2014/10/13 by L. Ate · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Indian and Buddhist Studies #Study and Philosophy of Religion #Anthropological Studies and Insights #Tamil #Clan #Brother #Section (typography) #Meaning (existential) #Cult #Guardian #History #Literature #Ancient history #Art #Philosophy #Sociology #Law #Anthropology #Computer science #Political science
paper · doi:10.1093/jhs/hiu027
openalex publication_date 2014/10/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/02/25
Oṉṟaṉpakuti, the title of a section of the fifth-century CE Tamil Cilappatikāram, is challenging to translate as its literal meaning, ‘single part’, seems unrelated to the verse. This article explores paths to a better translation, examining internal evidence, title conventions, content, the Piṉṉai figure, and related sources. This approach leads to my proposal that Oṉṟaṉpakuti is a ‘tamilized’ reference to the guardian Vṛṣṇi goddess, Ekānamśā ‘One without parts’, and provides supporting evidence that (i) the cult of Ekānamśā should be recognised as part of the early history of South Indian Vaiṣṇavism and (ii) that this section of the Cilappatikāram is actually devoted to this goddess, with the Māyavaṉ-Kṛṣṇa figure and his brother as attendant deities, who is depicted as clan protector, young kinswoman to Kṛṣṇa, and his spouse.