In the course of two or three years from the day of his public appearance, Ramalingar's fame spread far and wide.A large number of Vidwans in Madras began to flock to him.They became his intimate friends and got enlightenment by his wonderful elucidation of their doubts.However knooty or diversified,the matter might be, Ramalingar Explained it very easily and quickly.
Among his friends and contemporaries,Sabapathy Mudaliar of Kanjeeburam was the foremost.He knew the greatness of Ramalingar from his early days.He wanted to have a pose work written by Ramalingar,as there was no such one at that time,in tamil fit for young students.Hence he persuaded Ramalingar to give the younger generation an
interesting literary work that would fill their minds with wise sentiments and striking thoughts.Ramalingar who was always spending his time in prayer,meditation and in singing devotional songs, felt that the shaping of the younger minds was an urgent need,in the interest of humanity.He agreed to the request and chose for his theme,the famous story of Manu Chola from the Periyapuranam.He wrote that ancient story with the title"Manumurai Kanda Vachakam".
The story is a very old one of ten found in the lips of country folk as an example of ideal justice.It is found in the very ancient literature of Silapadikaram or the Epic of the Anklet and in Manimekalai,both of them beloging to the 2nd century A.D.Later it was written with some other details by Sekkilar in the Periyapuranam,based on the information supplied by an inscription in the Tiruvarur temple prior to his time.The story,very briefly was this:Manu,the king of Tiruvarur drove his chariot upon his own son and killed him in order to maintain justice.He thus punished his son for the murder of bull-calf which was accidentally run over by his son's chariot-wheel,when he was on his way to the temple for worship.Ramalingar has taken this story as the theme to show how Tamil kings meted out justice strictly irrespective of the hardships caused and the consequences that followed."He has supplied it with the glamour of romance,the life of truth and the blessedness of great stories which always point a moral and adorn a tale.
Of all his prose works, this is a singularly good production in his inimitable prose style.It is mostly in the form didactic discourses which abound in maxims and morals.It is truly a sublime study that imparts into our mind,the edifying and exemplary instruction which proclaims the blessing and unfailing protection of the great unseen hand to all those who tread steadfastly on the path of truth and Justice.Those who saw through this first prode work of Ramalingar,praised him for his wonderful exposition of the old story which he dealt with very successfully in a very interesting way.Several learned men commended his book and contributed songs of approbation.
Many of the learned men in those days thought it a boon to have his acquaintance.In those days,there arose a controversy among them about the authentic spelling of the word Thondamandalam.They were not sure whether it should be spelt as mentioned before.Certain Tamil scholars,teachers and rich people who were fond of literary pursuits approached Ramalingar for clarification.Though the matter was not an important one,he took scholars and establish the truth.He discussed the question in great detail and came to the conclusion that the word should be spelt as mentioned before.He quoted several examples from usage as well as literature.Those who go through his essay on this subject will easily find his great mastery of the very ancient Tamil grammar Tholkappiam from which he had quoted rules in support of his decision.Moreover,he had analysed the arguments,pros and cons in a very sound manner,he himself putting forth the questions and answering them. he then wrote a fine commentary on the invocatory song of the book ,"Thonamandala Sathagam"which contains one hundred songs sung by the great poet Padikasu Pulavar.Both of them appear in his edition of the above book which was published with short notes in the year 1855.This treatise stands as a monumental example of Ramalingar's power of argumentation and logical presentation of facts and his skill in editing old books on palm leaves for printing .Subsequently,Ramalingar edited and published Sinmaya Dhipika, a rare philosphical book of 114 stanzas, in the year 1857.This perhaps ,was the last book with his editorial note.
Apart from these, there are several other prose works which are in the form of commentaries to the first song of certain philosophical or devotional literature of the past or to some selected quatrains from great books.All these commentaries are short and at the same time sweet,rich in clarity of language and philosophy.His explanation of the meaning of the word Tamil shows his deep love for the mother tongue which breeds no contempt towards any foreign language.these commentaries reveal to us the spiritual depth and the divine melody of our language,Tamil.
It is from these works, We are able to know specifically,Ramalingar's inspired learning manifesting in a wide and varied realms of language,literature,grammar,philosophy and devotional poetry.He was a teacher,inspired speaker,philosopher,commentator,poet and editor.Above all he sang,preached and wrote to build a society free from the shackles of caste,class and creed.His love knew no bounds and it crossed all barriers of countries and continents.His works are impregnated with idea of universal brotherhood.
Among his friends and contemporaries,Sabapathy Mudaliar of Kanjeeburam was the foremost.He knew the greatness of Ramalingar from his early days.He wanted to have a pose work written by Ramalingar,as there was no such one at that time,in tamil fit for young students.Hence he persuaded Ramalingar to give the younger generation an
interesting literary work that would fill their minds with wise sentiments and striking thoughts.Ramalingar who was always spending his time in prayer,meditation and in singing devotional songs, felt that the shaping of the younger minds was an urgent need,in the interest of humanity.He agreed to the request and chose for his theme,the famous story of Manu Chola from the Periyapuranam.He wrote that ancient story with the title"Manumurai Kanda Vachakam".
The story is a very old one of ten found in the lips of country folk as an example of ideal justice.It is found in the very ancient literature of Silapadikaram or the Epic of the Anklet and in Manimekalai,both of them beloging to the 2nd century A.D.Later it was written with some other details by Sekkilar in the Periyapuranam,based on the information supplied by an inscription in the Tiruvarur temple prior to his time.The story,very briefly was this:Manu,the king of Tiruvarur drove his chariot upon his own son and killed him in order to maintain justice.He thus punished his son for the murder of bull-calf which was accidentally run over by his son's chariot-wheel,when he was on his way to the temple for worship.Ramalingar has taken this story as the theme to show how Tamil kings meted out justice strictly irrespective of the hardships caused and the consequences that followed."He has supplied it with the glamour of romance,the life of truth and the blessedness of great stories which always point a moral and adorn a tale.
Of all his prose works, this is a singularly good production in his inimitable prose style.It is mostly in the form didactic discourses which abound in maxims and morals.It is truly a sublime study that imparts into our mind,the edifying and exemplary instruction which proclaims the blessing and unfailing protection of the great unseen hand to all those who tread steadfastly on the path of truth and Justice.Those who saw through this first prode work of Ramalingar,praised him for his wonderful exposition of the old story which he dealt with very successfully in a very interesting way.Several learned men commended his book and contributed songs of approbation.
Many of the learned men in those days thought it a boon to have his acquaintance.In those days,there arose a controversy among them about the authentic spelling of the word Thondamandalam.They were not sure whether it should be spelt as mentioned before.Certain Tamil scholars,teachers and rich people who were fond of literary pursuits approached Ramalingar for clarification.Though the matter was not an important one,he took scholars and establish the truth.He discussed the question in great detail and came to the conclusion that the word should be spelt as mentioned before.He quoted several examples from usage as well as literature.Those who go through his essay on this subject will easily find his great mastery of the very ancient Tamil grammar Tholkappiam from which he had quoted rules in support of his decision.Moreover,he had analysed the arguments,pros and cons in a very sound manner,he himself putting forth the questions and answering them. he then wrote a fine commentary on the invocatory song of the book ,"Thonamandala Sathagam"which contains one hundred songs sung by the great poet Padikasu Pulavar.Both of them appear in his edition of the above book which was published with short notes in the year 1855.This treatise stands as a monumental example of Ramalingar's power of argumentation and logical presentation of facts and his skill in editing old books on palm leaves for printing .Subsequently,Ramalingar edited and published Sinmaya Dhipika, a rare philosphical book of 114 stanzas, in the year 1857.This perhaps ,was the last book with his editorial note.
Apart from these, there are several other prose works which are in the form of commentaries to the first song of certain philosophical or devotional literature of the past or to some selected quatrains from great books.All these commentaries are short and at the same time sweet,rich in clarity of language and philosophy.His explanation of the meaning of the word Tamil shows his deep love for the mother tongue which breeds no contempt towards any foreign language.these commentaries reveal to us the spiritual depth and the divine melody of our language,Tamil.
It is from these works, We are able to know specifically,Ramalingar's inspired learning manifesting in a wide and varied realms of language,literature,grammar,philosophy and devotional poetry.He was a teacher,inspired speaker,philosopher,commentator,poet and editor.Above all he sang,preached and wrote to build a society free from the shackles of caste,class and creed.His love knew no bounds and it crossed all barriers of countries and continents.His works are impregnated with idea of universal brotherhood.
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