FLOWERS IN THE VELLPARI NOVEL

வேள்பாரி புதினத்தில் பூக்கள்

Abstract

Literature is not merely a medium for reading; it is a profound reflection of life itself. As a mirror to human experience, it captures the nuances of existence in all its dimensions.  In this light, Veerayuga Naayagan Vel Paari, a novel by Su. Venkatesan, emerges as a significant work that bridges the historical with the contemporary. Although the novel is a relatively modern form in the evolution of literary genres, it continues to draw depth, richness, and meaning from the legacy of ancient traditions. This study seeks to explore how the novel employs elements of nature—particularly flowers—to symbolize the primacy and spiritual depth of the inner life. Through a close reading, the research identifies and analyzes flowers such as the mayilai flower, panam flower, kanthal flower, irupai flower, alaripoo, mullipoo, koothali flower, vengai flower, thalai flower, aeruzham flower, kongu flower, eruvai flower, and kamukup flower. Each of these is examined not only for its botanical identity but also for its metaphorical and cultural significance within the narrative. Ultimately, this study illustrates how nature—through floral imagery—serves as a vital conduit for expressing emotional, spiritual, and philosophical themes in the novel.