with deities in a pushpak viman and take Kannagi
along with him and goes back to heaven.
This is in the ultimate process of making a chaste woman
a Goddess. Why not ?

With this, the author, Ilango Adigal closes his pen and hands over to
Sithalai Sattanar to take up the story of Manimekhalai,
Madhavi's daughter.
*****

Silappadhikaram - IX

Silappadhikaram

(Literary Appreciation)

9

In the Court Room

Gate keeper announcing, Kannagi entered the court of

King Pandian Nedunchezhiyan with her other

anklet in her hand. With her hair spread,

eyes expressing a mixed feeling of

sorrow and anger, she appeared like

Goddess Kali.

The King asked Kannagi,

" With flowing tears, you have come to my court,

Oh, young lady! who are you ? "

Kannagi replied,

"Oh, foolish King ! the innocent person who came

from Pukhar to Madurai

driven by his fate and killed by your guards on your order

while trying to sell my anklet is Kovalan.

I am his wife, Kannagi "

The king said,

" In the process of justice killing a thief, there is nothing wrong.

please understand."

Kannagi told the king,

" You understand, it is my anklet with precious ruby stones "

" Let us check, the queen's anklet is with pearls, "

the king said.

The anklet recovered from Kovalan was placed

before Kannagi. She took the anklet and to open it

she threw it on the floor. The ruby stones from the

anklet spread all over the court.
The truth like lightning struck in the court hall.
Seeing the truth in the form red rubies, the King
Pandian Nedunchezhiyan trembled.

What an injustice  he had caused............!?
" Without proper inquiry, I believed the words of the
gold smith. Am I King ? I'm the thief. 
Let me die..." saying this the king collapsed,
fell on the ground and died.

The shivering Queen also, saying, " there is nothing 
 any equal or parallel to show and console  for 
those who lost their husbands " fell on the ground and died.
Three deaths: of Kovalan, the king and the queen successively.
Tragic end.

This is the objective of the author, Ilango Adigal to

emphasize  for those in rule who commit injustice,

the same injustice will turn as god of death.

Here, the fate was more active to play its role.

                                                                                          ................. 10

Silappadhikaram - VIII

Silappadhikaram

(Literary Appreciation)

8

Oh, Madurai !
Having decided to go to Madurai, together Kovalan and Kannagi

proceeded. They wanted to sell the anklet of Kannagi, the only 
remaining jewel with her, get the money to invest in business.
On the way, they met Kaunthi Adigal (கௌந்தி  அடிகள்), 
a Jain nun, who was very kind to them,  
especially to Kannagi. She advised to them
the principles of life en-route.


The fluttering Royal Pandian Flag with Fish emblem 
on the fort appeared as if saying to them not to 
come to Madurai, possibly indicating 
the disaster going to occur shortly. 

After reaching Madurai, Kovalan and Kannagi happily
spent the night in a friend's house thinking of their 
new happy lease of life together . But, they were 
not aware what the fate had them in store next day. 
If known, they would not have closed their
eyes that night. Poor dolls in the hands of fate !
That was their last night together.

Next day, out of the pair of anklets, Kovalan picked one.
Leaving Kannagi in the custody of the friend, he left for
the market to sell the anklet. A gold smith, who had stolen
the Queen's anklet saw Kovalan trying to sell his anklet.
He informed the King that he had seen the thief of the 
Queen's anklet trying to sell it in the market.

The Pandian King Nedunchezhiyan was in a hurry to reach
the Queen. Without any further investigation he ordered the
guards to "kill the thief and bring the anklet."
Guards acted as per the King's  order.
They caught Kovalan and killed him.
The fraud gold smith laughed.
Also the cruel Fate.

Dead Kovalan & inconsolable Kannagi 
Others told. Kannagi heard.
Yes, Kannagi heard that Kovalan went to the market in Madurai.
Kannagi heard that Kovalan was trying to sell her anklet.
Kannagi heard that at the instance of gold smith, Kovalan was
implicated that he only has stolen the queen's anklet.
Kannagi heard that the gold smith had informed the Pandiyan
King Neduchezhian that he knew the anklet thief and that he is trying
to sell it in the market.
Kannagi heard that the King ordered to kill the thief and bring
the queen's anklet,
Kannagi heard that the guards went and held Kovalan
and brought to the place of killing,
Kannagi heard that.........
the guards killed Kovalan and 
he is dead.
The heavy thunderbolt struck on Kannagi's head.

Kannagi ran to the place, where slain Kovalan's
body was lying. Holding him she wept.....
wept......wept........and wept, inconsolably.
Tears in the eyes drained, but continued to cry.

Is this for which, she married Kovalan.... ?
Is this for which she lived with him happily
 for only short period...... ?
Is this for which, she was living calmly in separation,
when he went to live with Madhavi........ ?
Is this for which, Kovalan returned to Kannagi and she 
accepted him without any question...... ?
Whether he would have live long, if he had stayed
with Madhavi........... ?
Is this for which, they came to Madurai from Pukhar... ?
Is this for which, she gave him her anklet to sell.... ?
No .... no...., the play of fate was very hard.

Now, who will answer her questions.
Yes.... the king  in this world who killed her husband 
without any justice, he should answer.
The gods from other world, who were responsible
for her present condition.

People in and around and the friends tried to console her,
but in vain.

She knew very well that her husband was innocent and 
falsely implicated. How can they do this for her husband ?
They have to answer for this.

She straight went home, took her other anklet, which was 
with her. With that in her hand, anger bubbling in her eyes,
she proceeded to the court of the king
 Pandiyan Nedunchezhiyan.

                                               ........ 9

Silappadhikaram -VII

Silappadhikaram

(Literary Appreciation)

7

Kanal Vari

Kovalan & Madhavi reciting Kanalvari

A scene:

The pair of cuckoos together they were happily resting 
and reciting in their nest on a dense green tree, 
the female hatching the eggs.

A very big venomous cobra residing in a hole below the tree

was trying either to catch the birds or swallow the eggs.

A peacock sitting on a branch of a nearby tree was  
watching the snake.

It suddenly opened its wings, flies fast, catches the snake 
with its strong legs and comes back to the branch of tree. 
With its claws tears the snake and swallows, thus killing it. 
After quenching its hunger, seeing the clouds on the sky, 
started dancing wide opening its colorful feathers. 

As the venomous snake is dead, the cuckoos are happy

and started cooing. The whole atmosphere is happy. The monkeys

jump from branches to branches happily. The bloomed flowers 

from the trees fall in the Kavery river, which is  moving slowly
with shy to meet her sea mate, the flowers making a garland 

on her neck

Story Line

In these environment, Madhavi lying on the lap of Kovalan,

recite together the sea shore songs, kanalvari padal .

" Poovar solai mayilala

purindhu kuilgal isai pada

kamar malai arugu asaiya

nadanthai vazhi kaveri ! "

" kamar malai arugu asaiya

nadanthavellam ninkanavar

thirunthu sengol valaiyamai

arindhen vazhi kaveri ! "

 Kovalan recited about Kaveri river as in first stanza.

Madhavi recited about the river and the ruler in second stanza

 Kovalan already bitten by envy bug because of her beauty,
grace and elegance and her public admiration,

suspected her fidelity to him and got annoyed,

Leaves Madhavi and returns to his wife Kannagi.

Madhavi, being truly in love, sends a messenger to Kovalan,
expressing her despair and helplessness.
She repents for any of her mistakes and repents for her
her birth in unchaste family.
She returns all the wealth of Kovalan,
but he rejects.

Madhavi vows that she will be last woman in such a family
and bring up their daughter, Manimekhalai,  
in a religious and pious way.
Shaving her head clean, adorning the religious attire, 
adopted Buddhist religion for pious life
along with her daughter.
What a transformation from unchaste woman to 
loyal mistress to pious woman!

Against Madhavi's will, her mother Chitrapathi in a
dubious way, showing Kovalan's ring to Kannagi
drained all their wealth. As chaste and dedicated wife, 
without asking any question, Kannagi sent all the demands.
When Kovalan returned to Kannagi, he was penniless.
Kannagi happily received Kovalan, as if nothing has happened.
Kovalan repents for his unfaithful action.
But, he was not knowing what to do for the earning.
Kannagi readily removes her anklets for the investment
to do their business, forgiving all his past actions.
They decided to leave Pukhar and proceed to 
Madurai in Pandiya Kingdom.
                                                                     ........ 8

Silappadhikaram - VI

Silappadhikaram

(Literary Appreciation)

6

Characters

Kovalan & Kannagi witnessing the dance performance
of Madhavi along with the King & Queen

3. Madhavi

The interesting character portrayed by the author, 

Ilango Adigal taking more pains, because Madhavi

had controversial qualities. She was the daughter

of one parathiyar class, unchaste woman by name

Chitrapathi. The parathiyar women do not marry

anybody and they are common women in a place.  

They are sex workers and indulge in prostitution for

their living. Also in the king's court they perform 

dance and in temples as devadasis they work.

The then society, though not desired, approved such 

class of women as Kanikaiyar for kalavu, 

clandastine love or sex.

In the case of Madhavi, though she by birth a Kanigai from
parathiyar  community, from the time she met Kovalan,
she remained faithful and dedicated to him
without any infidelity. Ilango Adigal tries to paint
a picture of Madhavi equivalent to Kannagi.
She repents for her traditional past life.

In the natural process of procreation, love and sex are
two important factors. They are independent.
Sex may be without love, that is what sex workers,
prostitutes do. No real love. No further commitments.
They only project existence of love - a show,
for monetary other physical gains.
Though clandestine, social approval was 
limited and reserved.

On the other side, love without sex.
Only happiness and mental satisfaction are reward.
One to one. A cognitive process. Termed as Divine love.
As sex is not involved, social and procreation
 interference is not there.

Love and sex, this is combined and committed program 
in a general and common family life, grahastham, involving
procreation requirement. Members of family and friends
are together in groups and they support and sustain each other.
Love is a positive factor between individuals, groups, nations,
sectors and regions of the world. This cohesive force is essential
for peace and harmony. Relinquishing and renouncing worldly life, 
one may proceed to vanaprastham for penance, but retain 
aspect of love of humanity and other beings. 

Air, water and food are essential primary needs for any living being
including human beings. Shelter, clothing and sex are secondary needs
for sustaining and growth of any species. For early human beings, 
sex and procreation was inseparable. When they understood these 
are separable, many consequences followed.

Prostitution, illicit sex, desire and gratification with 
other men/women is an oldest and well known profession 
in the world.This may be for fun or pleasure or thrill or
sense of adventure or for material gains. 
Madhavi is from a family practicing such profession. 
Even she repents for her birth and for her past.

Kovalan first met Madhavi during her Arangetram, 
first dance performance in front of the king, for which
he was invited with Kannagi. From then, he forgot his wife.
Kovalan and Madhavi loved each other
She lived with Kovalan for three years. During the course, 
he became envious of her popularity with other men
and the King. He suspected her fidelity leading to their
separation and Kovalan walking back to Kannagi.

The author, Ilango Adigal attributes this also to the
hard play of fate leading him to death.
Yes, with Madhavi at least he would have remained alive.

                                                                    ........ 7

Silappadhikaram - V

Silappadhikaram
(Literary Appreciation)
5
Characters

2. Kannagi

Before studying the character, let us see what Kannagi says about herself
in the court of King Pandiyan Nedunchezhiyan after the
death of her husband, Kovalan:

" Oh wisdom-less king!

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

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

Silappadhikaram - IV

Silappadhikaram

(Literary Appreciation)

4

Characters

Kovalan & Kannagi

Let us study the character of the main characters created 
by the author in the epic Silappadhikaram. 
As we mentioned earlier, the main characters are three 
viz, Kovalan, Kannagi and Madhavi.

With this analysis we understand the 
then culture and practices,

rulers and their ruling, life and life-styles 
of the people in vogue those days.

With free local and foreign and overseas trade, 
the business communities in the country were 
flourishing and were very prosperous and rich.

The trade was in precious materials, gems and stones, 
grains, ornaments and jewels, fine clothes etc. 
As the rich traders were helping the rulers

during wars and calamities, they were having 
close relations with the Kings.

They mingled with the Royalty during 
Cultural and Religious functions.
They were invariable invitees 
for any celebrations to the king’s court.

Two such traders are Maasaathuvaan 
and Maanaaicken by names.

1.  Kovalan

Kovalan is the son of above mentioned rich and 
prosperous grains trader Maasaathuvaan. 
Along with his father, he was attending their

business. At the age of 16, he got married to 
Maanaicken’s  daughter Kannagi, who was only 12 years old. 
May be this was prevalent practice then. 
Immediately after attaining puberty, the parents of

the girl will be in a hurry to get her married and complete the

responsibility of begetting a daughter as early as possible.

Even the boys were not spared from this early marriage

in boyhood itself. After the marriage Kovalan and Kannagi

were living together for some time. Then Madhavi comes and

haunts their life - separation

At this young teen age, whether Kovalan understands his

family and social responsibility. Though Kannagi was a

beautiful girl, he takes refuge in court dancer,

Madhavi’s beauty and grace. He stays in her quarters for

three years. As a traditional chaste family lady, Kannagi prefers to call

herself as “ Kovalan’s wife".  But at the end of the story, the author

force us to call Kovalan as Kanngi’s husband.

Kovalan is not a hero, but heroine’s husband, a weak personality.

Fate plays very hard game with him, taking his life.

Silappadhikaram is an heroine oriented epic.

Anyhow, Ilango Adigal , The author depicts Kovalan as

a soft and kind hearted man always ready to help the poor

and distressed people. Falling to the beauty and grace of

Madhavi, does not make him a bad fellow.

This was accepted socially by the community 
and common practice to have the links with 
the parathiyar, common woman.

We do not find any objection by the wife, parents and other

family and friends for the practice. Even the author does not

take any objection. But chaste woman are praised by noble people.

Though child marriage was prevalent, we don’t come across

polygamy or polyandry in the epic.

Whatever may be the life of Madhavi prior to meeting Kovalan,

she remained dedicated and faithful 

only to him for rest of her life.

*

                                                 ................ 5