After Jealousy, Let's Relax - And Enjoy Literature

Thats how we all started to come to know of Kambar. But then there are so many books available that we do not have absolutely no excuse not to read the great poet.
Nowadays patti manrams have degenerated into discussing topics like qualities of napkins, or who is better in running the house, husband or wife. No good.
Happy that you liked the thread, Vidhi madam.
regards,
sridhar

Happy to see you liked it Seena. The greatest authority on Kambar is Justice M.M.Ismail who was responsible for the birth of Kambar Kazhagams throughout our state.
Thanks for your kind words,
sridhar

Dear Sudha,
Being moved by Ramas story is a universal feeling. The great Thirumangai Azhwar was listening to Ramayan lecture. At that time he was the King. When the speaker talked elaborately about Ramas Army and then about Ravanas Army, Thirumangai Mannan was so moved that he stood up with reddened eyes and thundered to his Generals that their army should march rightaway to fight against Ravana. It is the story, the fact that it is interwoven into the strands of our DNA, the fact that it has moved the greatest minds like Valmiki, Kambar, Tulsi, Molla etc that it brings tears to our eyes.
Believe me Sudha, the tears we shed are the most powerful detergents known to exist and they effortlessly wash away the dirt we have accumulated in our souls over many births.
Thanks once again for the participation.
regards,
sridhar

Dear Kamla,
I have shed that habit of reverse snobbery of small fonts and have reverted to the usual font size for my name.
The opportunity that was and is given to me to be the carrier of such great messages is equally precious.
Our neighbourhood postman used to deliver the money orders to me from the mags for my short stories. When he does that he would be smiling extra (and that is not only for the tips) for he would have read the story and would say, "sir, I liked that story"
I am like that postman, Kamla. My heart swells in pride because my mail-bag contains man such precious posts and I am proud to deliver them to precious people like you.
regards,
sridhar

Dear Radha,
I could not place you exactly. To use a new smiley which Malathi has gifted us

I tell you as your friend and brother, it is not merely enough to know the existence of the great epics, not just enough to know the stories, we should at least read a part of the works of great poets to truly understand their signficance. I thought very hard on replying to your post. But believe me I could not do any more than this.
You have dragged Ram Jeth Malani and Varalotti while talking about Rama. You could have as well dragged in Sachin, Asin, Abishek and Aiswarya and still would have made as much sense.
But let me thank you for your kind post; for while I was replying everybody else with tears in my eyes, I did yours with a big smile in my face.
May you and yours always remain blessed,
Varalotti

I mean in my education. dear VS, I loved your post many times more than my own. I have a roundabout way of saying thinks. You go to the core discording unnecessary details.

Kambar is highly emotional, highly sentimental and a die hard romantic. It is true that I cannot describe some of his words in this forum when he describes the beauty of women, except by poetically vioating the Forum Etiquette. But M.M.Ismail said it all when he said Kamban is lyrical.

Did the sweetness of Thamizh enrich Kamban's poetry or did Kamban's imagination add sweetness to the language ? is my eternal, personal pattimanram !
For this question I have to summon Kaviarasu Kannadasan

கொடி அசைந்ததும் காற்று வந்ததா
காற்று வந்ததும் கொடி அசைந்ததா
You have mentioned many lovable instances of Kamban's greatness, most of which I have marked for future postings. For a while I want to confine myself to Sundara Kaandam as many people would have at least read that during their pregnancies.
Your beautiful post led the leader post in terms of quality and reach.
Thanks, VS, for sanctifying this thread.
regards,
sridhar

Dear Vidya,
Will use Kambar for the relaxation threads hereafter. Thanks for the suggestion. I have also been thinking of that.

Dear Sriranjani,
thanks for the mild post, which is quite unusual for you. But as you have raised a pertinent point endorsed by Vidya, I am giving a detailed reply.

V and S,

Please listen. A simile is used to be used only for the limited purpose for which it is intended. For example in Tamil say எனக்கு வயறு எரியுது If we hear that we should not call the Fire Engine.

When I said Rama remained unmoved by the sudden fluctuations in fortune, it was only with reference to the wealth and kingdom.

But that does not make Rama an insensitve man a la Prem Nazir. When Rama came back from the golden-deer hunt to an empty hut, he was in so much grief that both Valmiki and Kambar devote verse after verse to describe his grief.

When Indra's son Jeyanthan attacks Sita, taking the form of a crow, Rama gets so angry that he takes a piece of grass and makes into a brahmastara. And when the same Jeyanthan falls at his feet begging forgiveness he grants that.

When Rama sees Bharatha earlier he cries. Hearing about his fathers death his grief is unconsolable. All these emotions are wonderfully expressed in his lotus face.

But when told about the loss of wealth and Kingdom, he did not show any emotion in his face, because he did not have any. For him wealth was next to nothing.

Am I clear ladies? If not please do write again. I am happy that you gals made this thread a place of real discussion.
Sriranjani I adore the undying spirit in you. Vidya I adore your balanced maturity to clothe your objection in beautiful, soft words.
I need to learn from you two.
regards,
Varalotti

I am entertained and enjoying the way our Varalotti is taking up cudgels for Kambar and his romantic and loving poetry on Rama.
On a lighter vein...Me thinks gals....could it be Rama was also poor in emoting his emotions... ala Prem Nazir?:))

L, Kamla

Dear Kamla,
You too have joined the girls' gang. Ok, I love to take cudgels against you. (dont worry even my cudgels will be soft)
Now Kamla, and also for Sriranjani and Vidya, suppose you see a five paise coin (or a five cents or five of whatever is the lowest unit of currency in your place) on the street. You take it with your hand. Then for some reason it falls down again and cannot be traced.
Now tell me gracious ladies, will you be jumping in joy when you first took the five paise coin?
And will you be mourning your fate when you lost it again?
And if you do not do either of these things, then does that mean that you people cannot "emote your emotions" a la Prem Nazir?
A honest answer to these question will be a powerful answer to your question on Ramas emotions.
The idea is the entire kingdom was just a five paise for Rama.
But Sita's loss, Sitas troubles were not like that. So there you see a highly emotional Rama.
Prem Nazir even when he sees his lover dead will keep his face straight and talk to you in a tone similar to inviting you for a cup of coffee.
Well my dear ladies, if you do not understand it now, I need to come to your place with a black board and a chalk and explain the whole thing right from the beginning.
However this controversy makes the discussion very interesting.
Thanks Kamla for stimulating me again.
regards,
sridhar

Well my dear ladies, if you do not understand it now, I need to come to your place with a black board and a chalk and explain the whole thing right from the beginning.

I did not understand:)))))))

L, Kamla