Kamban Ramayana 2010

Kamban

Taoshobuddha
1|Page
 Kamban Ramayana 2010

Kamban Ramayana

© 2010, Taoshobuddha

Printed and Published by TAOSHOBUDDHA MEDITATIONSTM

All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any
form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without prior written permission of the original
publisher on the one who has no small seeds knows this is no more
as TAOSHOBUDDHA MEDITATIONS.

Cover design and graphics: Anand Neelamber

Photography: Taoshobuddha

2|Page
 Kamban Ramayana 2010

TAOSHOBUDDHA

The word Taoshobuddha comes from three words, ‘tao,’ ‘sho,’

and ‘Buddha’. The word Tao was coined by the Chinese master,
Lau Tzu. It means that which is and cannot be put into words. It
is unknown and unknowable. It can only be experienced and
not expressed in words. Its magnanimity cannot be condensed
into finiteness. The word Sho implies, that which is vast like
the sky and deep like an ocean and carries within its womb a
treasure. It also means one on whom the existence showers its
blessings. And lastly the word Buddha implies the Enlightened
One; one who has arrived home.

Thus, Taoshobuddha implies one who is existential, on whom

the existence showers its blessings and one who has arrived
home. The Enlightened One!

3|Page
Kamban Ramayana 2010

‘ Kamban sang the story of Rama as of god come down on

earth to suffer, chasten, uplift, help and guide man apart
from this difference in the treatment of the hero there is
considerable difference in the poetic form between Valmiki
and Kamban.

Kamban’s Ramayana is a lyric while Valmiki’s is an epic. The

lyrical sparkle of Kamban and Tulsi das goes well with their
constant reminder that Rama is Supreme Being himself.’

4|Page
Kamban Ramayana 2010

‘RAMAVATARAM’ -
KAMBAN RAMAYANA

Ramayana is one of the most popular epic. The epic revolves

around the story of Sri Rama as the seventh incarnation of
Sri Vishnu one of the Hindu Trinity.

The story of Sri Rama is the oldest epic in human history. It

is also revered as a Holy Book by devout Hindus. Sage
Valmiki, the author of the original epic in Sanskrit, is hence
known as Adikavi (first poet). Following his footsteps, many
a great poets throughout Asia have retold the story in many
different languages since ancient times. In modern period,
all Western languages have at least one popular translation
of this ancient holy epic of India, and that of humankind.

In essence, Ramayana tells the story of Sri Rama, the seventh

avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu Himself. Vishnu, at the behest
of the devas (celestial gods) and sages, descends on Earth as
Sri Rama - the son of King Dasaratha of Kosala kingdom and
Queen Mother Kausalya to protect the righteous, to destroy
the wicked and to re-establish dharma - the rule of law,
virtue and peace. As the atrocities of demon king Ravana
increased manifold it was necessary for the divine force to

5|Page
Kamban Ramayana 2010

descend in human form and once again establish the

kingdom of light and awareness.

Among the many versions of Ramayana, three stand as tall

as the Himalayan Peak itself due to their popularity,
devotion and poetic beauty:

1. ‘Ramayana’ by Sage Valmiki (original author) in

Sanskrit.
2. ‘Ramavataram’ by Kavicakravarti Kamban in Tamil
(9th Century A.D), and
3. ‘Ramacaritamanasa’ by Saint Tulsi Das in Hindi
(16th Century A.D).

Original Ramayana was written in Sanskrit language by Sage

Poet Veda Vyas. This is known as Adhyatma Ramayana.
The story was the later narrated by sage Valmiki again in
Sanskrit language as Ramayana. Tulsidas recomposed the
episode in Avadhi script of Hindi language in 15th century as
RamCharitManas. Among the three version the version of
Tulsidas is most popular among the seekers and devout
Hindus world over because of it language and simplicity.

‘Kamban sang the story of Rama as of god come down on

earth to suffer, chasten, uplift, help and guide man. Apart
from this difference in the treatment of the hero there is
considerable difference in the poetic form between Valmiki
and Kamban. Kamban’s Ramayana is a lyric while Valmiki’s
is an epic. The lyrical sparkle of Kamban and Tulsi Das goes
well with their constant reminder that Rama is supreme
being himself.’

6|Page
Kamban Ramayana 2010

Ramayana was also composed by many regional poets in

their language. Among these the Bengali version composed
by poet Kritivas as ‘Kritivas Ramayanum’, Tamil version by
poet Kamban as ‘Kamban’s Ramayana’ are very famous.
However, Ramavatharam or Kamb Ramayanum is
different from the Sanksrit original in many aspects - both in
spiritual concepts and in the specifics of the story line.

The epic is quite well known both in Tamil literary world

and in Hindu spiritual world for the color of the poems and
their religious value.

Kamban was a medieval Tamil poet and the author of the

Tamil Ramayanam known as Kamba Ramayanam, the
Tamil version of Ramayana. Kamban also authored other
literary works in Tamil such as Erezhupathu, Kangai
Puranam and Sarasvati Anthati.

Birth and Life

Kamban belonged to the Ochchan or Occhan caste.
Traditionally the caste was ‘nadaswaram players’ in
southern India.
Kavi Kamban was born in the 9th Century in Therazhundur,
a village in the culturally rich Tanjavur district in the
modern state of Tamil Nadu in South India. The poet belongs
to a family who had Lord Narasimha, another avatar of Lord
Mahavishnu, Who emerged from Kamba (pillar) to save the
child devotee Prahlada, as their family deity. His devoted
parents named his as Kamban.

7|Page
 Kamban Ramayana 2010

Kamban was a great scholar of India's two ancient and rich

languages, Sanskrit (Indo-European) and Tamil (Dravidian).
The ‘Ramavataram’ of Kamban is an epic of 10,000 odd
verses, of 4-lines each.

Kamba Ramayana is not a translation of the Sanskrit epic by

Adikavi Valmiki. Instead it is an original retelling of the story
of Sri Rama, as the incarnation of Lord Tirumal
(Mahavishnu). The lyrical beauty, brilliant use of rhyme,
simile and the astonishing variety of his poetry yet still
conforming to the strict classification of verses in classical
poems in Tamil language earned him the title,
Kavicakravarti (Emperor among poets). He is also known
as ‘Kamba Nattalvar’, as he revived the greatness of Tamil
language through his work during the medieval period.

However Kamban was brought up in the household of a

wealthy farmer in Vennai Nellur in South India. The Chola
King Rajendra Chola heard of this talented bard, and
summoned him to his court where he was honored with the
title ‘Kavi Chakravarthi’ or The King of Poets.

Kamban flourished in Therazhundur, a village in the

culturally rich Thanjavur District in the modern state of
Tamil Nadu in South India. Kamban was a great scholar of
India's two ancient and rich languages, Sanskrit and Tamil.
Mahavidwan R. Raghava Iyengar in a scholarly biography,
‘Kavichakravarty Kamban’ writes in detail about this poet.

According to tradition, Kamban's son, Ambikapathi was

slain after having fallen in love with the King's daughter and
Kamban himself had to flee. In his old age, he was obliged to

8|Page
Kamban Ramayana 2010

support himself doing manual labor. He was then supported

and patronized by his friend Vallal Sadaiyappa Mudaliar.

Kamba Ramayanam
The original version of Ramayana was written by Sage
Valmiki. This epic of 24,000 verses tells of a Raghuvamsa
prince, Rama of Ayodhya, whose wife Sita is abducted by
Ravana, a mighty emperor. In Hindu mythology Rama is
considered to be the Seventh incarnation of God Vishnu, one
of the Hindu holy trinity (Brahma and Shiva completing the
trinity).

The Ramavataram or Kamba Ramayanam of Kamban is

an epic of about 11,000 stanzas as opposed to Valmiki's
24000 couplets. The Rama-avataram or Rama-kathai as it
was originally called was accepted into the holy precincts in
the presence of the Vaishnava Acharya Nathamuni.

Kamba Ramayana is not a translation of the Sanskrit epic

by Valmiki, but an original retelling of the story of the God
Rama. The poetic work is well known for its similes.

Legend has it that the entire episode was written in one

night by Lord Ganesha. Ganesha is said to have written the
poems that Kamban dictated to him during the night, as
Kamban procrastinated the work till the day before the
deadline set by the King.

There is also a legend that Ottakuthar, another eminent

Tamil poet also composed Ramayanam. But

9|Page
Kamban Ramayana 2010

Kambaramayanam was accepted by other poets. Hence he

burnt his composition.

However Kamban recovered last two chapters of Ottakuthar

composition and added into his composition. Bala
kaandam, Sundara kaandam, Yudha kaandam, Ayodhya
kaandam are four main parts of six parts called Kaandam
in Kambaramayanam.

Kambar's specialty
Many Tamil poets, statesmen, kings, common people all
have praised Kamban for his Kamba Ramayanam which
has more than 10,000 songs forming a greatest epic of
Tamil. Kamba Ramayanam has more than 45,000 lines of
sweetest phrases and Poems we could ever see. Often poets
would say that, the mill in his house would also sing poem.
Such is his ability to catch minds. Also he is so special in
singing poems under ‘viruthapa’, One of the ‘kurunila paa’ ,
central themes of poem.

The arangetram or Inagural public rendering of Kamban's

'Ramavataram' was done at the Great Temple of
Srirangam, to an assembly of eminent poets, under the
auspices of the philanthropist, Sadayappan of
Tiruvennainallur of the Chola Kingdom in the Tamil Country
on the day of the Uttara star, in the month of Phanguni, in
the eight hundred and seventh year of Salivahana saka.

10 | P a g e
Kamban Ramayana 2010

Structure of the epic

The book is divided into six chapters called Kandam in
Tamil.

1. Bala Kandam (Chapter: Childhood)

2. Ayodhya Kandam (Chapter: Ayodhya;)

3. Aranya Kandam (Chapter: Forest)

4. Kishkinta Kandam (Chapter: Kishkintha)

5. Sundara Kandam (Chapter: Beautiful)

6. Yutha Kandam (Chapter: War)

The Kandams are further divided into 123 sections called

Padalam in Tamil. These 123 sections contain approximately
12,000 verses of the epic.

Compilation
As with many historic compilations, it was very difficult to
discard the interpolations and addendum which have been
added over a period of time to the original. This task was
taken up a committee of scholars headed by Prof. T P
Meenakshi Sundaram called the Kamban Kazhagam or
Kamban Academy. The compilation published by this
committee in 1976 is what is used as the standard today.

11 | P a g e
 Kamban Ramayana 2010

Literary Significance
Kamban's use of Virutham (Tempo) and Santham (Tune) in
various verses is effective in bringing out the human
emotion and mood setting for storytelling. He achieves the
Virutham and Santham by effective choice of words.

Religious Significance
Till date, this epic is read by many Hindus during prayers. In
some house holds the entire epic is read once during the
Tamil Month of Aadi. It is also read in Hindu Temples and
other religious associations. This epic is the living proof that
the worship of Rama started in Tamilnadu. On many
occasions, Kamban talks about surrendering to Rama, who is
a manifestation of Vishnu.

The chapter, Sundara Kandam, is considered quite

auspicious and is the most popular. The chapter talks about
the hardships faced by the main characters in the epic, their
practice of restraint and hopes for a better tomorrow.

Justice M. M. Ismail, an erudite Tamil scholar especially in

Kamba Ramayana, brings out the uniqueness of Kamban in
the following statement:

"Kamban sang the story of Rama as of God come down on

earth to suffer, chasten, uplift, help and guide men. Apart
from this difference in the treatment of the hero, there is
considerable difference in the poetic form between Valmiki
and Kamban.

12 | P a g e
Kamban Ramayana 2010

Kamban's Ramayana is a lyric, while Valmiki's is an epic. The

lyrical sparkle of Kamban and Tulsi Das goes well with their
constant reminder that Rama is the Supreme Being Himself."

‘Rama walked majestically towards Siva's bow, putting even

the lion, the bull, the golden Meru, and the elephant to
shame. With ease and elegance, Rama took the bow which
lay on the ground like a big golden mountain...
They just saw Rama taking the bow in his hand and instantly
heard the sound of the breaking bow!’

- Kamban

The Ramavataram or Kamba Ramayana of Kamban is an

epic of over 10,000 verses, of 4-lines each. Kamba Ramayana
is not a translation of the Sanskrit epic by Valmiki, but an
original retelling of the story of the God Rama. The poetic
work is well known for its simile. Simile is an Italian musical
term meaning ‘similarly’; it indicates that the performer
should continue to apply the preceding directive, whatever
it was. For example, a series of dynamic changes to be
repeated in many measures would make the music crowded.

Legend has it that the entire episode was written in one

night, and Kamban procrastinated the work till the day
before the deadline set by the King. There is a saying that
Kamban veetu kattu thariyum kavi paadum, loosesly
meaning, Even Kamban's kettle can pen a poem.

13 | P a g e
Kamban Ramayana 2010

The great writer was also influenced by the Vaishnavite

literature before time where the story of Rama has been
emphasized. Kamban like Bhakti saints had the supreme
command over the art of versification. He was a master of
characterization and description. Other than the major
characters, even the minor characters like mantra etc are
brought to the fore by his magic touch. He was also adept in
the technique of stage management.

It was no small measure due to Kamban’s Ramayana that the

story of Rama became very popular in the ancient Tamil
country. This also succeeded in reviving great the greatness
of the Tamil language. It is known as Ramavataram, an epic
of 10,000 odd verses of 4 lines each.

Kamban used his own lyrical beauty brilliant rhymes,

similes and the astonishing variety of poetry yet still
conforming to the strict classification of verses in classical
poems.

14 | P a g e
 Kamban Ramayana 2010

‘ Kamban sang the story of Rama as of god come down on earth to

suffer, chasten, uplift, help and guide man apart from this
difference in the treatment of the hero there is considerable
difference in the poetic form between Valmiki and Kamban.

Kamban’s Ramayana is a lyric while Valmiki’s is an epic. The

lyrical sparkle of Kamban and Tulsi das goes well with their
constant reminder that Rama is Supreme Being himself.’

However, Ramavatharam or Kamb Ramayanum is different from

the Sanksrit original in many aspects - both in spiritual concepts
and in the specifics of the story line.

The epic is quite well known both in Tamil literary world and in
Hindu spiritual world for the color of the poems and their religious
value.

15 | P a g e