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JULY 5, 1872.]
Yêttrâlum picchei kiḍeiyamal êkkat Triruppargalê,
POPULAR TAMIL POETRY.
Eri yenakkennum, puluvô yenakkennum, Inta manņum
Sarri yenakkenum, paruntô yenakkenum, Tan pusikka
Nari yenakkennum, punnâ yenakkennum, in Narudalei
Piriamuḍan valartên, itinal yenna Per enakkê?
Nêmangal, Niṭṭeigal, vedangal, agama Nitineri
Omangal tarpanam santi jeba mantira Yoga nilei
Nâmangal santanam veņņîru pûsi Nalamuḍanê
Sâmangal dôrum ivar seyum pujeigal Sarppaneiyê
Some of the most popular poems in Tamil are those of the Sittar (Siddha) school. These writers are the poetical Quietists of Tamil-land. A great deal might be written concerning them and their works, but space forbids. I must content myself with laying before the reader Vananguvây jagajôti woruvanâki
Mâ nilatti worn nodiyil vagntê mannil Gunamâna manitareium paḍeitta pinbu
Kuvalayattil tânutittu Guruvây vantu Janamâna samusaram wondrillâmal
Sanniyâsi pôl iruntu, davattei kaṭṭi Anbána Sittargalei irutti pinbu
Alakâla vishatteium Nambalâm Atreiyum perungâttreium Nambalâm Kôla mâ mata Yâneiyei Nambalâm Kollum vengei puliyeium Nambalâm Kalanâr viḍum tûtarei
Nambalám
But no one e'er relieves them; Hopeless they fade away!
Fire claims me, worms too claim me, Earth, too, accounts me hers. Kites claim me too, with jackals, And despicable curs. Then wherefore have I cherish'd
This vile ill-odour'd thing,From this my mortal body
What benefit can spring?
Vows, austerities, vedas,
Puranas, secular lore, Burnt offerings, sacrifices
To men that are no more; Prayers said in markets, mantras,
Fixed postures, names ye say, Sandal, and smear'd white ashes,Ye who, from day to day, Deeming these meritorious,
Observe such things, do ye Know that all this is nothing But God-ward perfidy!
Aganda talam sendravarei,-anḍuvâyê. One of the most popular little poems in the Tamil language is the Vivêha Chintamani,-a comparatively recent production. Ignorant Tamil women, who know almost nothing of any kind THE FICKLE SEX.
the translation of one-perhaps the most famous -stanza in these writings. This stanza is from the Gnanam Nuru, a work ascribed to Agastiyar, the father of the Tamil language. It is a most remarkable stanza, but certainly Agastiyar had no hand in its authorship. Thou shalt adore the World's One Light, Who at a thought this vast earth framed, Made noble man, then, dawn-like, flamed A Priest, upon his sight. No kin had he of mortal race; Ascetic-wise hard deeds he wrought; Then, having made disciples, sought The Illimitable Place.
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of Tamil literature, are fond of learning portions - of the poem off by heart. And yet one of its most famous stanzas runs thus
Put faith in the deadliest poison,
In torrent, or hurricane-gust, And elephants, huge and powerful,
And murderous tigers trust; Confide in the angels of Yama
The souls of the wicked who fetch, Place credence in robber, or felon,
