Kundalakesi

The epic was authored by a Buddhist poet named Nathakuthanaar (Skt: Nathagupta), likely born in a merchant class. Nothing is known about his life or which century he lived in. A Pali language Vinaya commentary titled Vimativinodani states the author of Kundalakesi was a Buddhist elder named Nathakuthanaar. It states: "Formerly in Tamil country an elder named Nathakuthanaar compiled a work in Tamil containing the story of Kundalakesi, for refuting heretical doctrines, adducing arguments for demolishing the views advanced by non-Buddhists." ==Sources and content==

Of the five great epics, the manuscripts of Valayapathi and Kundalakesi have not survived in full. Only fragments quoted in other literary works and commentaries have survived. Only 19 stanzas of Kundalakesi have survived in Purattirattu, a few initial stanzas in the commentary on Takkayakapparani Kalikkukkuli, several stanzas are found in a 16th-century commentary on Civanana Cittiyar Parapakkam, plus 25 stanzas and 180 fragments of the epic's line in a commentary to Nilakeci. Yapperungalam, which also quotes the epic's Kadavul Vazhthu (lit. invocation to God) describes it as a tharkavadham — a book of controversy and polemics. Veera Sozhiyam's commentator Perunthevanar and the 14th century anthology Purathirattu both describe it as a akalakavi — a large poem. ==Story==

Kundalakesi (lit. The woman with long curly hair) was born in a merchant family in the city of Puhar. She loses her mother during childhood and lives a sheltered life. One day she sees a robber and gambler who posted as Buddhist, falls in love with him. The thief, Kaalan, has been sentenced to death for banditry. Besotted with Kaalan, Kundalakesi implores her rich merchant father to save him. Her father petitions the king for the thief's release. He pays Kalan's release, and the king agrees to release him because Kalan's father was also a minister in his court. Kundalakesi and Kaalan are married and live happily for some time. The love fades, and one day, the sulking Kundalakesi reminds Kalan of his criminal past. This enrages the mercurial Kaalan. He plots to murder her and steal her jewels. He tricks her into visiting the summit of the nearby hill. Once they reach the summit, he announces his intention to kill her by pushing her off the hill. Kundalakesi is shocked and asks him to grant a final wish — she wishes to worship him, her husband, by going around him three times before she dies. He agrees and, when she gets behind him, Kundalakesi pushes him off the summit, killing him. Kundalakesi feels disgust and remorse with what she did to Kalan. She learns about different religious traditions and converts to Buddhism. She renounces, becomes a nun and achieves nirvana. ==Reception==

The poem polemically presents Buddhist philosophy as superior over the Vedic and Jain ones. One version of the epic says that Kundalakesi was a Jain nun who moved around India, expounding Jainism and challenging anyone who had alternate views. Sariputra, a disciple of Buddha, took up the challenge and defeated Kundalakesi in debates. She renounced Jainism and became a Buddhist nun. ==In popular culture==

The story of Kundalakesi killing her husband was used as a sub-plot in the 1951 Tamil film Manthiri Kumari. The song "Neela Warala" by Sri Lankan musician W. D. Amaradeva mentions Kundalakesi repeatedly in the chorus. == See also ==