Ramayanam before Kamban 61- Nandikkalamagam
  • Nandikkalambagam - composed on Nandivarma Pallava of Thellar fame by an unknown author.

    உரைவரம் பிகந்த வுயர்புகழ்ப் பல்லவன்
    அரசர் கோமா னடுபேர் நந்தி
    மாவெள் ளாற்று மேவலர்க் கடந்த
    செருவே லுயர்வு பாடினன் கொல்லோ

    There are many stories associated with this poem. It is believed that Nandi was a patron of Tamil. His enemies ( some version say brothers) came in the guise of Tamil Pulavars and sung this. At the end they sung a song - Irangal Pa /Aram ( Sarama Sloka) and because of the strength of Tamil, Nandi died. The story also says that Nandi knew it in advance butaccepted the offer because of his love of Tamil language.

    Leaving the story apart - It is accepted that the songs belong toNandivarma period only. Some manuscripts have only 88 songs and others have 100.
    The last12 songs are not in the Andadi format and debated as later additions.

    There is a Ramayana refernce in the first 88 and also in the last 12.

    It is a common practise to refer the King as Vishnu in indian Litrature as they own both land and wealth.

    We find many such references of kings

    திருமகள் கேள்வன் ( Pandikkovaion NindraseerNedumaran-)மண்ணளந்த திருமாலவன் (irayanar)

    The Nandivarman is commonly refered as Avani narayanan and there are Avani Narayana Chathurvedi Mangalam.

    At the same time we should not mitake this as the King thought himself as Lord Vishnu. The Nandikkalambagam clearly says that Nadhi surrendered to both Siva and Vishnu.

    பிறைதவழ் செஞ்சடைப் பிறங்க னாணரன்
    அறைகழன் முடித்தவ னவனி நாரணன்
    நறைகெழு தொண்டையோன்

    Thirumanagai Azhwar also mentionshis devotion to Vishnu.

    Now coming to the Ramayanam. The author refers the inncident of Rama's arrow piercing the 7 Mara trees on Nandhivarman.

    83. எழுசீர்கழிநெடிலடி ஆசிரிய விருத்தம்

    கொண்ட லுறும்பொழில் வண்டின மாமணி
    வண்ட லிடுங்கடன் மல்லைகா வலனே
    பண்டை மராமர மெய்தபல் லவனே
    தொண்டை யொற்றுவ ளிவடோள் வளையே

    We saw thatthe earlier pallava kings compared their valour with Sri Rama in inscriptions, here the same refernce is in Tamil.

    I am also giving the songin the last 12.

    ஓடுகின்ற மேகங்கா ளோடாத தேரில் வெறுங்
    கூடு வருகுதென்று கூறுங்கோ - ணாடியே
    நந்திச்சீ ராமனுடைய நன்னகரி னன்னுதலைச்
    சந்திச்சீ ராமாகிற் றான்.

    This is one more proof of Ramayanam before kamban.

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