ILANGO ADI-THE AUTHOR OF "CHILAPATHIKARAM"

Ilango Adi-The author of Chilappathikaram.

Everybody knows that the famous ancient epic “Chilappathikaram” was written by Ilango Adi, brother of the king Chenkuttuva whose capital was Chenkintoor alias Chengannur of Chera kingdom. Ilango Adi was one among the Muthuraja communities because; the word” Adi “was the sub title of king Mutharayars.

The following reference about the temple Vijayala Choleeswaram proves that the Chera kings were  Muthurajas.

The temple Vijayala Choleeswaram was built by a Mutharayar king Ilango Adi Arayan/Ilango Adi Mutharayar alias Chathambuthi. This is inferred from an inscription under one of the Dwara- Palakas.

“The inscription says that the temple was originally built by one sembudi also called Ilango Adi Arayan, and that is suffered damage by heavy rains and the same was repaired and rebuilt by one Mallan-Viduman/ Mallan- Vithuman Mutharaya king also called Tennavan Tamil Adi Arayan in 886 AD.”

More over The king Chenkuttuva had been admired as “Pani Thurai Parathava” by Paranar in his book “Pathittu Pathu”. Pani Thurai Parathava means that “The fisherman of cold sea port”.

Parathavar was the ancestors of Pandya kings and they were closely related with the emperors of Chera, Chola Dynasties and they had also matrimonial alliance too.

During the reign of Chenkuttuva, (sangham period) the caste system had been existed. Hence The Chilappathikaram would not have been written by Ilango Adi if Kannaki was not the same clan. It clearly indicates that Chilapathikaram was sponsored by Mutharayar kings when they were Jain/Buddist rulers.