Ramavataram

The Ramavataram, popularly referred to as 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 legend of King Rama of Ayodhya. However, the Ramavataram is different from the Sanskrit version in many aspects – both in spiritual concepts and in the specifics of the storyline.^[1]^[2] This historic work is considered by both Tamil scholars and the general public as one of the greatest literary works in Tamil literature.^[3]

Kambar wrote this epic with the patronage of Thiruvennai Nallur Sadayappa Vallal, a chieftain of the Pannai lineage.^[4] In gratitude to his patron, Kamban references his name once in every 1,000 verses.

^ P S Sundaram (3 May 2002). Kamba Ramayana. Penguin Books Limited. pp. 18–. ISBN 978-93-5118-100-2.
^ Aiyar, V V S (1950). Kamba Ramayanam - A Study with translations in verse or poetic prose of over four thousand of the original poems. Parliament Street, New Delhi: Delhi Tamil Sangam. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
^ "Focus on Kamban, poet extraordinaire". The Hindu. 23 May 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
^ Alexander's Lesson and Other Stories. Sura Books. 2006. pp. 44–. ISBN 978-81-7478-807-8.

[Sundaram2002-1] P S Sundaram (3 May 2002). Kamba Ramayana. Penguin Books Limited. pp. 18–. ISBN 978-93-5118-100-2.

[Aiyar-2] Aiyar, V V S (1950). Kamba Ramayanam - A Study with translations in verse or poetic prose of over four thousand of the original poems. Parliament Street, New Delhi: Delhi Tamil Sangam. Retrieved 18 June 2019.

[3] "Focus on Kamban, poet extraordinaire". The Hindu. 23 May 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2018.

[4] Alexander's Lesson and Other Stories. Sura Books. 2006. pp. 44–. ISBN 978-81-7478-807-8.

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