Kapilar
Encyclopedia
Kapilar was a Sangam
poet. He was a contemporary of Karikala Chola
, Irunkōvēl
and Vēl Pāri
. He was the close friend and confidant of Vēl Pāri, one of the Vēlir kings.
. Initially a poet at the Pandyan court
, he would leave at an early age and show his talent at various places before finally ending up at the court of Vel Pari.
, a powerful Vēlir King who ruled over Parambu nādu, a heavily fortified kingdom that comprised about 300 villages, and pay him a visit. They would go on to become the thickest of friends. He would be his confidant and stay with Vēl Pāri until the latter's last breath.
kings were in the process of expanding their empires and turned the independenet Velir chiefs into sub-ordinates or eliminated them. When the three crowned Kings besiege the kingdom of Parambu, Vēl Pāri a warrior like no other will refuse to bow and face them head on. Kapilar would sing some of the most notable poems in praise of his patron during this time. In the end, Vēl Pāri would finally be killed by treachery after defying them for years.
Kapilar, a true friend, would then take the two daughters of Vēl Pāri and go in search of appropriate grooms. He would knock on the doors of the other Vēlir kings and unsuccessfully plead with each before finally giving up. He would be let down each time as the other Vēls would fear retribution from the 3 crowned kings. The most notable of these encounters is when he sings to Irunkōvēl
and the latter would throw an insult and shut the door on the great poet. He would finally leave the two princesses in the care of Brahmins.
The death of his friend will affect him so greatly that he would perform vadakirrutal, one of the Tamil acts of committing suicide. He would sit facing north and starve himself to death.
Sangam literature
Sangam literature refers to a body of classical Tamil literature created between the years c. 600 BCE to 300 CE. This collection contains 2381 poems composed by 473 poets, some 102 of whom remain anonymous The period during which these poems were composed is commonly referred to as the Sangam...
poet. He was a contemporary of Karikala Chola
Karikala Chola
Karikala Chola or Karikala Chozhan was one of the great Tamil kings of Early Chola during the Sangam period. He was the son of Ilamcetcenni and ruled around 270 BC....
, Irunkōvēl
Irunkōvēl
Irunkōvēl also Irungkōvēl, Irukkuvēl, Ilangōvēlar was a title of the Irunkōvēl line of Tamil Velir kings. The Irunkovel line of kings ruled over Kō nādu identified with the Kodumbalur and surrounding areas in ancient Tamilakkam...
and Vēl Pāri
Vēl Pāri
Vēl Pāri was the title of the line of Tamil Vēlir Kings who ruled Parambu nādu and surrounding regions in ancient Tamilakkam. The most famous among them lived towards the end of the Sangam era and was the patron and friend of poet Kapilar. He is extolled for his benevolence and for his patronage of...
. He was the close friend and confidant of Vēl Pāri, one of the Vēlir kings.
Life
He was born into a Brahmin family in Tiruvadavur in the Pandyan KingdomPandyan Kingdom
The Pandyan dynasty was an ancient Tamil dynasty. The Pandyas were one of the four Tamil dynasties , which ruled South India until the 15th century CE. They initially ruled their country Pandya Nadu from Korkai, a seaport on the Southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, and in later times moved...
. Initially a poet at the Pandyan court
Pandyan Kingdom
The Pandyan dynasty was an ancient Tamil dynasty. The Pandyas were one of the four Tamil dynasties , which ruled South India until the 15th century CE. They initially ruled their country Pandya Nadu from Korkai, a seaport on the Southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, and in later times moved...
, he would leave at an early age and show his talent at various places before finally ending up at the court of Vel Pari.
At the court of Vel Pari
Kapilar would hear about the generosity and virtue of Vēl PāriVēl Pāri
Vēl Pāri was the title of the line of Tamil Vēlir Kings who ruled Parambu nādu and surrounding regions in ancient Tamilakkam. The most famous among them lived towards the end of the Sangam era and was the patron and friend of poet Kapilar. He is extolled for his benevolence and for his patronage of...
, a powerful Vēlir King who ruled over Parambu nādu, a heavily fortified kingdom that comprised about 300 villages, and pay him a visit. They would go on to become the thickest of friends. He would be his confidant and stay with Vēl Pāri until the latter's last breath.
Last Days
During this period the three crowned TamilTamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
kings were in the process of expanding their empires and turned the independenet Velir chiefs into sub-ordinates or eliminated them. When the three crowned Kings besiege the kingdom of Parambu, Vēl Pāri a warrior like no other will refuse to bow and face them head on. Kapilar would sing some of the most notable poems in praise of his patron during this time. In the end, Vēl Pāri would finally be killed by treachery after defying them for years.
Kapilar, a true friend, would then take the two daughters of Vēl Pāri and go in search of appropriate grooms. He would knock on the doors of the other Vēlir kings and unsuccessfully plead with each before finally giving up. He would be let down each time as the other Vēls would fear retribution from the 3 crowned kings. The most notable of these encounters is when he sings to Irunkōvēl
Irunkōvēl
Irunkōvēl also Irungkōvēl, Irukkuvēl, Ilangōvēlar was a title of the Irunkōvēl line of Tamil Velir kings. The Irunkovel line of kings ruled over Kō nādu identified with the Kodumbalur and surrounding areas in ancient Tamilakkam...
and the latter would throw an insult and shut the door on the great poet. He would finally leave the two princesses in the care of Brahmins.
The death of his friend will affect him so greatly that he would perform vadakirrutal, one of the Tamil acts of committing suicide. He would sit facing north and starve himself to death.