Question

Which of the following books is not a part of the Tamil text Cilapattikaram?

• A. Kollam
• B. Puhar
• C. Madurai
• D. Vanci

Hint:

To remember the structure of Cilappatikaram, link the three books to the journey of the protagonists, Kannagi and Kovalan: their life in Puhar (Chola), the tragedy in Madurai (Pandya), and the final vindication and ascension in Vanci (Chera).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify which name is not one of the sections (or 'books') of the ancient Tamil epic, Cilappatikaram.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Cilappatikaram (The Tale of an Anklet), written by Ilango Adigal, is one of the Five Great Epics of Tamil Literature. Its narrative is structured into three books, or kantams, each named after the capital city of one of the three great Tamil kingdoms of that era.
The three books are:
\begin{enumerate} \item Pukarkkandam: Set in Puhar, the capital of the Chola kingdom. \item Maturaikkandam: Set in Madurai, the capital of the Pandya kingdom. \item Vancikkandam: Set in Vanci, the capital of the Chera kingdom. \end{enumerate} Kollam is a historic city and port in Kerala, but it is not the name of one of the books in Cilappatikaram.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The correct answer is Kollam, as it is not a part of the epic's structure.