Patinen Kilkkanakku Nulkal (Cirupancamulam, Elati, Mutumolikkanci, Kainnilai, Acarakkovai)

One of the three celebrated anthologies of ancient Tamil Classics, Patinenkilkkanakku, comprises eleven ethical writings (Nalati, Nanmanikkatikai, Innā nārpatu, Iniyavai nāṛpatu, Muppal, Tirikatukam, Acarakkovai, Palamoli Nanuru, Cirupañcamulam, Mutumolikkāñci, and Elati), six akam classics (Kärnärpatu, Tinaimoli aimpatu, Tinaimālai nurraimpatu, Aintinai elupatu, Aintinai aimpatu, and Kainnilai), and one Puram poem (Kalavali närpatu).

Under one of its ten major projects, CICT has been publishing three English translations each of these works together with the Tamil text, its transliteration, critical introductions, a glossary and an index. This volume presents, in this manner, Cirupañcamulam, Mutumolikkāñci, Elati, Kainnilai and Acarakkovai, the compilation and translation of each of which has been done by well-known specialists in the field.

The names of Cirupañcamālam, and Elāti, are extremely significant because they are indicative of the medicinal value of morals taught in the works. The five herbal roots that constitute Cirupañcamulam are Ciru valutunai, Ciru neruñci, Ciru mallikai, Peru nerunci and Kantankattari. The name Elati is that of the herbal medicine which uses the six herbs, elam, ilavankap pattai, nakakēcaram, milaku, tippili, and cukku. In every stanza, the former stresses five different morals while six different virtues are highlighted in the latter.

Mutumolikkanci contains ten decades of single-line verses which are precise and full of wisdom. Mutumoji means proverb and Käñci is reported to be a genre devoted to the theme of transitoriness of life. Cast in the metre called Kural Venpä Centurai, the didactic work is unique and challenges comparison with the ethical writings in Greek, Latin and Sanskrit.

The Cirupañcamalam is one of the eighteen works of the Patinen kilkkanakku. The five (small) herbal roots that constitute Cirupañcamalam are Ciru Valutunai (Indian nightshade / Solanum indicum), Ciru Nerufici (Indigofera enneaphylla), Ciru Mallikai (Jasminum angustifolium), Peru Nerunci (Single- flowered Arabian jasmine) and Kantankattari (Solanum xanthocarpum). The very nomenclature Cirupanicamalam indicates the existence of Perumparcamalam which refers to the roots of Vilvam, Perunkumil, Talutalai, Patiri and Vakai.

The author of the Cirupañcamalam is Kariasan. The suffix asan means teacher/preceptor. The epithet 'Great' is added to his name. Many scholars are of the opinion that he was a Jain. From this view, Vaiyapuri Pillai differs. He is of the opinion that this work was indited between A.D. 650 and A.D. 750. This work, it is said, comprises 102 verses. Of these, five verses are found to be missing. Some of the retraced verses stand printed in the edition of Murray S. Rajam. Of the many editions of this work the one edited by Vaiyapuri Pillai along with Tirikatukam deserves special mention. The University of Madras published it in 1944. This edition contains an old commentary. It will be difficult to comprehend a few verses of this work without the help of this commentary.

In my translation I have followed, in the main, the text and its commentary of the great scholar V. Arumukham Servai, published by the Madras Ripon Press in 1923, This work was translated into English and serialized in the journal 'Scholar Miscellanist' by Dr. S. Raman. A copy of the translation of Nalladai Balakrishna Mudaliyar, in manuscript, was made available to me.

Each verse includes five precepts intended to guide the reader in his conduct of life. Many precepts are iterated and reiterated. It cannot be said that all the precepts are uniformly excellent.