Kambar

Kambar Biography

Kambar was a medieval Tamil poet of 12^th century who authored Ramayanam Ramavatharam, popularly known as Kambaramayanam. It is the Tamil version of Hindu epic, Ramayana and one of the most significant works of Tamil literature. Erezhupathu, Silaiezhupathu, Kangai Puranam, Sadagopar anthathi and Sarasvati Anthati are his other Tamil literary works. He is believed to have lived in Tiruvaluntur, Tanjore district, around 1180 CE. Many Tamil poets, statesmen, kings and common people have praised Kambar for his masterpiece work - Kambaramayanam which has more than 10000 songs. This work with more than 45000 lines is regarded as one of the greatest epics of Tamil language and well known for its similes. There is a detailed sketch of this poet in Kavichakravarty Kamban, written by Mahavidwan R. Raghava Iyengar.

Kambar belonged to Occhan caste who practised as traditional temple priests. But he was brought up by a wealthy farmer in Vennai Nellur. Once Chola King happened to hear about the brilliance of Kambar. He invited him to the court and honoured him with the title of Kavi Chakravarty or The Emperor of Poets. He lived in Therazhundur village of Thanjavur. He was a scholar of both Sanskrit and Tamil languages. Ramavataram is an epic of about 11,000 stanzas as opposed to Valmiki's 24000 couplets. This work is not a translation of Valmiki’s Sanskrit, but an original retelling of the story of the God Rama.

Kamba Ramayana was first delivered in Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam at Kambar Arangetra Mandapam. According to legends, the whole Ramayana was written in an entire night by Lord Ganesha. There is also a legend that the eminent poet Ottakuthar was a contemporary of Kambar. "Kamba Sutram" is a common phrase used by Tamil people in their day-to-day activity.

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Updated: March 12, 2014