The Story of Udayana (An Old and Rare Book)

Mr. T. R. Rajagopala Aiyer, an octogenerian was born as the second son of Sri S. T. Ramachandra Sastri, Third principal of the Raja's College of Pudukkottai. The family was one of the original grantees of the Sarvamanyam village of Tiruvisalur, four miles down the Kaveri from Kumbakonam. Had a distinguished career in the Pudukkottai College and the St. Joseph's College at Tiruchirappalli. Practised in the Chief Court of Pudukkottai. Sri N. Raghunathan, assistant editor of the "Hindu" daily of Madras induced him to write to that paper and other magazines. Studied Sanskrit systematically under Sri T. N. Panchapakesa Sastri, the son of the distinguished exponent of Bhagavatham and Ramayanam Mayavaram Sivaramakrishna Sastri. His studies were rounded off later under Thiruvalangadu Ramasesha Sastri. Has been contributing articles on comparative studies of the three literatures of English Sanskrit and Tamil. The Tirupati Devasthanam has accepted his book on "Purusha Suktam" as its own and is partly financing his translation of the "Sri Rudram and Chamakam". He is reviewing books for the Bhavan's Journal and contributing articles to it.

The epic called the 'Perunkathai' or the 'Great Story' was composed many centuries ago in Tamil Ahaval Paa or blank metre. I published it with a summary thereof, which I have now brought out as a separate book at the request of some readers.

Readers will find the entire lifestory of Udayanan, the son of Sathaneckan, King of Kausambi who belonged to the Kuru race, set forth herein in great detail from his birth down to the date of his renunciation.

A study of this book will furnish an excellent key to learn about the ancient methods of monarchical government, the geo graphical location and administration of the several regions; many of the secret mysteries of the arts like sculpture and architecture, and many other rare and great matters hitherto unknown.

Regarding the thread of this story, though it was prevalent in Sanskrit in many books, it was redacted in the Brihat Katha in the Paisacha dialect by the great poet named Gunadyar; basing himself on that original, Dhur Vineethan, King of Kanga Nadu, wrote a derivative work in Sanskrit; it is the opinion of some scholars that this Sanskrit work should have been the original source for the Tamil Perunkathai composed by Kongu Velir.

This book consists of six chapters, the Unchai Kandam, the Ilavana Kandam, the Magadha Kandam, the Vadhdhava Kandam. the Naravana Kandam and the Thuravu Kandam. In order that readers may relish to some extent the sweetness of the original. I have extracted a few quotations from the epic poem.

**Contents and Sample Pages**