The Boundless Friendship between Velpari and Kapilar in Classical Literature

Abstract

This article sets out to know the opinions of poets, scholars, and sages in classical literature such as Ettuththokai (Eight Anthologies), Pathuppattu (The Ten Idylls), Pathinenkilkanakku (18 books), Didactic books, and Moral literature. And also, to explore the power of unadulterated honesty, truth, and dignity in friendship. Moreover, Kapilar was a great poet who was the chief scholar of the Tamil Sangam in education, questions, and in Madurai, the city where Tamil was developed with the various periods of Sangam as First Sangam, Middle (Idai) Sangam, and Last (Kadai) Sangam. Most of the songs in Sangam literature are sung by Kapilar.It has been thoroughly researched about the excellence of the friendship between the poet Kapilar and Velpari, the leader of the Velirkulam who ruled the small land of Parambu Nadu within the boundaries of the Pandya Empire, the grammar of friendship, the necessity of friendship, and friendship, as well as the unethical friendship that has been dealt with in Purananuru, Patirupattu, Siruppanaartuppai, Thirukkural, and Naladiyar. In the classical literature, the way in which Velpari and Kapilar valued friendship more than life, and the high spirit of Kapilar who stood as a close supporter of Velpari and guided Pari to defeat the enemy and helped him to achieve victory in the time of great suffering, is also explored in this article. Knowing that Pari cannot be defeated in a face-to-face fight, Moovendars (Three Great Kings) kills Pari by stratagem. After Velpari's death, Kabila, who had intended to sacrifice himself, changed his mind, thinking that if he too died, both of Pari's daughters would be left in a state of destitution. Kapila intended to get Pari's daughters married and appealed to the chieftains, Ilavachiko and Irungo, to share the fame of Pari and marry his daughters. Fearing the enmity of the Moovendars, the two small land leaders refused to accept Kapilar's request. Kapilar, who was heartbroken and without Pari, wanted to die. Kapilar handed over Pari's daughters to a brahmin who was close to him and gave up his life from the north.