Silappadikaram, Silappatikaram, Cilappatikaram, Cilappatikāram: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Silappadikaram means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Tamil. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Cilappatikāram is the book in Tamil literature that speaks most extensively on dance in ancient times. Kaṭalāṭukkāṭai (chapter on the seashore), Venirkkāṭai (the advent of summer), Vettuvavari (a kind of dance of the hunters of the Kuriñci tract), Ācciyar Kuṟavai (a dance of the cowherdess), Kunṟṟakkuṟavai (a dance of the hill-maidens) are a few of the thirty cantos in Cilappatikāram where information on dance is found. The third canto of Araṅkeṟṟukāṭai in Cilappatikāram vividly describes Madavi’s proficiency in dance, strictly adhering to Nāṭya Nannūl (rules and regulations of dance).
From the references it is clear that around the 2nd century AD, during the time of Cilappatikāram, the eleven dance forms were performed in a vettiyal (a kind of dance performed in the presence of a king). It is also understood that each dance had its own composition of songs; and the songs which synchronized with the dance were limited within its rhythm and systematized according to the musical forms of the dances.
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
India history and geography
The Cilappatikāram, by Iḷaṅkō Aṭikaḷ, is in three books, set in the capitals of the three Tamil kingdoms: Pukār (the Cōḻa capital), Maturai (i.e., Madurai, the Pāṇṭiya [Pāṇḍya] capital), and Vañci (the Cēra capital). The story is not about kings but about Kōvalaṉ, a young Pukār merchant, telling of his marriage to the virtuous Kaṇṇaki, his love for the courtesan Mātavi, and his consequent ruin and exile in Maturai, where he dies, unjustly executed when he tries to sell his wife's anklet to a wicked goldsmith who had stolen the Queen's similar anklet and charged Kōvalaṉ with the theft. Kaṇṇaki, the widow, comes running to the city and shows the King her other anklet, breaks it to prove it is not the Queen's—Kaṇṇaki's contains rubies, and the Queen's contains pearls—and thus proves Kōvalaṉ's innocence. Kaṇṇaki tears off one breast and throws it at the kingdom of Maturai, which goes up in flames. Such is the power of a faithful wife. The third book deals with the Cēra king's victorious expedition to the north to bring Himalayan stone for an image of Kaṇṇaki, now become a goddess of chastity (pattii).
Cilappatikāram, or “the story of the anklet” is an ancient epic authored by Ilango Adigal and deals with the story of Kovalan, Kannaki and Madavi and represents an important piece of Tamil literature.—Cilappatikāram is one of the earliest Tamil literary works that elaborate on the art of the ancient Tamils. This beautifully rendered book, belonging to the 2nd century AD, is one of the five great epics. Authored by Ilango Adigal, this text is also known as Muttamil-Kāppiyam (a book with iyal, icai and nāṭakam in it). It brings out the essence of icait-tamil, iyal-amil, and nāṭaka-tamil.
By dividing the epic [Cilappatikāram] into three parts, Ilango Adigal attempts to bring the three illustrious dynasties of Tamilnadu into this epic:
- Pukārkkāṇṭam (the chapter on the story that took place in the town of Kavirippumpattinam in the Chola country),
- Maturaikkāṇṭam (the chapter on the story that took place in the town of Madurai, capital of the Pandyas),
- Vañcikkāṇṭam (the chapter on the story that took place in the Chera country),
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Tamil dictionary
Cilappatikāram (சிலப்பதிகாரம்) noun < சிலம்பு [silambu] + அதிகாரம். [athigaram.] An ancient epic poem by Iḷaṅkō-v-aṭikaḷ dealing with the story of Kōvalaṉ and Kaṇṇaki, one of pañca-kāviyam, q. v.; பஞ்சதந்திரப் பாடற் காவியத்து ளொன்றும் இளங்கோவடிகளால் இயற்றப் பெற்றதும் கோவலன் கண்ணகிகளின் கதையைக் கூறுவதுமாகிய ஒரு பழமொழிைய காப்பியம். [panchathandirap padar kaviyathu lonrum ilangovadigalal iyarrap perrathum kovalan kannagikalin kathaiyaig kuruvathumagiya oru pazhaiya kappiyam.]
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text (+2196): Madhavi, Korravai, Manimekalai, Kannaki, Akakkuttu, Ilango, Amantirikai, Pindi, Varikkuttu, Sembanju, Pancakaviyam, Karikala, Vettiyal, Mallatal, Katalatukkatai, Arankerrukatai, Venirkatai, Vettuvavari, Acciyarkuravai, Kunrrakkuravai.
Relevant text
Search found 28 books and stories containing Silappadikaram, Chilappathigaram, Cilappatikaram, Cilappatikāram, Silappadhigaram, Silappadigaram, Silappathigaaram, Silappathigaram, Silappathikaram, Silappatikaram; (plurals include: Silappadikarams, Chilappathigarams, Cilappatikarams, Cilappatikārams, Silappadhigarams, Silappadigarams, Silappathigaarams, Silappathigarams, Silappathikarams, Silappatikarams). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 293 < [Tamil-Hindi-English, Volume 1]
Page 75 < [Tamil-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
Page 185 < [Tamil-Hindi-English, Volume 1]
Administration of Justice in Tamil < [January – March 1992]
The Tamil Academy: A Myth < [November, 1928]
Theatre Architecture in Ancient India < [October – December, 1998]
The Carving of Kṛṣṇa’s Legend: North and South, Back and Forth < [Volume 11, Issue 9 (2020)]
Tales of Endings and Beginnings < [Volume 11, Issue 3 (2020)]
Intertwining Christian Mission, Theology, and History < [Volume 12, Issue 2 (2021)]
Musical Instruments in Sanskrit Literature (by S. Karthick Raj KMoundinya)
Musical Instruments in Ancient Tamil Country < [Chapter 4 - A comparative study of the references to Musical Instruments]
Ancient stringed instruments—The Yazh < [Chapter 2 - Origin and evolution of Music and Musical instruments]
Pallava period (Social and Cultural History) (by S. Krishnamurthy)
Socio-Religious Life of the Pre-Pallava Period < [Chapter 3 - Socio-Religious Life]
The cultural life of the Pre-Pallava Period < [Chapter 4 - Material Culture of the People]
Origin of Sculptural Art (b): Pre-Pallava Period < [Chapter 2 - Origin of Sculptural Art—Its Development and Scheme]
Diaspora of Bhuta (Daiva) worshipping cult—India and Indonesia (by Shilpa V. Sonawane)
Part 12 - Submerged Lands in Ancient Indian Literture < [Chapter 4 - Inter-Disciplinary Analysis]
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