Kambar, or Kamban (1180–1250), was an Indian poet. He is the author of the Ramavataram, popularly known as Kambaramayanam, the Tamil version of the Hindu epic Ramayana. He had also authored several other literary works in Tamil including Silai Elupatu, Kangai Puranam, Sadagopar Antati and Saraswati Antati.

Life

Kambar was believed to have been born in Therazhundur (in present day Tamil Nadu). He was supported and patronised by Sadayappa Vallal. He grew up in the Chola Empire during the reign of Kulothunga Chola III. Having heard of Kamban's talent, Kulothunga summoned him to his court and honoured him with the title Kavi Chakravarty (Emperor of poets).

There are no clear information of his later whereabouts, with multiple stories in folklore. As per one theory, Kamban spent his last days in Nattarasankottai near present day Sivagangai. After having differences with Kulothunga's son, Rajaraja III, he left the Chola kingdom and moved from place to place. When he reached at Nattarasankottai, he decided to stay there and spent his last days there. There is tomb dedicated to him at the location and the annual Kamban vizha is conducted at this place to felicitate Kambar.

Literary works

thumb|Kamba Ramyanam Mandapam at [[Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam|The Ranganathasamy Temple, Srirangam, where he is believed to have recited the epic]]

  • Kamba Ramayanam (also called Ramavataram), a retelling of the Indian epic Ramayana in Tamil. It consists of 11,000 stanzas. It was accepted into the holy precincts in the presence of Nathamuni.
  • Saraswati Antati, literary work of antati style in praise of Hindu Goddess Saraswati
  • Sadagopar Antati, antati in praise of Vaishnava Saint Nammalvar
  • Silai Elupatu, work in praise of 11th century CE Pallava king Karunakara Tondaiman
  • Tirukkai Valakkam
  • Erelupathu
  • Kangai Puranam
  • Mangala Vazhthu

Kamban is portrayed by Serukalathur Sama in the Tamil-language film Ambikapathy (1937). In the film Ambikapathy (1957), M. K. Radha played Kamban.

See also

  • Kambarmedu, an archaeological site associated with Kamban

References