Kōvūr Kilār (

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia ** Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nati ...

: கோவூர் கிழார்) was a poet of the

Sangam period The Sangam period or age (, ), particularly referring to the third Sangam period, is the period of the history of ancient Tamil Nadu, Kerala and parts of Sri Lanka (then known as Tamilakam) spanning from c. 6th century BCE to c. 3rd century CE. ...

, to whom 18 verses of the

Sangam literature The Sangam literature (Tamil: சங்க இலக்கியம், ''caṅka ilakkiyam'';) historically known as 'the poetry of the noble ones' (Tamil: சான்றோர் செய்யுள், ''Cāṉṟōr ceyyuḷ'') connotes ...

have been attributed, including verse 38 of the

Tiruvalluva Maalai Tiruvalluva Maalai (Tamil: திருவள்ளுவ மாலை), literally 'Garland of Valluvar', is an anthology of ancient Tamil paeans containing fifty-five verses each attributed to different poets praising the ancient work of the K ...

Biography

Kovoor Kilar hailed from the town of Kovoor in Sonaadu. He belonged to the vellalar caste and had friendly relationships with the

Chola rulers The Chola dynasty was a Tamil thalassocratic empire of southern India and one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the history of the world. The earliest datable references to the Chola are from inscriptions dated to the 3rd century BCE ...

. He was known for his bold and truthful attitude. He is also known for teaching moral lesson to a king who doubted him as spy. When king

Killivalavan {{Chola history Killivalavan ( ta, கிள்ளிவளவன்) was a Tamil king of the Early Cholas mentioned in Sangam Literature, and of a period close to that of Nedunkilli and Nalankilli. We have no definite details about this Chola o ...

tried to trample the people of Malaiyaman by elephant, Kovoor Kilar boldly persuaded him to change his mind and act otherwise. He is believed to be the contemporary of Sangam poets Uraiyur Marutthuvan Dhamodharanar, Madalan Madurai Kumaranar, and

Kaveri Poompattanatthu Kaari Kannanar Kārikkannanār, known in full as Kāviripoompattinathu Kārikkannanār (Tamil: காவிரிப்பூம்பட்டினத்துக் காரிக்கண்ணனார்), was a poet of the Sangam period, to whom 10 ver ...

, since these poets, too, have sung on the Chola ruler Kurappalli Thunjiya Perunthirumavalavan. Several historical details can be found in his writings.

Contribution to the Sangam literature

Kovoor Kilar has written 18 Sangam verses, including 1 in Kurunthogai (verse 65), 1 in Natrinai (verse 393), 15 in

Purananuru The ''Purananuru'' (, literally "four hundred oemsin the genre puram"), sometimes called ''Puram'' or ''Purappattu'', is a classical Tamil poetic work and traditionally the last of the Eight Anthologies (''Ettuthokai'') in the Sangam literatu ...

(verses 31–33, 41, 44–47, 68, 70, 308, 373, 382, 386, and 400), and 1 in

(verse 38).

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kovoor Kilar Tamil philosophy Tamil poets Sangam poets Tiruvalluva Maalai contributors

Biography

Contribution to the Sangam literature

See also

Notes