Virtues in Bharathiyar's Kannan Songs

Abstract

Mahakavi Bharathiyar’s songs marks the turning point in the world of Tamil literature. Although there are many innovations in his works, he has never left the old and ancient tradition behind. He puts forward his thoughts, needs, expectations and prayers through devotional songs about Lord Ganesha, Muruga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kali, Muthumari, Govindan, Shakti, Omshakti, Parashakti and Kannan. Among the poems written by Bharathiyar, the devotional songs, the songs about Kannan deserve much attention. He was so fond of Kannan that he kept his name as his pseudonym. This article examines the manner in his poems by seeing Kannan not only as a male form but also as a female form, it expresses the virtues which Bharathiyar intended to tell people through Kannan songs and how Bharathiyar accepted Kannan as a friend, father, servant, king, disciple, teacher, and mother.