Kamban was born at Therazhundur in the Chola country in the twelfth century. Tradition says he grew up poor and was supported by a generous patron, Sadaiyappa Vallal of Thiruvennai Nallur, whom he praises in his poem. He is counted with Tiruvalluvar and Ilango Adigal as one of the greatest Tamil poets.
A Tamil saying holds that Kamban's poetry is so fine that "even the loom in Kamban's house would compose verse".Popular Tamil saying
His fame rests on one great work: the Ramavataram, popularly called the Kamba Ramayanam.
A Ramayana in Tamil
The Ramavataram follows Valmiki's story in six kandas, ending with the coronation of Rama, in over ten thousand verses. But it is no mere translation. Kamban gives the story the landscape of the Tamil country, its rivers and fields, and adds famous scenes of his own — such as Rama and Sita glimpsing each other before the bow-breaking at Mithila. For Kamban, Rama is Vishnu himself, and the poem is an act of devotion.
Character and drama
Kamban is admired for the depth he gives his characters. His Ravana is a tragic hero of great dignity; his Kumbhakarna knows his brother is wrong yet chooses loyalty; his Vibhishana argues dharma with eloquence. The poem's descriptions of nature, battle and love are among the high points of Tamil literature.
The Srirangam legend
Tradition says Kamban presented his poem at the Ranganatha temple of Srirangam, where the scholars would accept it only after testing it — and the stone lion of Narasimha in the temple roared its approval. The mandapa where this is said to have happened, the Kamba Mandapam, is still shown to pilgrims.
How they are remembered
Kamba Ramayanam recitation and the Kamban Vizha festivals in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka keep his poem alive, and his statue stands on Chennai's Marina beach. Scholars and readers alike rank the poem among the finest retellings of the Ramayana in any language.
Ekatmata Stotra · Stanza 15
Named in Stanza 15 of the Ekatmata Stotra — from Buddha and Mahāvīra to Basaveśvara.
बुद्धो जिनश्च गोरक्षो वल्लुवस्तिरुनामकः।
नायन्माराश्च आळ्वाराः कम्बन्बसवेश्वरौ तथा॥
Sources: Wikipedia: Kambar · Wikipedia: Ramavataram. Written afresh for The Hindu Book; corrections welcome at [email protected].
