கலிங்கத்துப்பரணியில் பொருட்சுவை: முதலாம் குலோத்துங்க சோழன் காலத்து வீரமும் காதலும் பற்றிய ஓர் ஆழமான இலக்கிய மற்றும் வரலாற்றுப் பகுப்பாய்வு

The Richness of Substance in Kalingathupparani: An In-Depth Literary and Historical Analysis of Valor and Love during the Reign of Kulothunga Chola I

Abstract

In the history of Tamil literature, the genre known as Chitrilakkiyam (Minor Literature) or Prabandham holds a unique place. Among these, "Parani" is a heroic epic sung in praise of a great warrior who has slain a thousand elephants on the battlefield. Kalingathu-p-Parani, the first Parani work to emerge in Tamil, is hailed by scholars like Ottakkoothar as "Then-Thamizh Deiva Parani" (The Divine Parani of Southern Tamil) due to its poetic excellence and historical data. This article provides an in-depth exploration of the "Porut-suvai" (Richness of Substance/Subject Matter) employed by the author, Jayamkondar.

Centering on the victory of Kulothunga Chola I in the Kalinga War, this work does not limit itself to valor alone. It integrates the essence of Akapporul (Internal/Love aesthetics) in the "Kadai Thirappu" (Opening of the Door) section, descriptions of nature and desert landscapes in the "Kaadu Paadiyathu" (Singing of the Forest) section, and astounding feats of bravery in the "Kalam Paadiyathu" (Singing of the Battlefield) section. Furthermore, this article analytically examines historical truths such as the background of Kulothunga Chola I, the military prowess of his commander Karunakara Tondaiman, and the causes of the Kalinga War through a literary lens. It also explains in detail how Kalingathu-p-Parani serves as a historical document when compared with epigraphical (inscription) evidence.