Topics in Sangam literature
Sangam literature
Agattiyam Tolkāppiyam
Eighteen Greater Texts
Eight Anthologies
Aiṅkurunūṟu Akanāṉūṟu
Puṟanāṉūṟu Kalittokai
Kuṟuntokai Natṟiṇai
Paripāṭal Patiṟṟuppattu
Ten Idylls
Tirumurukāṟṟuppaṭai Kuṟiñcippāṭṭu
Malaipaṭukaṭām Maturaikkāñci
Mullaippāṭṭu Neṭunalvāṭai
Paṭṭiṉappālai Perumpāṇāṟṟuppaṭai
Poruṇarāṟṟuppaṭai Ciṟupāṇāṟṟuppaṭai
Related topics
Sangam Sangam landscape
Tamil history from Sangam literature Ancient Tamil music
Eighteen Lesser Texts
Nālaṭiyār Nāṉmaṇikkaṭikai
Iṉṉā Nāṟpatu Iṉiyavai Nāṟpatu
Kār Nāṟpatu Kaḷavaḻi Nāṟpatu
Aintiṇai Aimpatu Tiṉaimoḻi Aimpatu
Aintinai Eḻupatu Tiṇaimālai Nūṟṟaimpatu
Tirukkuṟaḷ Tirikaṭukam
Ācārakkōvai Paḻamoḻi Nāṉūṟu
Ciṟupañcamūlam Mutumoḻikkānci
Elāti Kainnilai
Bhakti Literature
Naalayira Divya Prabandham Ramavataram
Tevaram Tirumuṟai
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Kōvūr Kilār (Tamil: கோவூர் கிழார்) was a poet of the Sangam period, to whom 18 verses of the Sangam literature have been attributed, including verse 38 of the Tiruvalluva Maalai.[1]

Biography

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Kovoor Kilar hailed from the town of Kovoor[1] in Sonaadu.[2] He belonged to the vellalar caste and had friendly relationships with the Chola rulers. He was known for his bold and truthful attitude.[3] He is also known for teaching moral lesson to a king who doubted him as spy.[2] When king Killivalavan tried to trample the people of Malaiyaman by elephant, Kovoor Kilar boldly persuaded him to change his mind and act otherwise.[2] He is believed to be the contemporary of Sangam poets Uraiyur Marutthuvan Dhamodharanar, Madalan Madurai Kumaranar, and Kaveri Poompattanatthu Kaari Kannanar, since these poets, too, have sung on the Chola ruler Kurappalli Thunjiya Perunthirumavalavan.[2] Several historical details can be found in his writings.[2]

Contribution to the Sangam literature

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Kovoor Kilar has written 18 Sangam verses, including 1 in Kurunthogai (verse 65), 1 in Natrinai (verse 393), 15 in Purananuru (verses 31–33, 41, 44–47, 68, 70, 308, 373, 382, 386, and 400), and 1 in Tiruvalluva Maalai (verse 38).[3]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Vedanayagam, Rama (2017). திருவள்ளுவ மாலை மூலமும் எளிய உரை விளக்கமும் [Tiruvalluva Maalai: Moolamum Eliya Urai Vilakkamum] (in Tamil) (1 ed.). Chennai: Manimekalai Prasuram. pp. 54–55.
  2. ^ a b c d e Kowmareeshwari, S., ed. (August 2012). அகநானூறு, புறநானூறு [Agananuru, Purananuru]. Sanga Ilakkiyam (in Tamil). Vol. 3 (1 ed.). Chennai: Saradha Pathippagam. p. 408.
  3. ^ a b Kowmareeshwari, S., ed. (August 2012). குறுந்தொகை, பரிபாடல், கலித்தொகை [Kurunthogai, Paripadal, Kalitthogai]. Sanga Ilakkiyam (in Tamil). Vol. 2 (1 ed.). Chennai: Saradha Pathippagam. p. 436.