Kumarakuruparar was a Tamil Poet who gained immense popularity in the literary world and belonged to the Dharmapuram mutt. He lived during the 18th century and renounced the materialistic world at a very early age in order to become a recluse. Kumarakuruparar became one of the most distinguished poets when he was at a young age. The revered Tamil poet composed the well known poetic work of Minatciyam Mai Pillaiattamil, which was devoted to the Goddess Mirtatci (Mirtatchi) the presiding deity in the temple of Madurai. This work was created at the request of the Nayak ruler of Madurai, Tirumalai Nayak. Minatciyam Mai Pillaiattamil created a position for itself amongst other works that belonged to the pillaittamil genre. The literary work is renowned for its devotional theme, literary opulence and fascinating rhythm.
Literary Works of Kumarakuruparar
Kumarakuruparar wrote Maturaik Kalampakam which eulogises the great city of Madurai. He also composed the noteworthy work of Nanmanimalai on Tiruvarur and the literary works of Civakamiyammai Irattaimanimalai, Ceyyutkovai and Mummanikkovai based on Chidambaram. The poet Kumarakuruparar wrote Pantara Mummanikkovai to praise and laud his teacher at Dharmapuram. He was amongst the first few Tamil poets to travel to northern India and compose literary works there. Kumarakuruparar established a Shaiva mutt or religious institution at Varanasi and the mutt exists even at the present age. The poet sought the help of a Muslim ruler in Delhi in order to establish the institution. Kumarakuruparar desired to learn the north Indian language or the Hindustani language to be competent enough to converse with him. He asked for help from the goddess of learning, Saraswati. His devotional literary work on Goddess Saraswati is titled as the Cakalakala Vallimalai. Kumarakuruparar`s pride as a poet is evident in the work, where he pleads the grace of the goddess of learning, to master a new language.
During this period, the poet delivered lectures on the magnitude of Kampan or Kambar and his version of the Ramayana called the Kambaramayanam, as well as other works on Shaivism and other religious works in Hindustani. Kumarakuruparar composed a kalampakam named Kacikkalampakam, which praises the city of Varanasi. Muttukkumaracami Pillaittamil is another significant work composed by him.
In his work Minatciyammai Kuram, the poet narrates about the eternal mercy of God in the appearance of a prophecy stated by a woman astrologer named kuratti. The literary and poetic works composed by Kumarakuruparar are popular for their abundant creativity, pleasant rhythm and depth of thought. Kumarakuruparar possessed a natural talent for composing interesting poems on ethical themes. He composed an ethical work entitled Nitinerivilakkam and it reveals the proficiency of the poet in representing ethical principles with lucidity and precision. This didactic work contains 102 venpas, containing of striking similes.
Even though Kumarakuruparar was a great and an exceptional poet renowned for his creative talents, he was not capable to break out of the trend and conventions of the era and indulged in hyperbolical descriptions as well. He also expressed various interesting views on education and had great regard for poets and their artistic compositions. Kumarakuruparar established himself as an eminent poet during the 17th century as he composed poems on various themes and each of his verses proved the level of his prolific imagination and skill in use of words.
