Ilango Adigal

Who is Ilango Adigal?

Ilango Adigal was a Tamil poet and a Jain monk of the 2nd century AD/CE, who was instrumental in the creation of Silappathikaram, one of the five great epics of Tamil literature. His name is a pseudonym meaning 'Venerable Prince'. As per literary conventions at that time, he was not allowed to disclose his real name.

Prince Ilango was the brother of Chera king Cheran Chenguttuvan, in South India. Ilango Adigal was born in the Chera dynasty that ruled parts of what is now known as Kerala, but formed part of the Tamil Land. According to a legend, an astrologer predicted that he would become the ruler of the land and to obviate such a happening, especially when his elder brother the rightful heir was alive, the prince became a Jain monk taking the name of Ilango Adigal, Adigal indicating that he had become a Jain monk.

He is reputed to be the brother of Chera king Senguttuvan, although there is no evidence in the Sangam poetries that the famous king had a brother. There are also claims that Ilango Adigal was a contemporary of Sattanar, the author of Manimekalai. The prologues of each of these books tell us that each were read out to the author of the other [Silappatikaram, pathigam 90].