A small temple marks Kamban’s resting place at Nattarasankottai

Explore the legend of Kambar, author of Kambaramayanam, at a serene temple in Nattarasankottai, Sivaganga district.

Far away from the main thoroughfare of Nattarasankottai in Sivaganga district, where the cries of peacocks and chirping of birds fill the air, stands a small temple dedicated to Kambar, the author of Ramavataram, popularly known as Kambaramayanam. It is actually the memorial of the poet. A verse above the entrance of the temple, in a wooded complex, reads, “Let us be pleased to worship at this temple, wherein lies the sacred remains of Kamban, who was like a cool, divine breeze, spread the fame of Raghava, adding to the everlasting glory of Tamil.”

Though born at Therazhundur in the Chola country, the poet, who lived in the 12th Century, migrated to Nattarasankottai and spent his last days there. Legend has it that he left the Chola country in despair after his son Ambikapathy was executed by Chola King Kulothunga III. Ambikapathy was in love with Amaravathy, the daughter of the king, and the king agreed to give her in marriage only if he rendered 100 poems in praise of God. But he stopped after singing 99 since Amaravathy showed her face and he rendered a verse in her praise.

“He could not live in the Chola country after becoming an enemy of the king. He was also said to have spent some time in Andhra Pradesh before settling at Nattarasankottai. These are legends and we do not have historical evidence to support the version,” said T. Gnanasundaraman, an authority on Kambaramayanam and Vaishnavite literature.

It is also not clear whether Therazhundur was the birthplace of Kambar. “We know Kamban only through Kambaramayanam. There is no other evidence,” said Kambaraman, the grandson of Karaikudi Sa. Ganesan, who dedicated his life to spreading the fame of Kambar and was known as Kamban Adipodi.

The prolific poet, who penned Kambaramayanam in over 10,000 songs, had not dropped any hint at his birthplace, even though in Tamil literary tradition many poets had made reference to their place of origin. Therazhundur also finds no reference in his other works, including Sadagopar Andhathi, written in praise of Nammazhwar, the Vaishnavite saint.

There is a single verse supposed to be rendered by a dancer that asserts that the poet was, indeed, native of Therazhundur. To a question, she had said she was from Therazhundur, the birthplace of Kambar, the place where the Cauvery runs, and the place where the curse of Saint Agathiyar was removed (Kamban pirantha oor, Cauvery thangum oor, Kumbamuni sabam theertha oor...)

Mr. Kambaraman said his grandfather, with the help of late archaeologist R. Nagaswami, did an extensive research at Nattarasankottai and came to the conclusion that it was where Kambar was buried. “They were even said to have found an inscription making a reference to Kambar. It is for the government to excavate the memorial to establish the truth,” he said.