Tamil Poetics

Question 1

Gita Govinda is written by?

Answer 1

Jayadeva (It describes the relationship between Krishna and Srimati Radhika and the gopis of Vrindavana.)

Question 2

Name the five great epics of Tamil Literature

Answer 2

Cilappatikāram, Manimekalai, Cīvaka Cintāmaṇi, Valayapathi and Kuṇṭalakēci

Question 3

Oldest Tamil text about grammar, phonetics, rhetoric from Sangam age?

Answer 3

Tholkappiyam

Question 4

Cilapattikaram (Story of Kovalan and Kannanki) was written by?

Answer 4

Iḷaṅkõ Aṭikaḷ

Question 5

Manimekalai (Story of the daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi - Manimekalai) was written by?

Answer 5

Cattanar

Question 6

The Twin Epics of Jain Tamil literature are

Answer 6

Cilapattikaram and Manimekalai

Question 7

Tirukural was written by?

Answer 7

Thiruvalluvar

Question 8

How many Nayamars were there in Number?

Answer 8

63 saints

Question 9

How many Alwars were there in Number?

Answer 9

12 saints

Question 10

Name the only female Alwar saint

Answer 10

Andal

Question 11

Names of the Nayanmars was first compiled by? where?

Answer 11

Sundarar in Tiruttondartokai

Question 12

What is described as SIXTH VEDA next to Bhagavath Geetha in Hindu Tradition

Answer 12

The Saivite Hymns collectively called Thirumurai

Question 13

Thirumurai is a compilation of hymns by?

Answer 13

Appar, Sundarar, and Sambandar

Question 14

Which text collects the life of all nayanars?

Answer 14

Periyapuranam -

Question 15

Vaaranam Aayiram(One Thousand Elephants), Thiruppavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi are written by?

Answer 15

Andal

Question 16

Name the women’s group inspired by Andal

Answer 16

Goda Mandali

Question 17

The Five Minor Epics of Tamil Literature :

Answer 17

Neelakesi 
Naga kumara kaviyam 
Udhyana kumara Kaviyam 
Yasodhara Kaviyam 
Soolamani / Choolamani

Question 18

Perunkathai is a Jain epic written by?

Answer 18

Kongu Velir

Question 19

Civaka Cintamani is Written by ——- in 10th century

Answer 19

Tiruttakkatēvar

Question 20

Who published the English translation of Civaka Cintamani?

Answer 20

James Ryan and G Vijayavenugopal

Question 21

Who published first paper copy of Civaka Cintamani in Tamil?

Answer 21

U. V. Swaminatha Iyer

Question 22

Culamani was Written by?

Answer 22

Tolamolithevar

Question 23

Cintamani and Culamani were written in what metre?

Answer 23

Written in in viruttam poetic meter

Question 24

Kuntalakesi (“woman with curly hair”) is written by?

Answer 24

Nathakuthanaar

Question 25

Pathinenmaelkanakku (18 greater texts) are further classified into?

Answer 25

1. Ettuthokai ( 8 anthologies) | 2. Pattupattu (ten idylls) and 5 epics

Question 26

Akam can be divided into seven thinai (genres), they are?

Answer 26

1. Kurinji (Mountians) 2. Marutham (forests) 3. Neithal (seashore) 4. Paalai (wasteland) 5. ain-tinai (well matched, mutual love) 6. kaikkilai (ill matched, one sided) 7. perunthinai (unsuited, big genre)

Question 27

Puram poetry can be divided into?

Answer 27

1. vetchi (cattle raid) 2. vanchi (invasion, preparation for war) 3. kanchi (tragedy) 4. ulinai (siege) 5. tumpai (battle) 6. vakai (victory) 7. paataan (elegy and praise) 8. Karanthai 9. pothuviyal

Question 28

Who wrote Tiruvaimoli - an elucidation of the Upanishads

Answer 28

Nammalvar

Question 29

Which collection of all Vaishnava hymns is also known Dravida Vedam?

Answer 29

'Naalayira Divya Prabhandham'

Question 30

Periyapuranam (Hagiology of saivities) - (also known as Tiruttondar Puranam) is written by?

Answer 30

Sekkilar

Question 31

Ramavatharam (kambaramayanam) is written by?

Answer 31

Kamban

Question 32

Athichoodi, Konraiventhan, Mooturai, Nalvali are all works written by Tamil women poet acknowledged as?

Answer 32

Auvaiyar

Question 33

Jivaka-chintamani is a Jain epic written by?

Answer 33

Thirutakkadevar

Question 34

Yapperungalam and Yapperungalakkarigai were two works on prosody by the Jain ascetic named?

Answer 34

Amirtasagara

Question 35

Kalingattuparani, a semi-historical account on the two invasions of Kalinga by Kulothunga Chola I

Answer 35

Jayamkondar

Question 36

who wrote three Ulas on Vikrama Chola, Kulothunga Chola II and Rajaraja Chola II?

Answer 36

Ottakuttan

Question 37

Tamil tradition believes there are how many literary poetic traditions?

Answer 37

96

Question 38

Which Italian Jesuit priest and missionary compiled the first Tamil lexicon - a Tamil-Latin dictionary and wrote Thembavani ?

Answer 38

Constanzo Beschi

Question 39

Naishadha Charita written by Sriharsha was translated into Tamil by whom and what title?

Answer 39

Translator : Ativiraraman | Title : Naitatam

Question 40

The first Tamil dictionary- Nigandu Cudamani was compiled by?

Answer 40

Mandalapurusha