சூளாமணி காட்டும் மன்னனின் மாண்புகள்

The Dignities of the King Described in Sulamani

Abstract

The Kappiyams, or Epics, were written as means of guiding humanity under the 4 codes of life, Aram (virtue), Porul (wealth), Inbam (pleasure), Veedu (spiritual release). Among these, the epics which followed all four were segregated as Aimperum Kappiyangal or The Five Great, Epics, while the epics which followed one or two of the four were segregated as The Five Minor Epics. One of the most important among the five minor epics is Sulamani, written by Tholamozhi Thevar. Through his epic, he guided not just the people, but also the rulers of the country on the mandates a king must follow. This paper intends to review topics such as the guidance to the king like the powers of a king, the troubles of materialistic pleasures, ruling under the guidance of informed counsel, the greatness of patience, providing quality education, standing by justice all the time, warming up to the people like the moon, dying people wanting to live some more under the king’s rule, the rule as a penance, the ways to rule the skies, and protecting people’s life as his own and for guidance for the subjects such as people always following the footsteps of their king and people being potient and accepting when a king’s rule is difficult and reaping its benefits later. Whatever be the epic, it is the duty of a poet to judge it based on the principles of morality it espouses. Sulamani portrays a king’s rule; based on justice and the effect it has on his subjects. It also puts forward the fact that a good rule is judged based on the livelihood of the subjects. By doing this, gives us deep insights into the rule of the country in it’s contemporary times.