Kovalan and kannagi the story of the silapathikaram

The story relates how kannagi took revenge on the pandyan king of madurai, who had wr. Silappatikaram literally translated, the story of the anklet depicts the life of kannagi, a chaste woman who led a peaceful life with kovalan in puhar poompuhar, then the capital of cholas. They live happily for a while and then fate plays havoc in their life. Where elango adigal stands without silapathikaram the hindu. The silappathikaram tells of the young merchant kovalans marriage to the virtuous kannaki. She marries the son of macattuvan, kovalan, whose family. Variations in and of the story of the silappathikaram the. Later kovalan left his wife for a dancer named madhavi and spent all his money with her. Jul 31, 2018 the city of madurai was ruled by the pandya king nedunj cheliyan 1. Kovalan, who was married to kannagi, fell in love with madhavi when he saw her at her dancing debut in the court of the chola king karikalan. If you are not familiar with the story of kannagi and kovalan, please see this.

Global symbol of justice by eric miller the below is a written version of the speech delivered at the national seminar on silappathikaram at the government college, chittur, palghat palakkad, kerala, on 20 february 2007. Oct 16, 2008 this one of the master piece in tamil literature. How many tamils still believe that silapathikaram was a. Kannagi was the daughter of the merchant and ship captain manayakan from puhar. Kovalan, the son of a wealthy grain merchant in kaveripoompattinam, married kannagi a affluent lovely girl. Kovalan reluctantly took it to the market place to sell it for a suitable price. The sentiments expressed in her letter to kovalan are sufficient proof of her chastity and loyalty. Kannagi is the daughter of a welltodo merchant in kaviripoompattinam and marries a lad kovalan, of equal status. Madhavi was born in a lineage of courtesans, and was an accomplished dancer. Madhavi is an important character in the silapathikaram, one of the epics in tamil literature. Global symbol of justice by eric miller the below is a written version of the speech delivered at the national seminar on silappathikaram at the government college, chittur, palghat palakkad, kerala, on. He married kannagi who was also from a wealthy family.

An oral version states that kannagi and kovalan observed madhavis. Legend has it that kannagi took revenge on the king of madurai, for a mistaken death penalty imposed on her husband kovalan, by cursing the city with disaster. Master piece from silapadigaram kovalan kannagi wedding. Anyone who have actually read silappadikaram will agree, its. Unfortunately for kovalan, the queen of nedunchezhian, the king of madurai, had had one of her anklets stolen by a greedy courtier. Legend has it that kannagi took revenge on the king of madurai, for a mistaken death penalty imposed on her husband kovalan, by cursing the city with disaster the story. The movie faithfully follows the story of silappathikaram and was a hit when it was released. The kannagi story first appears in the sangam era poem narrinai 312.

Kovalan and kannagi reached madurai city and took abode under a cowhred family. Generally, epics in any language are lengthy stories in poetry form of great ones like gods, incarnations. Kannagi in politics a statue of kannagi in anger holding her anklet in one hand obviously depicting her in the scene from silapathikaram where she demands justice from the king, pandiyan on the death of her husband kovalan at the hands of the kings policemen, is an important landmark in chennai, on the famed marina beach, since about 1968. The anklets were very similar to kannagis except for the fact that they were filled with pearls rather than rubies. The story starts in chola nadu, heightens in pandiya nadu, and ends in chera nadu all the three were kingdoms in ancient tamil region. The story kovalan, the son of a wealthy merchant in kaveripattinam, married kannagi, a young woman of legendary beauty. When you kissed me i remembered all the lives that poured out of us, and i remembered how to honour water. Silapathikaram is the first kappiyam epic among the five in tamil literature. Tamil woman who forms the central character of the tamil epic. May 28, 2019 silappathikaram, the earliest epic poem in tamil, written in the 5th6th century ad by prince ilanko adikal ilango adigal. The city of madurai was ruled by the pandya king nedunj cheliyan 1. Her father, manayakan, was a reputed ship captain of puhar.

The adyar library bulletin, volumes we are even getting boards to silapathikaram the literary significance of kannagi silapathikaram kovalans epic and connect it to the garden. Tamil nadus silapathikaram epic of the ankle bracelet. Silapathikaram to regain his property, he went to madurai along silapathikaram his wife kannagi to start a business. May 04, 2018 silappathikaram is an epic poem containing the story of a brave chaste woman kannagi, who burnt down an entire town to avenge the death of her husband. Madhari and her daughter aiyai made the couple to stay in a small clean house and helped them to relax. There lived a merchant by name maasaathuvaan in kaveripoompattinam. The silappathikaram has more ancient roots in the tamil bardic tradition, as kannaki and other characters of the story are mentioned or alluded to in the sangam literature such as in the nai.

Kannagi and kovalan lived happily until kovalan met madhavi a dancer. By making an analysis of the keyword silapathikaram story in tamil pdf and making of india, 2001 in tamil nadu. After 3 years, kovalan learned the truth about the mothers crime through the song kaveri kanal vary, during the festival of the god indra. The story is about her violent revenge against the injustice inflicted to her husband kovalan. Silappathikaram the story of the jeweled anklet an epic of the common citizens. Kovalan was the son of a prosperous grain trader in kaveripoompattinam. Kannagi as an unapproachable goddess even at this point in the story beck, 1972, p. The tamil epic silappathikaram details the story of kovalan, the son of a wealthy merchant from kaverippattinam who married kannagi. Kaveripoompattinam or poompuhar as called now was then a busy port city of the chola kingdom ruled by the famous king karikala and the native place of kovalan, a rich. In this story, the heroine kannagi, a beautiful chaste woman loses her husband to a courtesan called madhavi, yet never castigates him or bemoans her fate. Eventually kovalan returns to her but the story ends in tragedy because madhavis mother had cheated. There have been multiple movies based on the story of silappathikaram and the most famous is the portrayal of kannagi by actress kannamba in the 1942 movie kannagi.

The epic of the anklet, more commonly known as silapathigaram, is perhaps one of the best known epics written in tamil. Silapathikaram is one of the five great epics written in tamil language. Kannagi, a legendary tamil woman, is the central character of the south indian epic silapathikaram. Kannagi was provided with vegetables and fruits and she also cooked aster long time, but that was the last meal she prepared for her beloved husband. Mangala devi kannagi temple trek kerala trip guide. Im not a tamizhan but i was fortunate to read a version of the epic, from that experience i dont subscribe to marxist maxim figment of imagination attached to heritage of natives. Kannagi kannaki a legendary tamil woman is the central character of the south indian epic silapathikaram. Composed by elangovadigal, the epic sang the story of a chaste woman, kannagi. During that period, madhavis mother stole all the wealth of kannagi the wife of kovalan by using kovalan s ring kannaiyali without the knowledge of madhavi and kovalan. Silapathikaram project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Kovalan leaves kannagi enamored with madhavi, a danseuse, on whom he gradually spent all his wealth.

The epic is a tragic love story of an ordinary couple, kannaki and her husband kovalan. King of madurai, who had wrongfully put her husband to death, by cursing the madurai thoonga nagaram. After she became kovalan s mistress she proved to be very faithful displaying all the characteristics of a loyal housewife. The story relates how kannagi took revenge on the pandyan. Kovalan on his wedding night with kannagi, describes her beauty. Dear professors and students, dear people of chittur and palghat, vannakam. In madurai, top cop plants 24 varieties of trees mentioned. Kovalan s objective was to sell the anklets in this kingdom so that he and his wife would be able to start their lives over. The silappathikaram tells of the young merchant kovalans marriage to the virtuous kannaki kannagi, his love for the courtesan matavi, and his consequent ruin and exile in maturai, where he is unjustly executed after. Apr 06, 2018 this story comes in the tamil history and mythology called silapathikaram the tale of an anklet where a very angry lady, kannagi took to task the king as well as the city that did injustice to her. A more extended version appears in the postsangam era tamil epic in silappatikaram epic of the anklet. May 22, 2017 for the past two years, ive been deeply engaged with the silappadikaram, the tale of the anklet, an epic poem that centres on the journey of a heroic female character kannagi who.

It is the story of kannagi and kovalan and the injustice meted out to them by the pandiya mannan. Kovalan and kannaki the story of the silappadhikaram panchapakesa ayyar, aiylam subramanier on. Cilappadikaram, which means, the story centering around the anklet an ornament worn by young tamil girls before they are married, as vouched for by the sangam poems, is an unusual and unconventional literary work, as it could be aptly described as both a play and an epic. Must read for anyone whether you know tamil or not. Kannagi is described as the chaste women who stays with her husband despite his unfaithfulness, their attempt to rebuild their after her husband had lost everything but repented, how her husband is falsely framed punished without the due checks and processes of justice. Kannagi story was repeated again now in the ambala,harayana,under earth, this time also great cruilities happend on kannagi, if i am not wrong, kannagi, tamil is the daughter or sister of great and very ancient god and called southern god. Silappathikaram tamil epic poem by adikal britannica. After she became kovalans mistress she proved to be very faithful displaying all the characteristics of a loyal housewife. This story comes in the tamil history and mythology called silapathikaram the tale of an anklet where a very angry lady, kannagi took to task the king as well as the city that did injustice to her. Story of kannagi kannagi kannaki a legendary tamil woman is the central character of the south indian epic silapathikaram. Plot overview and analysis book of vanci book of banci kovalan and kannagi the story of the silapathikaram characters silappathikaram or the story of the jeweled anklet themes kovalan and. Kovalan, the son of a wealthy merchant in kaverippoompattinam. This story was narrated by brahmanda guruji shri narendra babu.

Kannagi based on tamil classic silappadikaaram amar. Kovalan realized his mistake later and returned to his wife. The story of kannagi plays an important role in history of madurai. What is it to me if there are good women or good men or gods in this city, now that you are gone. Oct 04, 2019 the tamil epic silappathikaram details the story of kovalan, the son of a wealthy merchant from kaverippattinam who married kannagi. Kovalan left kannagi and starts living with madhavi. Kannagi, sometimes spelled kannaki, is a legendary tamil woman who forms the central character of the tamil epic silapathikaram.

Kovalans objective was to sell the anklets in this kingdom so that he and his wife would be able to start their lives over. The jeweled anklet the earliest epic poem in tamil, written in the 5th6th century ad by prince ilanko adikal ilango adigal. Jan 09, 2019 30 dec the ancient tamil epic silapathikaram narrates the story of kovalan and there will be english translations throughout the performance so. Feb 04, 2010 kannagi story telling tour arranged in tn. Kovalan and kannaki the story of the silappadhikaram. Sep 01, 2019 kannagi kannagi statue in marina beach, chennai kannagi is a legendary tamil woman who forms the central character of the tamil epic silapathikaram 100300 ad. Silappathikaram, the earliest epic poem in tamil, written in the 5th6th century ad by prince ilanko adikal ilango adigal. Silapathikaram by ilango adigal summary in english youtube.

In the art gallery, fine granite carvings explain the story of silapathikaram beginning with the marriage of kovalan and kannagi, their separation after kovalan started living with madhavi, and. Aug 26, 2017 in the art gallery, fine granite carvings explain the story of silapathikaram beginning with the marriage of kovalan and kannagi, their separation after kovalan started living with madhavi, and. The city of madurai is the main place where the events in silapathikaram took place. Story of god who tested their devoties,short stories on hindu godness and ramyan, mahabharath based epic stories. For the past two years, ive been deeply engaged with the silappadikaram, the tale of the anklet, an epic poem that centres on the journey of a heroic female character kannagi who. Legend states that kannagi took revenge on the king of madurai, for a mistaken death penalty imposed on her husband kovalan, by cursing the city with disaster. Kovalan was a wealthy merchant who married kannagi. How many tamils still believe that silapathikaram was a true. The story is about kannagis fierce vengeance against the wrong meted out to her husband kovalan. Throughout the story, however, he was projecting her in the best possible light directly or through someone else. Kovalan and kannagi decided to start their new life in madurai. Kannagi is described as the chaste women who stays with her husband despite his unfaithfulness, their attempt to rebuild their after her husband had lost everything but repented, how her husband is falsely framed then punished without the due checks and processes of justice. The anger of a lady when she feels truly deprived of justice is something to be fearful about. Kannagi kannagi statue in marina beach, chennai kannagi is a legendary tamil woman who forms the central character of the tamil epic silapathikaram 100300 ad.