409. DSC 253- Ilango Adigal's 'The Book of Banci,' in Cilappatikaram/The Tale of an Anklet (3)
According to an astrologer, Ilango will become the next Chera king and not his elder brother, Chenguttuvan. To disprove the prophecy, Ilango became a Jain monk so that his brother could become the king. So, Ilango was a Jain monk and a Chera prince. The meaning of Ilango in Jain means saint or ascetic.
Time of Composition
This epic poem by Adigal is based on a real incident and it was written in between 2nd or 3rd century. The exact time of writing is contested.
Structure
The epic contains three chapters and a total of 5270 lines of poetry. The three chapters are Puharkkandam, Maduraikkandam, and Vanchikkandam.
Story
The story starts in the chola kingdom's city of pohar, a flourishing sea port then. Kannagi and Kovalan is a couple who are the lead characters belong to the sea traders of pohar city. They love each other. Madhavi, a courtesan comes across Raja Karikalan, a chola king in a festival and the latter is mesmerised by the dance performance and gifts her 1008 gold coins and a flower garland. Kovalan & kannagi who had also gone to that festival and the dance also impressed Kovalan. Madhavi decides to auction the garland through her helper Vacantmalai and added that one who buys it with the highest gold coins will be married by her. Kovalan hears of it and places one thousand gold coins at the hands of Vacantmalai. And from that day onwards kovalan starts living with Madhavi and completely forgets about his parents, wife or trade. Kannagi is badly hurt. Kovalan diverts all his wealth upon Madhavi. Madhavi's mother was aware of Kannagi's condition and after every few days would reach Kannagi with some gold.
Soon, the festival is going to start and Madhavi also goes there. In the festival, Kovalan unintentionally sings a song over the lute, which is about the hurt of a lover. Madhavi assumes the song intended towards her. Madhavi takes the lute and starts singing another song which was about a woman betrayed by her lover. Kovalan realises that Madhavi is no more interested in him and he leaves her without saying anything. Madhavi thinks that this was short term anger and kovalan would soon return to her. But he doesn't return and she gets worried.