Civakacintamani: The Hero Civakan, the Gem That Fulfills All Wishes (Verses 1166 - 1888)The circa 9th century work is one of the five epic masterpieces of Tamil literature. Though the work of a Jain mendicant, Tiruttakkatevar, it is famed for its erotic description and the scenes of love of its hero Civakan. It represents a brilliant fusion of the Jain viewpoint and philosophy with the evocative literary modes of the Tamil tradition. While Civakan is in his mother’s womb, Civakan’s father is murdered by an evil minister Kattiyankaran, whom he had made regent. His mother, Vicayai, escapes by flying off on a peacock shaped vehicle and Civakan is born in a fearsome burning ground for the dead. There his mother leaves him to be taken by a wealthy merchant Kantukatan. Raised in opulence Civakan finds out about his real father from his guru. Civakan has many adventures and acquires seven wives. Eventually, Civakan has a climatic battle with the evil usurper Kattiyankaran, regains his kingdom, and marries his eighth wife. After having eight sons, he vows to renounce the world and after having direct audience with Tirthankara Mahavira, himself, he becomes a naked Jain monk, preaches the Jaina dharma. He becomes a Siddha and achieves release from birth and rebirth soon after, going to the pinnacle of the universe where his soul will exist in infinite bliss forever. |
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Cīvakacintāmaṇi: The Hero Cīvakaṉ, the Gem that Fulfills All Wishes, Issue 1165 Tiruttakkatēvar No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
according to Nacc adorned anklets Arhat arms arrows bangles beautiful bees beginning rhyme blossoming breasts Caccantaú Caíkam Câvakacintåmaïi Câvakaú chest Civakan color commentary commentators cool Cutañcaïaú elephant Explanatory notes ExplanatoryExplanatoryExplanatoryExplanatoryExplanatory notes:notes:notes:notes:notes eyes feet flower garland forehead forest fragrant friends gems girdle gloss gold hair hero honey Ilampakam imputed Index de mots Indian indicates Indra interpretation Jain tradition Jaina Jainism jasmine Jâvandhara Kaììiyaíkåraú Kåntaruvatattai karma Kaúakamålai Kèmacari king king’s Lakòmâ looked lotus lotuses lovesickness Madras Lexicon mantra mean moon mound of venus mountain musth Nantaììaú nectar of immortality ocean ornaments Pallava Patumai Pavatattaú peacock pearls phrase possessed Prakrit reference renunciants resembled sandalwood sandalwood paste Sanskrit Sapphire Colored seems sexual sexual intercourse snake snakebite spear Sricandran SS takes story sweet Tamil literature Tanjore edition Târthaíkara Tiruttakkatèvar Translation notes TranslationTranslationTranslationTranslationTranslation notes:notes:notes:notes:notes tree VERSE Vicayai Vidyådharas Viòïu waist water-lilies wife woman women word