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NEDUNALVADAI~
BEST LAY OF THE BARDIC CORPUS
The lay is a unique blend of love and heroic elements,
and the pains of separation are its predominant features. It is artistically
rather complex and subtle, so that it is often regarded, and probably rightly
so, as the best or one of the best of the lays of the bardic corpus.
DR. KAMIL ZVELEBIL
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GOLDEN ALPHABET OF THE TAMILS
Auvvaiyar's two books of aphorisms entitled Attichudi
and Konrai-Venthan, written in the order of the Tamil Alphabet withTamil
Alphabet which the learned Joseph Beschi considered as "~worthy of Seneca
himself' have been most appropriately called"Golden Alphabet of the Tamils.
ASIATIC RESEARCHES, LONDON EDITION
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TIRUMULAR, PATTINATTAR:
GREAT CREATIVE POETS
I cannot fully agree with the analysis of bhakti
poetry as the literary expression of social protest. I also consider some
of the Sitta poets, particularly Tirumular and Pattinathar, as great creative
poets.
DR. KAMIL ZVELEBIL
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PERIYAPURANAM:
NATIONAL AND DEMOCRATIC
Periapuranam is national and democratic not only
in its theme and its message but also in its language and its rhythm.
TP.MEENAKSHI SUNDARAN
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PERIYAPURANAM: PURELY INDIGENOUS
Periapuranam is purely indigenous, purely Tamil.
DR. KAMIL ZVELEBIL
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KAPILAR: MASTER OF CONDENSATION
The tradition is unanimous in regarding Kapilar
as the greatest of all classical Tamil Poets. He is represented in all
anthologies being the author of 206 songs. His Kurincipattu was written
to in struct an Aryan prince in Tamil poetic conventions and may be regarded
as model creation A whole one fifth ainkurunuru is ascribec to him. In
these poems we recognise him as a master of condensation and an original
author of lovely images.
DR. KAMIL ZVELEBIL
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RELIGIOUS LITERATURE
The real glory of medieval Tamil literature, however,
is undoubtedly the Saivite and Vaisnavite devotional teachers which are
among the greatest religious literature of the world.
A.L. BASHAM
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RELIGIOUS LITERATURE
This 'tinge of Dravidian' runs through all Dravidian
literature post-Aryan periods in which all the religions ideals of the
people were expressed, giving it a distinctive and often perplexing individuality
of its own. Dravidian genius developed a distinctive religion literature
worthy not only to stand side by side with the best the literature of India,
but also to take a place in history towards truth.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION AND ETHIC
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KALINKAITUPPANANI
In many ways, it is a great and marvelous poem,
probably the most colourful poem in the entire Tamil literature, in which
erotic experience and blood-thirstiness is painted in the same glowing
colours. But the fantastic and gruesome have perhaps "not been treated
with more vividness elsewhere in Tamil literature.
CAND HJESUDASAN
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NO MATCH
Kapilar's interest and genius was concentrated
on nature of the hills. His descriptions of nature and his comparisons
and metaphors, apt and daring, have probably no match in the whole bardic
corpus.
DR. KAMIL ZVELEBIL
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MULLAIPPATTU
Mullaippattu is an ancient classical Tamil idyll
of 103 lines sung in honour of the Pandian King Nedunchelian by his court
bard Napputhanar. How Nedunchelian, once having gone on an expedition to
meet the combined forces of seven powertul kings in the field at Talayalanganain
and routed them all in the fierce battle that ensued, returns with great
splendour and magnificence and with trophies of victory to kiss his loveliest
wife and how this beautiful maiden that had been left alone in a country
villa with a deep sorrow at the separation of her beloved husband, is lying
down on her couch her chaste bosom heaving up with a sign of consolation
at his shortly expected return, are all related most vividly and very picturesquely
in this poem. The poem is remarkable alike for simplicity of thought, beauty
of expression and noble sentiments. The imaginative hold which it has on
the mind of the reader is strong and elevating. The interest of the plots
is sustained throughout by the poet with great delicacy and subtlety that
characterise a master mind. The rhythm and harmony of style vary every
now and then and adhere closely to the dignified march of the sense, while
the diction, though rugged times, is on the whole, chaste and elegant replete
with genuine elements of Tamil.
MARAIMALAI ADIGAL
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