Shilappadikaram: (The Ankle Bracelet)The peerless young Kôvalan leaves his loyal wife Kannaki for the courtesan Mâdhavi, and though he returns to her, he still meets his death because of her ill-omened ankle bracelet. The Shilappadikaram has been called an epic and even a novel, but it is also a book of general education. Adigal packed his story with information: history merging into myth, religious rites, caste customs, military lore, descriptions of city and country life. And four Cantos are little anthologies of the poetry of the period (seashore and mountain songs, hunters' and milkmaid's song). Thus the story gives us a vivid picture of early Indian life in all its aspects. |
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adorned Agastya Aiyai ancient ankle bracelet anklets army Aryan bangles bathe beautiful black antlers Blessed Brahmin breasts CANTO chariot Chêra chest Chôla dance dancers dark Devandi drums earth Eiynars elephants enemy eyes fear feet flowers forest fragrant garden garlands genie girl goddess of Faithfulness gods gold golden hair hands harp heard heart heaven hills Himalaya honor husband Indra jasmine jewels Kannaki Kâverî Kavundi Korkai Kôvalan land liana Long live lord lotus lovers Mâdalan Mâdari Mâdhavi Madurai Maravar merchants mighty monarch monks moon mountain Murugan noble palace Pândya king parasol pearls Podiyil precious priest prince Puhâr rich royal ruler sacred sage saint sandalwood sang scepter Selected Poems Shâttan Shenguttuvan Shiva songs spear stone stood strings sword Tamil temple temple car tender tree Vaigai Vanji Vedas victory virtuous Vishnu wandering war elephants water lilies wears wife woman women worship wreath young