The great “Periyapuranam” has been meticulously composed with an eye on elimination of caste, creed or colour-based discrimination. Sekkizhar, the author of “Periyapuranam,” has taken every pain to ensure that equality, fidelity and fraternity formed the basic tenets of the great epic, observed Pazha. Muthappan, Principal, Chettinad College of Arts and Science, Tiruchi.
Delivering a lecture on the occasion of ‘Sekkizhar festival' organised by the Tiruchi Tamil Sangam here on Sunday, Prof. Muthappan said specifically drew the similarity between the “Silapathigaram” and “Periyapuranam.”
Both aimed at elevating the glory of common masses.
Further, both “Silapathigaram” and “Periyapuranam” had the common goal of honouring women.
Event described
To drive home this point, Prof. Muthappan highlighted how Sekkizhar described an event in which a Saivite devotee had extended hospitality to Saint Tirugnanasambandar, along with Sri Tiruneelakanda Yazhpaanar.
“The Periyapuranam attained the status of Saivite Perunkappiyam, by virtue of Sekkizhar's vision of extending equality to all people, above community or caste-based differences,” he said.
Striking similarity
More than once, he drew the striking similarity between Madhavi of Silapathiigaram and Tiruneelakanda Nayanar in Periyapuranam.
P. Mooka Pillai, president of the Sangam, highlighted every facet of Periyapuranam.
The special feature of Sekkizhar's works was that the introductory verse of every chapter about the Nayanmar, nearly described the entire biography or character of the Nayanmar.
“It is a tough work to produce the essence of a chapter in the preamble of every chapter,” he said.
C. Sivakozhundhu and K. Arangarasan, spoke on the features of Periyapuranam and Sekkizhar.
