The Cauvery River in the Epic Silappadikaram
The River Cauvery is the primary river praised in the 5th-century Tamil epic 'Silappadikaram' for its life-sustaining role.
Primary Reference: NCERT Class XII - Themes in Indian History Part I
Archived:
Updated:
Exam Year
2017
Evidence Source
Link ↗Which River is praised in the fifth century Tamil epic, Silappadikaram?
[CDS 2017 (II)]
Detailed Solution & Historical Context
Concept
Ancient Tamil literature is deeply connected to the landscape (Athinai), where rivers are deified as life-giving mothers and symbols of royal prosperity.
Authentic Source Evidence
The Silappadikaram contains numerous hymns dedicated to the River Cauvery. It is praised as a 'chaste lady' whose floods bring wealth to the Chola kingdom.
Analytical Breakdown
Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic
"What are the 'Pancha Kavyas' of Tamil literature?"
Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip
"In Silappadikaram, the fertility of the Cauvery is poetically contrasted with the political injustice that occurs in the Pandya capital of Madurai."
Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)
Analysing authentic CDS (II)previous year questions is non-negotiable for serious aspirants. Thoroughly decoding past exam trends related to Tamil Epics and Geography helps you understand the examiner's mindset. Mastering specific entities like Cauvery Silappadikaram and Pancha Kavyas builds the analytical intuition needed to clear the exam. Practice Previous Year Questions here →