Kambar (poet)

Kambar, or Kavichakravarthy Kamban (1180–1250),^[1] was an Indian poet and the author of the Ramavataram, popularly known as Kambaramayanam, the Tamil version of the epic Ramayana.^[2] Kambar also authored other literary works in Tamil, such as Tirukkai Valakkam, Erelupatu, Silai Elupatu, Kangai Puranam, Sadagopar Antati and Saraswati Antati.^[2]

Kambar was born in Therazhundur. He was supported by his close friend Sadayappa Vallal.^[3] He grew up in the Chola Empire under the reign of Kulothunga III. Having heard of this talented bard, Kulothunga summoned him to his court and honoured him with the title Kavi Chakravarty (The Emperor of Poets).^[2]

Kambar flourished in Therazhundur, a village in the culturally rich Mayiladuthurai district in the modern state of Tamil Nadu in South India.^[4]

Kambar is generally dated after the Vaishnavite philosopher, Ramanuja, as the poet refers to the latter in his work, the Sadagopar Antati.^[5]

Kamban was a great scholar of both Tamil and Sanskrit—two of India's oldest and richest languages in terms of literary works. In a scholarly biography, Kavichakravarty Kamban, Mahavidwan R. Raghava Iyengar wrote in detail about Kambar.

Kambar spent his last days in Nattarasankottai (known for Kannathal temple) near to Sivagangai town and his tomb is situated there. It is said that Kambar after having differences with Kulothunga's son, Rajaraja III, he left the Chola kingdom and moved from place to place. When he reached at Nattarasankottai, he was very thirsty and asked water in one house at Nattarasankottai. He was offered buttermilk in return and he became very happy and decided to stay there itself and spent his last days there. He lived there till his death. There is tomb in Nattarasankottai and every year a celebration called Kamban vizha is conducted at this place to felicitate Kambar.

According to Tamil folklore, the poet Kamban was exiled by Kulothunga due to a misunderstanding. He later returned at Kulothunga’s invitation. However, Kulothunga executed his son Ambigapathy for having a love affair with his daughter. Grief-stricken and enraged at his patron's brutality, he wandered around the Tamil lands and finally entered the service of the Chera king. He eventually returned again when invited by the Chola ruler, but this renewed friendship was short-lived, and tensions rose once more. Kulothunga ultimately executed Kamban on the pretext that he had maintained ties with the Chera king and had murdered the youngest prince. Before his death, Kamban cursed the king, declaring that his lineage would come to an end.^[6]

• Kamba Ramayanam (also called Ramavataram) - Retelling of the Indian epic Ramayana in Tamil. Work covers 11,000 stanzas.
• Saraswati Antati - Literary work of style Antati in praise of Hindu Goddess Saraswati
• Sadagopar Antati - Literary work of style Antati in praise of Vaishnava Saint Nammalvar
• Silai Elupatu - Work in praise of 11th century Pallava king Karunakara Tondaiman
• Tirukkai Valakkam
• Erelupathu
• Kangai Puranam

The original version of Ramayana was written by Valmiki. It is an epic of 24,000 verses which depicts the journey of Rama, a prince of Ayodhya who belonged to Raghuvamsha (Solar dynasty). In Hinduism, Rama is the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, one of the Trimurti (the Hindu holy trinity which includes Brahma and Shiva).

The Ramavataram or Kamba Ramayanam of Kamban is an epic of about 11,000 stanzas.^[7][8] The Rama-avataram or Rama-kathai as it was originally called was accepted into the holy precincts in the presence of Vaishnava Acharya Nathamuni.^[9]

Kamba Ramayana is not a verbal translation of the Sanskrit epic by Valmiki, but a retelling of the story of Rama.^[9]

He is portrayed by Serukalathur Sama in the Tamil-language film Ambikapathy (1937).

Yet another film titled Ambikapathy (1957) has M. K. Radha playing Kambar.

Kambarmedu - an archaeological site located in Therizhandur, associated with the settlement of the Tamil poet Kambar.