By Kambar (Kavichakravarthy Kamban)
Translated in English by P. R Ramachander
Kamba Ramayanam-Yudha Kandam 10 (Padalam 25)
25. Maya Sithai Padalam
Chapter on Sita of illusion.
(Indrajit is summoned .He plans to conduct a fire sacrifice at Nikumbila. And them defeat the enemies. He makes an illusory figure of Sita and kills him before Hanuman and leaves saying that he was going to Ayodhya. Rama and others get upset. Vibheeshana taking a form of a bee and visits Asoka Vana. Then he tells Rama about the plan of Indrajit.)
8840. Indrajit , all the relatives of Ravana , army commanders like Mahodhara ,The elderly wise men , those whose advice was valuable and could be accepted,And all others reached the council hall and then Ravana clearly told all those,Who had come to the council hall all that happened till then in a clear manner
8841. Malyavan hearing that looked at Ravana and told, “”Had you not with great evil thought ,Not put our army in the ocean, there was chance that all our army would have been alive,Due to the Brahmastra which is of the Lord who sits on a lotus and which cannot be taken back ,Having gone waste , no one can prevent the death of anyone who is here.”
8842. ”If we examine using the knowledge that we have got from ancient books ,That Hanuman who travelled from Lanka to a place beyond the Meru mountain ,Within a second and has brought the medicines along with the mountain,On which they grow , who has huge shoulders decorated by flower garlands ,Should be without any confusion the God to the entire world.”
8843. “If he uproots this Lanka standing on a mountain from the big ocean,That is surrounding it and throws it on this land , who among us can keep ourselves alive ?If Hanuman does like that where will we fight the war ? If that Hanuman who has gone back,Brings with him the golden mountain of Meru, can we prevent it ?”
8844. ”Hanuman would , using his great strength would do whatever we imagine,If we act against him without Dharma but there are no dearth of good qualities in him,Why is it that the faultless Vedas are telling about trinity of Gods?If we think , it is thought of people who cannot analyze ,For the Hanuman who wears the jingling heroic anklets along with trinity is the fourth God.”
8845. ”Let all those who died in the war remain dead but we who remain without dying ,Have gone to a different height and we have taken a new birth,WE had forgotten till now about possibility of staying alive, but at least now Oh king,WE would return back Sita as per procedure and surrender,To that Rama and Lakshmana who always follow the path of Dharma.”
8846. Oh Lord with victorious shoulders who lifted Lord Shiva with the trident ,Along with the Kailasa mountain , can Rama who has sent to heaven Vali ,Using just one arrow , Who built a bridge over the sea filled with water ,And who killed Kumbhakarna , be destroyed like bubbles by the mortal asuras?
8847. ”All those Rakshasas who were capable of drinking the entire water,Of all the oceans , who could uproot the sky together with earth ,And who had several weapons that can be thrown are no longer alive?In this city of Lanka , except you and your boy Indrajit who else is there?All others have died and so our possibility of victory is an empty dream ,”Said Malyavan who could guess the future of things to come.
8848. Hearing those firm words of Malyavan, emitting fire sparks from his eye,Due to great anger , Ravana looked at Malyavan with great rage and said,“Even if all the Rakshasas have died and even if all our weapons have been destroyed,Do you think , I caught the parrot like Sita , just to release her thinking of my life?”
8849. ” Be it my son or be it others who are all scared and want to continue to live,Please go away and live, Tomorrow Rising like the cruel Vadavagni , which appears,During final deluge I would kill those men along with the monkey Hanuman ,Who have destroyed my army “ Said the king of Rakshasas ,Who had evil capabilities and hearing that Indrajit started talking.
8850. ”If you are prepared to understand , I have a matter to tell you .I had sent the arrow of Lord Brahma who sits on the lotus flower ,After worshipping it and that became extremely powerful.Though I had sent to kill Rama also , without of any use ,Without even touching his body it returned. This is very strange .”
8851. ”Oh king who wears flower garland from which honey drips , it is clear,That Rama is not a man and he also does not belong to ancient monkey clan,He is not a very great sage and he is the matchless divine entity ,Who does not think of himself or his ego as told by Vibheeshana,This has been proved to us without any doubt.”
8852. ”Let that truth remain on one side and hesitating to tell such truth ,Is not a fit to great masculinity , Let us fight and people who die , let them die,If Iam able to reach the temple at Nikumbila and start and complete ,The fire sacrifice aimed at ending all our sorrow , your sorrow will end.”
8853. ’Ravana said, That is indeed good , You do the fire sacrifice at Nikumbila”,And hearing that his good son Indrajit told, “Hearing from your younger brother ,About this secret , our enemies would reach Nikumbila and may do war with me , And would not allow me to complete the fire sacrifice “ but Ravana asked,”How can we definitely prevent our enemies from doing that.”
8854. ”If we create the form of Sita by illusion and go before Hanuman,Who has seen that Sita in the past and kill her by cutting with the sword,And then say , now I am going to fight with Ayodhya and act as if he is going ,In that direction , without knowing he will start sorrowing.”
8855. Rama and Lakshmana would say . “Sita has been killed here and there isNo point in fighting the war here. And due to Indrajit our brothers,Mothers , neat relations as well the citizens of the town would die.”And would drown themselves in great sorrow and due to such ,Sorrow growing , They along with their army would go there.”
8856. “ Even if they do not go to Ayodhya , they would at least send,Hanuman there and try to know what happened there ,Otherwise they would not be able to bear this great sorrow and I ,Meanwhile would complete the fire sacrifice come speedily here ,And kill them with cruel weapons and give you victory.”
8857. Ravana said ,”this idea is good and for forming the form of Sita with soft wards,By illusion” and Indrajit went away and while this was happening , Sugreeva,The son of Sun God told Rama “We would speedily burn this ancient city of Lanka.”
8858. Rama thought “ Doing that job is good,.” And agreed to do it ,And then Sugreeva jumped and reached the top of the tower of Lanka .And seventy vellam ocean like monkey army followed him ,And with all the worlds seeing , each of them took one burning fire wood.
8859. That Seventy Vellam strong army of that countless crores ,Of monkeys through the pretty guarded walls of Lanka ,Entered like the lightning and white coloured clouds ,And went very near that ancient city of Lanka making it shy.
8860. , That faultless vellam of that monkey army carried ,Burning firewood to all directions and to prove that,That city also can be destroyed threw those ,Burning firewood which looked like the fall of stars on the sky.
8861. With the security of the huge fort becoming confused,Due to the red burning flame of fire going near it,Lanka looked like the black sea when Rama ,Attacked it with his long arrows making it burn.
8862. The Elephant like burning fire wood that were thrown,By monkeys on Lanka where the evil Rakshasa lived,Kept on going there like the red burning,Arrows that were sent by the black Rama when he became angry.
8863. All the asuras of city of Lanka rose up greatly wailing,Like when the ancient forest with dense stones ,Caught fire and the birds which were living there ,In dense formations rose up from their cages greatly wailing.
8864. Due to Rama who is the great archer who was liked,By the beings of the three worlds and trinity of Gods,Sending arrows which were like lamps ,The tower of Lanka broke and fell on a hill.
8865.When things were happening like this in Lanka , the tall Hanuman,Carried the huge medicine mountain in his hand.Went with the speed of wind and placed it,Beyond the Meru mountain and returned back.
8866. That Hanuman who was wearing the jingling heroic anklets,Shouted loudly with great joy and that town which heard it,Became similar to the crowd of serpents ,Which heard the shout off Garuda with wings.
8867. That Indrajit who had great strength in making illusions,Which cannot be changed and who had won even the God of death ,And conducted march of victory came near that son of Wind God ,Who had cruel eyes and who had reached the western gate.
8868. Indrajit holding a lady who looked like Sita made by illusion ,In one hand and holding a shining meat coated sword ,In his another hand with great anger wanting to fulfill,His intention started telling the following words.
8869. ”You have been fighting the war because of this lady,Now my father says he does not want her and,So I am going to kill her “said he ferociously ,And Hanuman who never dies was greatly scared.
8870. Then Hanuman realized that she was the same lady,Whom he has earlier seen in Asoka forest ,He became very dejected thinking , “Our life has been destroyed”,And not knowing any method to free her from hands of Indrajit,Became like one who is suspected to be dead by others and his mouth dried.
8871. Thinking that “There is nothing more to be done” and .“What justice says is only right option ” Hanuman said ,Io Indrajit ”Born in a faultless clan , you are great in good nature,Is not killing a lady which is an act which would bring bad fame to you.”
8872. ”You are born in the fourth generation to Lord Brahma ,You have clearly understood all the great ideas in books,Is not the act of killing a lady , after losing your wisdom,The greatest among all the bad deeds one can commit.”
8873. ”The earth is shaking , the heavens are shivering and you are ,Seeing them all with your own eyes.You have left away the culture of mercy,And my thoughts are also shivering , Is not the killing of Lady,That which brings very bad name to you?”
8874. ”If you give Sita to me and go away the entire world,Would be under your control .You are not realizing ,The greatness of your clan ,Please do not start this sinful act .If you do it would lead to destruction of your fame .”
8875. ”I would kill her with my sword so that my father as well as ,Those who live in my city get a good life and also to scare the Devas,So that they run away “ said Indrajit with great anger and also further told.
8876. ”Hey monkey , do you think my work would be over by just killing her,If it is possible for you go and reach Ayodhya because ,That city is going to burn in fire today ,I would do that,And immediately return back to this place .”
8877. ”The brothers and mothers and other relations of Rama ,Would not be alive now , even if Devas come and try to stop,For they would all be dead by the fire spitting arrows of mine.”
8878. ”I am going to enter this Pushpaka Vimana and,Would now itself go there with great speed and if ,My countless hot arrows are going to hit them,Would it be possible for any of them to be alive?”
8879. Inspite of the wail of Sita, “Oh king who rules over me,Take mercy on me, show mercy on me “ he did not show any mercy ,And cut and made her fall with his sword and with his army,Which was sounding like the roar of the ocean ,He got in to the Pushpaka Vimana and flew.
8880. Indrajit riding the Pushpaka Vimana, which was ,Shining like gold went from the south to northern direction,And seeing that Hanuman lost all all his senses .,And fell like a tall mountain which was defeated by him.
8881. Showing that he was going to Ayodhya , Indrajit ,Changed his route in the middle and entered the temple of Nikumbila,The pure Hanuman who did not realize the evil cheating ,Fell down , his heart became weak , his body dried ,And wanting to tell what he had in mind, he told like this.
8882. That Hanuman who lost his prowess told , “Oh swan like lady,Oh Lady who is the ornament of all ladies, Oh my mother,Is there no God anywhere to stop this evil,And even after seeing you cut in to pieces,My heart and body has not split open.”
8883. He woul think, “shall I get up and jump on that Indrajit?”Thinking that he had been pushed in to great sorrow ,He would leave out hot breath and his face would blot up.After getting away from that state , he would become greatly weak ,And breath flames of fire , his body would shiver , he would rub,The earth by his own head and he started telling these type of words.
8884. ”Our desire is over. Thinking that dawn would come to all the three worlds,I was relaxing and now again the sorrow of darkness has covered every where .That sinner Indrajit has cut Sita who is the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi,Dharma has been destroyed., Alas.”
8885. ”That lady who was greatly guarded by her own chastity , was killed,In front of my eyes and I like a bird who had lost its wings ,Simply kept quiet and am now drowned in the prison of sorrow ,After releasing the consort of Lord Rama from the prison, What a pretty sight.”
8886. ”Oh son of the evil one who touched , abducted and kept in prison,She who has divine chastity and was doing penance , She who was innocent ,She who was faultless and was born in a great clan, Sita, the incarnation of Lakshmi,Your act was more merciful than mine when I witnessed you kill her .”
8887. ”I had come here as an emissary of Rama whose fame was beyond,The wisdom of learning to tell you the words he told so that you can be saved,And now I have come here to win over these Rakshasas who have come as a crowd.I had come free you earlier and now I have been the cause of your death ,And have earned for myself an evil and bad fame.”
8888. “Without bring able to see any where that Sita who was like a Vanchi climber ,When Rama the great archer was searching for like his lost soul , to make his mind clear,I told him, “Sita with pretty speech was in Lanka.”, which made him happy ,And now I have to tell him that ”I saw that Rakshasa Indrajit kill Sita ,And she died”, The purpose of my birth has become like this.
8889. ”After crossing the very difficult to cross ocean , after setting,Fire to this city , after helping to build a bridge over the ocean ,After crossing the Meru mountain and bringing the matchless ,Mountain of medicine and after hearing others say about me,“Among the monkeys there is no body like you and now ,My slavishness has become useless , like a seed rubbed and mixed in the sea.”
8890. ”I showed hesitation in killing the Rakshasa who killed you ,And witnessed your being killed ,Without being prepared ,for,My body break and my tiny soul go out of it and for being still alive,So that I can eat the white rice from this pot, I simply kept quiet,Am I really a weakling or one who is matchless?”
8891. Hanuman said “I will rise towards Ayodhya “ thinking that ,There is indication that that the thief has gone there and then though,“If I follow him Rama may not realize what happened here ,And may not also know what is going to happen “Saddened by this thought he regained his composure .
8892. ”I would tell this to Rama and if he gives up his life ,I would also die along with that Lord , if not then, after ,Understanding his opinion , I would axt as he tells me .I would not do any other thing” Thinking like this ,After regaining his courage that Hanuman with huge,Golden shoulders went in search of divine feet of Rama.
8893. Hanuman who neared the divine feet wearing heroic anklet of Rama, With mind, body as well as eyes shivering due to great sorrow ,The cry that was ebbing out of his mind came out as long breaths ,And with tears coming out of his eyes like stream, he fell like a mountain at his feet.
8894. That Rama lifted Hanuman who had fallen at his feet by catching,His two big hands , he refusing to get up said , “That Rakshasa Indrajit ,Using his sharp sword had cut off Sita who was in great and deep sorrow”And saying this , he rolled on the ground and wailed.
8895. Hearing that Rama did not shiver , did not let out long breath,Did not close his eyes , Did not shed tears from those eyes ,Did not talk anything , his heart did not break , due to great sorrow,Did not produce sweat and even Devas could not ,Understand the deep sorrow that was within him.
8896. As soon as Hanuman told this, with a confused mind ,With great depression ,Just like trees lashed by heavy storm like wind , all the monkeys fell on ,The divine feet of Rama who was wearing heroic anklets,And who was having a charitable nature like divine Karpaga tree . Similar to a crowd of mountains falling at his feet.
8897. That valorous Rama who was like picture had lost all sensationsDid not see at the faces of his friends , did not reply to questions of Lakshmana ,Due to the weapon of sense of honour which even hurts mad people ,Entering his heart fell like a dead person on the earth,
8898. Seeing the state of the lord, seeing the shape befalling on them,The events that had succeeded reaching again the state of failure ,With mouth , mind eyes as well as body becoming faded,Lakshmana like a calf which has lost his mother cow fell on the floor.
8899. Vibheeshana who was wise and could understand the nature of people ,Due to the great pressure of matchless sorrow was not able to understand anything ,Got a suspicion that Thinking ‘Victory is difficult and destruction came because of her “,Indrajit might have murdered Sita “
8900. Vibheeshana sprinkled cold water on the face of Rama , touched,The divine body of the Lord and did similar acts to bring back,His consciousness and then we caressed his pretty flower like feet ,Hands as well as the body , Rama whose innate generosity,Cannot be even seen by the Vedas , opened both his eyes.
8901. Lakshmana shedding stream like tears , with a dilapidated mind ,Thinking about what happened to him was sorrowing inconsolably ,But in spite of that thinking that Rama would not kill his enemies ,And due to feelings of respectability give up his life ,Wanting to console him told the following.
8902. ”Only low people drown in the ocean of sorrow if his day of death arrives,And for you drowning in sorrow would only bring only bad name ,If our clan gets a great stain , without bothering about Dharma ,Would you not destroy this world which was witnessing it ,Instead of getting depressed like people of no strength.?”
8903. ”If that evil one has killed a weak lady , who is doing penance ,Who is like the goddess of Dharma of chastity and your wife by touching her,Is your act of not destroying Dharma along with the entire clan of Rakshasas,Is it because you want to live or due to your mercy?Is it possible for us to maintain good relation with Dharma ?”
8904. “If those who destroy dharma are going to be great and those who follow Dharma,Are going to be destroyed , then without bothering whether they are ,Asuras, Devas , Brahmins ,teachers , sages and principles of Vedas ,We should set fire to all the three worlds. ,Without doing that what is the use of our sorrowing about it?”
8905. ” After that Rakshasa killed Sita, still should we allow , the seven worlds,To function with normalcy ? Should the Devas be allowed to continue to live?Should we imagine that there is something called Dharma and keep on saluting it?,Should we allow cloud to cause rain? Should we keep on watching all this,Fall down dispirited and crying ? Our capacity to fight with bow seems to be great?”
8906. ”Instead of within a second, after powdering and destroying this Lanka ,After burning the way by which that Rakshasa proceeded, after destroying,All the worlds of Devas, if we keep crying holding our hanging head by our hands ,And continue always to be sad would not others think poorly of us ?”
8907. ”Even though we lost our kingdom and reached the forest ,Even after that evil one abducted the lady we lived ,Without crossing the limits set by Dharma and if we continue to do so,Even after this great sorrow has befallen us , seeing our simplicity,Would not our enemies chain us in a strong tether and make us their slaves?”
8908. ”If we give up our life now , the world will say about us that ,“When that lady with a scented hair was brought before them,And was killed by the sword of The Rakshasas, having no strength ,To kill them , they died due to existence of great shame”,And examining with balance such type of suffering is improper for us,And so why should you sorrow like an ignorant person?”
8909. Sugreeva who was lying low , hearing such words of Lakshmana ,Suddenly got up as if he has seen a dream and said, “what is the need for further analysis?,Come let us jump on the chest of Ravana who is like an insect falling in the flame .”
8910. ”Let us uproot the city of Lanka and annihilate the Rakshasas,With evil eyes , along with their wives wearing golden ear globes ,Their children who are drinking milk along with their complete clan,And if the Devas get angry at us and prevent us ,Then let us destroy the land of Devas and make it fall on this earth.”
8911. ”If we take a bold decision that we would act destroying Dharma ,Then sir, what is the need for this sorrowing ? Within a short time ,Let us spin the three worlds like a kite and throw away the clan of Devas “Saying like this, the valorous Sugreeva who had diamond like shoulders,Made preparations to jump on the city of Lanka.
8912. Even before their king all the monkey warriors saying ,“We will pick up the Rakshasas along with their homes and dash and kill them”,And started moving and when they did like that Hanuman ,Wanting to tell them all one thing , told them about how,That evil Indrajit had a cruel idea of marching towards Ayodhya.
8913. ,AS soon as the word that Indrajit has gone towards Ayodhya ,Where his brothers and mothers were observing penance ,Entered the ears of Rama , just the pain of beating ,Getting masked by pain of burning , he got rid of sorrow over slaying of Sita,
8914. Just like waking up from sleep on the deep sea of milk , Rama ,Got away from the ocean of sorrow along with anger ,Which was like unquenchable fire and with a shivering mind Even before time taken for a black gram to roll ,Speedily acted with great mental churning.
8915. ”This evil does not seem to get over with the killing of Sita,And it is seems to completely annihilate our entire clan ,I do not know to whom else it is going to spread.Is there any method to prevent it ? Are my brothers still alive ?”
8916. That Indrajit who has gone there in Pushpaka Vimana ,Which can travel faster than thought , is capable of completing his job,Within a second and return back ,Due to my very bad fate ,My home is destroyed there and here my wife has been killed ,I do not know how many more such sorrows are going to follow me ?And I am not able to see death coming for me.”
8917. The bad fate of mine only after causing death of my father ,,The father like Jatayu and Sita who was alone is going to further spread,And cause the death to my innocent mother who gave birth to me ,My innocent brothers who love me , to my city and Kosala country,”
8918. ”They who are not aware of happenings here , if attacked suddenly by Indrajit ,Would be destroyed. Even if they fight with him with anger considering him as an enemy That Indrajit would send cruel Naga Pasa at them and would kill them ,And Garuda who is the enemy of serpents would not go there ,And Hanuman to give them by bringing medicine mountain is also not there,And so there is no one to help them stay alive.”
8919. “Oh Vibheeshana who has diamond like strong shoulders , please tell me,If there is some method to reach Ayodhya through the Maaga sky route .Let whatever is remaining get destroyed , let the war of Lanka also get stooped,After the crow eats the eyes of Indrajit , I would come here and complete them.”
8920. Lakshmana said , “Sir , Not only that Indrajit who has gone there to tie,Bharata by sending the Naga Pasa , but even if all the three worlds ,Were to march and stand as enemies to him , they would all be destroyed by him,So do not swim in this cruel ocean of sorrow.”
8921. ”Bharata is not me to fall dying if that Indrajit full of evil,Sends his Naga Pasa as soon as it touches him and you yourselves ,Are going to see that Indrajit killed struck by arrows of Bharata ,Along with his clan and fall on the ground” Said Lakshmana who was agitated.
8922. At That time Hanuman who was standing there requested them ,“oh Lord , either climb on my shoulders or my palms and making ,The speed of wind much less I would reach the ancient city of Ayodhya,And if there is a need I would take you to all the directions,And if you wish I would myself kill that enemy.”
8923. ,”I advised Indrajit who came here to kill Sita and pointed out ,All aspects of Dharma , I also told him soft words and when,He did not bother about them and killed Lady Sita ,Due to sorrow winning over me , I fell on the floor ,And lost conscience and That Indrajit speedily went way,Had I not been like that , would that evil one be still alive.”
8924. ”I would travel in the same route that the Pushpaka Vimana has travelled ,With more speed than thought and make that Vimana behind me ,And we want stand there waiting it . Oh Lords wearing Thulasi garland ,Why waste few more seconds, please climb on my shoulders ,So that we would reach Ayodhya even before Pushpaka Vimana .”
8925. When Hanuman rose up requesting , “Please climb “, Vibheeshana saluted Rama,And said, “I have to tell you some thing . Due to great sorrow affecting you ,I stood completely sorrowing and greatly confused as it was difficult to get consoled,But now I have come out of that sorrow ,I have doubt that act of Indrajit is an illusion.”
8926. “Had the very chaste Sita been touched and then killed by Indrajit,Even while he was doing it , all the three world would have got burnt and turned in to ash,And even if that incident has happened, the news that ,He has gone towards Ayodhya is greatly surprising and truth will be known soon.”
8927. ”Within a second I would go and reach the place Where Sita is there ,And after clearly examining , understanding what really happened,And will tell you and afterwards you can decide as to What is to be done”Said Vibheeshana and Rama said, “It is proper” and Vibheeshana,Went to Asoka Vana through the sky .
8928. Assuming the form of a bee , going with the speed of mind of Rama ,He reached the place of Sita in Asoka Vana , he saw Sita, with his own eyes,Who was like a picture about which one can doubt whether it was alive .
8929. She who had decided that her sorrow would go only with her life,Had decided to die but had left her sorrow due to the words of Trijata ,Who can talk in a perfect manner and console the mind .And when the monkeys shouted like clouds at the end of deluge ,She felt it was like nectar to her and kept her great soul.
8930. Understanding that the killing of Sita was a sight created by illusion ,With a very happy mind , leaving out the worries in his mind ,Came to know that Indrajit who acted as if going to Ayodhya ,Had gone to Nikumbila and doing fire sacrifice there ,By watching the Rakshasa army in great number going there.
8931. He also saw the Devas getting upset seeing the firewood , ghee ,And other materials being transported feeling that it would ,Make them lead an inferior life , decided that this was the trick,Intended to be done by Indrajit and went ,And saluted the lotus like feet of Rama by falling at his feet.
8932. He said “That goddess like lady was there and I saw her with my eyes,How can Sita who has chastity Like Arundathi face destruction ?Indrajit has created an illusion which saddened us ,He has entered the temple of Nikumbila , so that he can,Conduct a fire ritual there and then completely destroy us all.”
8933. As soon as Vibheeshana told , The crowd of monkeys shouted together,Making the devas have a doubt that the seven seas surrounding,The seven great islands were making sound together and ,They also danced and jumped making even the mountains break
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About Kavichakravarthy Kamban
Historians place him in the 9th century CE, But surely Kamban belongs to the third great wave of Tamizh literature that started with the Sangam period (dated before the Common Era), followed by the widespread impact of Bhakti literature of the Alwars (vaishnavite saints) & Nayanamars (shaivaite saints). Kamban Authored Ramanaya in Tamil…Known as Kamba Ramayanam..
Kambar has been the milestone for the Tamil scholars that none had reached. He was also known as “Kamba Naatazhvar” at his time. Many Tamil authors from the modern world have written the books on the poet Kamban.
FAQs
Kambar or Kavichakravarthy Kamban (1180–1250) was a medieval Tamil poet and the author of the Ramavataram, popularly known as Kambaramayanam, the Tamil version of the epic Ramayana.
Valmiki Ramayana and Kamba Ramayanam are two versions of Ramayana written in the Sanskrit and Tamil languages respectively. … Kamba Ramayanam is originally called as Ramavataram. Although Valmiki Ramayana is the original version of the story of Rama, Kamba Ramayana is believed to be based on the work by Valmiki.
The Kamba Ramayanam, is a Tamil epic that was written by the Tamil poet Kambar during the 12th century. Based on Valmiki’s Ramayana (which is in Sanskrit), the story describes the life of King Rama of Ayodhya.
The book is divided into six chapters, called Kandam in Tamil. The Kandams are further divided into 123 sections called Padalam (படலம்) in Tamil. These 123 sections contain approximately 12,000 verses of the epic.