Guest guest Posted February 20, 2003 Report Share Posted February 20, 2003 Everyone knows about the two great epics of India, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. However, I wonder whether there are also other, lesser well-known epics of India? I have the impression that Indology mainly deals with material from North-India, forgetting very much that originated in South-India and in other parts of India. Who has information? Is there any epic composed by a woman? Is there at all existing literature from Indian women before the 20th century? Kind regards, A.K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2003 Report Share Posted February 21, 2003 Dear Ms Kafka, Other Indian epics exist and have indeed been studied, although not as thoroughly as Sanskrit MBh and Rm. Still I think there is plenty to study in the MBh at least. Good articles on oral folk epics to begin with can be found in: Blackburn, Stuart H. et al. (eds.) Oral Epics in India. University of California Press, Berkeley / Los Angeles / London. Blackburn, Stuart H. and Ramanujan A.K. (eds.) Another Harmony: New Essays on the Folklore of India. University of California Press, Berkeley / Los Angeles / London. [includes a good bibliography on e.g. folk epics] On one specific South Indian tradition, see an admirable study of a Tulu epic by a Finnish folklore professor (he sadly passed away last summer): Honko, Lauri 1998 (in collaboration with Chinnappa Gowda, Anneli Honko and Viveka Rai). The Siri Epic as performed by Gopala Naika Part I-II (FF Communications 265-6). Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia, Helsinki. Honko, Lauri 1998. Textualising the Siri Epic (FF Communications 264). Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia, Helsinki. Some of the portions of Siri are sometimes sung by women, although Honko's book concentrates on one male singer. Brenda Beck's work on Tamil folk epics definitely deserves a mention, too (_The three twins. The telling of a South Indian Folk Epic_ Berkeley, University of California Press) If one is interested in somewhat more "classical" or "older", at least Tamil epics, Cilappatikaaram and MaNimeekalai come to mind (both translated many times and rather well studied), and of course a quite independent KamparaamaayaNam or Iraamaavataaram. Many more are described in Zvelebil, K.V., 1974, Tamil Literature, Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden pp. 128-192. These are the works that easily come to my mind on different types of epics, there is much more, of course. As for ancient literature by women, at least some of the Classical Tamil poems (from 2nd c. CE) are composed by female poets. Best wishes, Jussi Nyblom > Thu, 20 Feb 2003 03:06:01 +0100 > "Alexandra Kafka" <alexandra.kafka > epics > > Everyone knows about the two great epics of India, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. > However, I wonder whether there are also other, lesser well-known epics of India? > I have the impression that Indology mainly deals with material from North-India, forgetting very much that originated in South-India and in other parts of India. > Who has information? > Is there any epic composed by a woman? > Is there at all existing literature from Indian women before the 20th century? > > Kind regards, > A.K. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 21, 2003 Report Share Posted February 21, 2003 Dr. K. Loganathan wrote: >The final epic version was written by Kacciyapa Sivacariyar >(c. 14th AD) and which is replete with the metaphysics of >Saiva Siddhanta. KandapuraaNam is dated in 12th century by Tamil scholars. By 14th century incidents from the life of Kacciyappar have become so legendary and widespread, AruNagirinAthar sings about them in his Tiruppukaz. (from memory, can get more info from tamil books by Mu. AruNAcalam, and by Zvelebil, ...) I've a reply to make to Tiru. J. Nyblom, long overdue. Connected with this, and kuuva-p-puraaNam, ... anbuDan, N. Ganesan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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