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Kambar (poet)

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Kambar
Statue of Kambar at Marina Beach, Chennai
Born1180 (1180)
Therizhandur (in present-day Tamil Nadu, India)
Died1250(1250-00-00) (aged 69–70)
Nattarasankottai (in present-day Tamil Nadu, India)
OccupationPoet
Writing career
LanguageTamil
Notable worksRamavataram
Silai Elupatu

Kambar, or Kamban (1180–1250), was a medieval Tamil poet. He is best known for composing the Ramavataram (popularly known as Kambaramayanam), an epic retelling of the narrative of the Hindu epic Ramayana. Written in Tamil Viruttam metre, the work incorporates classical Tamil poetic conventions (tinai) and Bhakti movement devotionalism rather than a direct translation of Valmiki's Sanskrit text.[1] He had also authored several other literary works in Tamil including Silai Elupatu, Kangai Puranam, Sadagopar Antati and Saraswati Antati.

Life

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Kambar was believed to have been born in Therazhundur (in present day Tamil Nadu).[2][3][4] He was supported and patronised by Sadayappa Vallal.[5] He grew up in the Chola Empire during the reign of Kulothunga Chola III. Having heard of Kamban's talent, Kulothunga summoned him to his court and honoured him with the title Kavi Chakravarty (Emperor of poets).[6][4] Kamban was well versed in Tamil and Sanskrit languages. Epigraphical and historical evidences suggest that he flourished in the late 12th and early 13th centuries, predominantly during the reign of Kulothunga Chola III (r. 1178–1218 CE).[7] While earlier 19th century accounts attempted to date him earlier based on legendary synchronisms, modern historians identify his patron, Sadayappa Vallal of Puduvai, with historical figures attested in Chola-era records.[8]

There are no clear information of his later whereabouts, with multiple stories in folklore. As per one theory, Kamban spent his last days in Nattarasankottai near present day Sivagangai. After having differences with Kulothunga's son, Rajaraja III, he left the Chola kingdom and moved from place to place. When he reached at Nattarasankottai, he decided to stay there and spent his last days there. There is tomb dedicated to him at the location and the annual Kamban vizha is conducted at this place to felicitate Kambar.[4]

A popular folkloric tradition, later dramatized in the 20th-century literature and Tamil cinema, recounts that Kambar had a fall out with the Chola monarch following the execution of his son, Ambigapathy, who was sentenced to death for an affair with the royal princess Amaravathi. In these legends, Kambar left the court, stayed under the patronage of the Cheras, and uttered verses cursing the decline of the Chola dynasty.[9] Historians treat these accounts as uncorroborated by contemporary epigraphy, suggesting that these accounts could be later oral folklore rather than documented political events.[10]

Literary works

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Kamba Ramyanam Mandapam at The Ranganathasamy Temple, Srirangam, where he is believed to have recited the epic
1966 Postage stamp
  • The Kamba Ramayanam consists of over 10,000 verses arranged into six cantos (kandam).[11] According to temple tradition, Kambar presented the work for its initial public recitation (arangetram) at the Ranganathaswamy Temple at Srirangam. Some later hagiographical accounts place this event during the era of earlier Vaishnava teachers. But mainstream historians date the text's debut to 12th century CE, where it was sanctioned after debate before the temple assembly.[12]
  • Saraswati Antati, literary work of antati style in praise of Hindu Goddess Saraswati
  • Sadagopar Antati, antati in praise of Vaishnava Saint Nammalvar
  • Silai Elupatu, work in praise of 11th century CE Pallava king Karunakara Tondaiman
  • Tirukkai Valakkam
  • Erelupathu
  • Kangai Puranam
  • Mangala Vazhthu
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Kamban is portrayed by Serukalathur Sama in the Tamil-language film Ambikapathy (1937). In the film Ambikapathy (1957), M. K. Radha played Kamban.

See also

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  • Kambarmedu, an archaeological site associated with Kamban

References

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  1. ↑ Zvelebil, Kamil (1973). The Smile of Murugan: On Tamil Literature of South India. E. J. Brill. pp. 207–210. ISBN 978-90-04-03591-1.
  2. ↑ Ramaswamy, Vijaya (25 August 2017). Historical Dictionary of the Tamils. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 183. ISBN 979-8-216-20821-1.
  3. ↑ "Kambar ( Kavi Chakravarthy )- Profile and Life History of a Tamil Poet". Aptinfo.in. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (1955). Colas.
  5. ↑ India's Communities by Kumar Suresh Singh, Anthropological Survey of India – Ethnology – 1992 – page 4146
  6. ↑ The Cyclopaedia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia By Edward Balfour
  7. ↑ Nilakanta Sastri, K. A. (1955). The Cōḷas. University of Madras. pp. 668–670.
  8. ↑ Zvelebil, Kamil (1975). Tamil Literature. E. J. Brill. pp. 182–184. ISBN 978-90-04-04190-5.
  9. ↑ Blackburn, Stuart H. (1996). Inside the Drama-House: Rama Stories and Shadow Puppets in South India. University of California Press. pp. 24–26. ISBN 978-0-520-20225-2.
  10. ↑ Nilakanta Sastri, K. A. (1955). The Cōḷas. University of Madras. p. 672.
  11. ↑ Aiyar, V. V. S. (1950). Kamba Ramayanam: A Study. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. pp. 1–5.
  12. ↑ Nilakanta Sastri, K. A. (1955). The Cōḷas. University of Madras. pp. 671–672.
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