நாட்டுப்புறக் காப்பியம் சிலப்பதிகாரம்

Silappathikaram: A Folk Epic

Abstract

Like the two sides of a coin, folk traditions and literature are fundamentally intertwined: literature is built upon the foundation of folk traditions, while folk traditions are, in turn, shaped by literary structures. This remains an undeniable aspect of both folk and literary traditions. In other words, oral traditions may be considered the primary source of literature, and oral songs can be viewed as the earliest precursors of literary forms, both logically and chronologically.  Through this continuous process of exchange and transmission over time, the Silappatikaram, which narrates the story of Kannagi deeply rooted in Tamil society, is examined in this study as a folk epic. This constitutes the central focus of the present paper.