Kamban

Kamban is the name traditionally given to a medieval Tamil poet best known for composing the Kambaramayanam, a Tamil retelling of the Ramayana. The work is considered a landmark of Tamil literature and is widely revered in Tamil-speaking regions and among Vaishnavite communities.

Biographical details about Kamban are scarce and often the subject of scholarly debate. Traditional accounts place him in the medieval period, commonly dated to the 12th or 13th century CE, though exact dates and circumstances of his life are unclear. He is generally regarded as a devotee of Rama (Rama, an avatar of Vishnu) and as a poet whose rendition of the Ramayana emphasizes bhakti (devotional worship) and dharma.

Kambaramayanam, also called Ramavataram, is a poetic adaptation of Valmiki’s Ramayana written in classical Tamil in ornate meter. It preserves the core Rama story—Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman—while expanding certain episodes and infusing local Tamil cultural elements. The text comprises roughly ten thousand lines and is organized into cantos. It is noted for its lyrical richness, devotional tone, and emphasis on Rama as an ideal king and avatar of Vishnu.

Legacy and influence: The epic has had a profound impact on Tamil culture, literature, theatre, and religious practice. It is frequently performed in temples and public rituals, studied in scholarly circles, and has inspired numerous commentaries, adaptations, and translations into other languages.