Peruhkatai

Peruhkatai, also known as Peruhkathai, is an ancient Jain literary work in the Tamil language and is considered by scholars as one of the prominent epics in Tamil literature. Many scholars consider that the Jain epic Peruhkatai was based on the literary work of Pirukatkata which was composed in Paicaca (Paichacha). While several other experts and scholars deduce that the Tamil epic was based on two literary works in Sanskrit namely the Kata Carit Cakaram or Katha Charith Chakaram and the Pirukatkata Mancari. Peruhkatai, the Jain epic, was composed in the Tamil language by a poet from the Kongu nation named Konkuvelir.

History of Peruhkatai
The earlier Tamil versions of the epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, which comprises the subject matter of the incarnations of Tirumal (Lord Vishnu), gained much popularity in the Tamil country during the era of Bhakti literature. However, the entire tales of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata were composed in the Tamil language in the 4th and the 5th centuries A.D. Later the Vaishnavites and the Shaivites also composed several Tamil epics. Kallatam, written by poet Kallatar in akaval metre, was the first Tamil literary work that elaborately described the various miracles of Lord Shiva.

The Buddhists and Jains competed with the Vaishnavites and the Shaivites and composed many epics such as Peruhkatai, Canti Puranam, Merumantara Puranam, Kundalakesi, Neelakesi, Sripuranam, Valayapathi, Cutamani and Cintamani. Some of the Tamil epics like Peruhkatai became popular and achieved literary status due to the merit of their poetic composition, further more these epics incorporated all the essential features which were needed for an epic, thus contributing to its popularity. While many other works fell into oblivion and were lost due to lack of literary merit.

Composition of Peruhkatai
The Jain epic in Tamil literature narrates about the tale of Utayanan, the king of the great city of Kosambi, located in Vattanatu. The accounts of the noble ruler are described in five cantos in the epic work. Another similar work, titled as Utayana Kumara Kaviyam, also portrays the same stories but the work has not gained much popularity amongst the scholars and the erudite as it lacks literary merit. Although there are a number of very fascinating passages in the work that are known for their exquisiteness of description.

Peruhkatai is one of the most important literary works among the great epics that were composed in the Akaval metre. The Tamil epic mentions about the philosophical and moral beliefs and cannons of Jainism. The author Konkuvelir has subtly propagated Jainism without disconcerting the even flow of the tale in the Tamil literary work of Peruhkatai.

The work is still available but a portion of the introduction and a small passage from the end are unavailable and is considered lost.