num_pages: 224
description: The primary epic of Tamil literature.The peerless young Kvalan leaves his loyal wife Kannaki for the courtesan Mdhavi and though he returns to her he still meets his death because of her ill-omened ankle bracelet. The Shilappadikaram has been called an epic and even a novel but it is also a book of general education. Adigal packed his story with history merging into myth religious rites caste customs military lore descriptions of city and country life. And four Cantos are little anthologies of the poetry of the period (seashore and mountain songs hunters and milkmaids song). Thus the story gives us a vivid picture of early Indian life in all its aspects.
language: English
title: Shilappadikaram
publisher: New Directions