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Dr. C. S. VENKATESWARAN,
 
M. A., PH.D.,
 
Professor of Sanskrit
 
Annamalai University.
 
Annamalai Nagar
8--5--69
 
The Madhuravijayam or Vira-Kamparaya-charitam is a heroic
pcem in nine cantos composed by Ganga Devi, chief queen of
Kampana, the hero of the poem. It describes, in the manner of
a Mahakavya, the exploits of Kampana, resulting in the elimi-
nation of the Sambuvaraya rule in Tondaimandalam and the
extermination of the Madhurai Sultanate.
 
Canto I begins with a tribute offered to the earlier poets like
Valmiki, Vyasa and Kalidasa and with some useful observations
on Literary criticism. King Bukka and his consort Devayi and
the city of Vijayanagar are then described. The birth of Kampana
and of his younger twin brothers Kampana and Samgama are
described in canto II. Canto III describes the early training of
Kampana and his marriage with Ganga Devi. It also refers to
Bukka's analysis of the political situation in the Tamil country
and his exhortation to prince Kampana to enlist the help of the
chieftains of the Tamil country, to establish himself strongly
at Kanchi and to march on his conquest of Madhurai. Canto IV
describes the orderly march of Kampana's army reinforced by the
forces of the Cholas, Keralas and Pandyas and the defeat of the
Sambuvaraya king at the hands of Kampana.
 
Victory paves the way for peace. Canto V describes Kam-
pana's peaceful and prosperous rule in Kancipuram. Cantos VI
and VII deal with the amours and sports of Kampana the essential
elements for a Mahakavya. Canto VIII depicts the sad plight
of the Tamil country in the wake of Muslim occupation. Canto IX