Unniyachi Charitham

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Unniyachi Charitham is considered to be the oldest of the ancient Manipravala Champukas and the first Champukavya in the Malayalam language. [1] It is believed to be written in the 13th century during the Middle Malayalam period. The poem is about Unniyachi, a dancer of Tirumaruthur temple near Tirunelli. [2] Uyyiyachi Charitham has its place in various fields like language, literature, social and national history. [3] Thevar Chirikumaran is mentioned in the poem as its author. It is also mentioned in the poem that Rama Chirikumaran copied the poem in the Palm-leaf manuscript. [4]

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Overview

The period of writing of the poem is believed to be between the beginning and the end of the 13th century. [5] From the references in this work itself, Ulloor postulates that the Unniachicharitam must have been written before 1346 AD. [6] The theme of Unniyachi Charitham is the infatuation of a Gandharvan with Unniyachi, the younger of the two daughters of Nangaiah's daughter Achiyar, who came from Atiyamanallur in Salem to Kolathunath and from there to Tirumaruthur in Purakizhanadu (present Kottayam). [7]

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References

  1. Menon, A. Sreedhara (2007-01-01). Keralacharithram (in Malayalam). DC Books. ISBN   978-81-264-1588-5.
  2. Tarakan, Ke Eṃ (1990). A Brief Survey of Malayalam Literature: History of Literature. K.M. Tharakan.
  3. നാരായണപിള്ള, പി കെ (എഡി ) (1949). Unniyachee Charitham.
  4. admin. "ഉണ്ണിയച്ചീചരിതം". Keralaliterature.com. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  5. "ദേവദാസികള്‍: കേരളത്തിനുമുണ്ട് കഥ പറയാന്‍ (പ്രതികരണം ) – Sneha Samvadam – Magazine- Niche of truth – Magazine". old.snehasamvadam.org. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  6. Nair, Puravarikkal Krishnan (1973). ഉണ്ണിച്ചിരുതേവീചരിതം: പാഠപരിശോധനചെയ്തു പരിഷ്‌ക്കരിച്ചത് (in Malayalam). Kr̥ṣṇannāyar.
  7. കുഞ്ഞന്‍ പിള്ള, ശൂരനാട്ട് (1956). കാവ്യരത്നാകരം (in Malayalam).