The Book of Vanci

by Ilango Adigal, B Mangalam (Editor)

LATEST EDITION

Genres: Classics

Perfect Paperback

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

Ilango Adigal (இளங்கோ அடிகள்) is traditionally credited as the author of Silappatikaram, one of the Five Great Epics of Tamil literature. In a patikam (prologue) to the epic poem, he identifies himself as the brother of a famous Chera king Ceṅkuṭṭuvan (Senguttuvan). This Chera king, states Elizabeth Rosen, ruled over his kingdom in late 2nd or early 3rd century CE. However, this is doubful because a Sangam poem in Patiṟṟuppattu – the fifth ten – provides a biography of Ceṅkuṭṭuvan, his family and rule, but never mentions that he had a brother who became an ascetic or wrote one of the most cherished epics. This has led scholars to conclude that the legendary author Ilango Adikal myth was likely inserted later into the epic. In a 1968 note, Kamil Zvelebil suggested that, "this [Adigal claim] may be a bit of poetic fantasy, practised perhaps by a later member of the Chera Dynasty [5th or 6th century] recalling earlier events [2nd or 3rd century]"

Reviews

[Saptarshi Bhowmick · Rating 3 out of 5]

They consider it as epic poem but it is too much bizzare for my likings to include.

[a. · Rating 4 out of 5]

stressed me tf out