Madhavi (Silappatikaram)
Encyclopedia
Madhavi is an important character in the Silappatikaram, one of the epic
s in Tamil
literature. Silapathikaram is the first kappiyam(epic) among the five in Tamil literature. It belongs to the sangam period. She was a dancer and on those days these kind of people are made in the society to recreate the people, particularly those who are rich in their wealth. This requirement fulfillment includes the innate need and intrinsic urge that happens to every human.
However, Madhavi is unique and different among those set of people who sell themselves for their livelihood, she practiced chastity even though she born on this sect of dancers(parathiyar). She lived with Kovalan
happily for sometimes. During that period mother of madhavi got all the wealth of kannagi the wife of kovalan by using kovalan ring-kannaiyali without the knowledge of madhavi and kovalan. After 3 years Kovalan got difference of opinion on identification of fault in the kaveri kanal vari(song)during indhra festival. He got angry with madhavi and again returned to kannagi. After kovalan left her madhavi came to know her mother criminal activities. Then she returned all the wealth of kovalan to his father and she became a Buddhist monk.
Manimegalai, the daughter of Madhavi and Kovalan, who is the main character of the another Epic called "Manimegalai" written by Seethalai Sattanar
, born to them in this period of love in between them at Kaveripoompatinam.
, the son of a wealthy merchant and the husband of Kannagi
, met Madhavi in a performance in Chozha king Karikalan
's court. Enamoured by her beauty, he fell in love with her. Eventually, Kovalan left his wife and moved in with Madhavi, with whom he stayed for a year. Madhavi bore him a daughter Manimekalai
. However, after spending all his money on Madhavi, he realised his mistakes and returned to his wife.
Kovalan and his wife left for Madurai
to restore their fortunes by trade. In an unfortunate twist of events, he was mistakenly arrested for having stolen the queen's anklet and beheaded. on hearing this, Kannagi set out to the court of the Pandya king Neduncheziyan and proved her husband's innocence. On realizing his mistake, the king died instantly.kannagi to take revenge burns the whole city of Madurai
by her curse, which she later takes back due to request of city goddess
Upon learning the tragic turn of events, Madhavi shaved her head and became a Buddhist nun.
Epic poetry
An epic is a lengthy narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation. Oral poetry may qualify as an epic, and Albert Lord and Milman Parry have argued that classical epics were fundamentally an oral poetic form...
s in Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
literature. Silapathikaram is the first kappiyam(epic) among the five in Tamil literature. It belongs to the sangam period. She was a dancer and on those days these kind of people are made in the society to recreate the people, particularly those who are rich in their wealth. This requirement fulfillment includes the innate need and intrinsic urge that happens to every human.
However, Madhavi is unique and different among those set of people who sell themselves for their livelihood, she practiced chastity even though she born on this sect of dancers(parathiyar). She lived with Kovalan
Kovalan
Kovalan is a central character in the ancient Tamil epic Cilappatikaram.-Plot:Kovalan, the son of a wealthy merchant in Kaveripattinam, married Kannagi, the lovely daughter of another merchant. They lived together happily in the city of Kaveripattinam, until Kovalan met the courtesan Madhavi and...
happily for sometimes. During that period mother of madhavi got all the wealth of kannagi the wife of kovalan by using kovalan ring-kannaiyali without the knowledge of madhavi and kovalan. After 3 years Kovalan got difference of opinion on identification of fault in the kaveri kanal vari(song)during indhra festival. He got angry with madhavi and again returned to kannagi. After kovalan left her madhavi came to know her mother criminal activities. Then she returned all the wealth of kovalan to his father and she became a Buddhist monk.
Manimegalai, the daughter of Madhavi and Kovalan, who is the main character of the another Epic called "Manimegalai" written by Seethalai Sattanar
Sattanar
Sattanar is the Tamil Buddhist poet who composed the epic called Manimekalai. He lived in the period of Ilango Adigal. He was also known as Seethalai Sattanar or Sīthalai Sāttanār....
, born to them in this period of love in between them at Kaveripoompatinam.
Plot
KovalanKovalan
Kovalan is a central character in the ancient Tamil epic Cilappatikaram.-Plot:Kovalan, the son of a wealthy merchant in Kaveripattinam, married Kannagi, the lovely daughter of another merchant. They lived together happily in the city of Kaveripattinam, until Kovalan met the courtesan Madhavi and...
, the son of a wealthy merchant and the husband of Kannagi
Kannagi
Kannagi or , a legendary Tamil woman, is the central character of the South Indian epic Silapathikaram. Legend states that Kannagi took revenge on the King of Madurai, for a mistaken death penalty imposed on her husband Kovalan, by cursing the city with disaster.-The story:Kovalan, the son of a...
, met Madhavi in a performance in Chozha king Karikalan
Karikalan
Karikalan can refer to two names:*Karikala Chola, an ancient South Indian emperor*Karikalan , upcoming Tamil film...
's court. Enamoured by her beauty, he fell in love with her. Eventually, Kovalan left his wife and moved in with Madhavi, with whom he stayed for a year. Madhavi bore him a daughter Manimekalai
Manimekalai
Manimekalai or Maṇimekalai , written by the Tamil Buddhist poet Seethalai Saathanar is one of the masterpieces of Tamil literature. It is considered to be one of the five great epics of Tamil literature. Manimekalai is a poem in 30 cantos...
. However, after spending all his money on Madhavi, he realised his mistakes and returned to his wife.
Kovalan and his wife left for Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
to restore their fortunes by trade. In an unfortunate twist of events, he was mistakenly arrested for having stolen the queen's anklet and beheaded. on hearing this, Kannagi set out to the court of the Pandya king Neduncheziyan and proved her husband's innocence. On realizing his mistake, the king died instantly.kannagi to take revenge burns the whole city of Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
by her curse, which she later takes back due to request of city goddess
Upon learning the tragic turn of events, Madhavi shaved her head and became a Buddhist nun.