Ratchanya Yathrigam
Ratchanya Yathrigam (Ratchanya Yathreegam) is a Christian epic written in Tamil. It is modeled after The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan and written in traditional styled verse by H. A. Krishna Pillai.
Publication
Ratchanya Yathrigam was published in ‘Narbothagam’ magazine, released from Palayamkottai, as a 13 year series.
It was first published in May 1894 by Christian Literary Association.
Author
H. A. Krishna Pillai was born in a small village called Karaiyiruppu of Tirunelveli district in the year 1827 in a Vaishnavite family from Vellalar clan. He received baptism at the age of thirty, assumed the name Henry Alfred Krishnapillai and became a Christian.
Summary of the text
Ratchanya Yathrigam explains the heaven bound journey of a Christian called ‘Anmeehan’. Even though it is written in a biographic style it is a metaphorical story. It talks of all the events of pilgrimage that is described by Christianity of anyone who is looking for the redemption of the soul.
The protagonist of Ratchanya Yathrigam is Kiruththuvan (Christian) or Aanmeehan (Spiritual person). His guru is Narcheiythiyaalan (Evangelist) and friend Mennenjan (Soft natured person). Aanmeehan meets Viyakkiyaani (interlocutor), gets encouraged by his speeches. The journey on the path of righteousness is not easy there are troubles and trials that lead the traveler astray. Yet the protagonist realizes that he should advance in the pilgrimage steadfastly. He sees a Christian Hill, praising God he advances and stops to rest in an inn. There he is cared for by 4 women named Viveki (Wise one), Yugi (Clever one), Bakthi (Pius one) and Sinehithi (Friendly one). Bakthi explains the passion of Christ and the redemption that it can bring.
He befriends Nambikai(Faith). He traverses more challenges and finally crosses the river of death and they both reach Uchitha Pattinam (The ultimate town). There God’s angels welcome them. They see the scene of Jesus seated in the throne and are elated. This is the reason why the book gets the name Ratchanya Yathrigam meaning redemptive pilgrimage.
Creation
H. A. Krishna Pillai developed interest in Christianity while he was working as Tamil teacher in a college at Sayarpuram run by G. U. Pope. While he fervently read many Christian books he came across Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (1628-1688) and got deeply interested in the same. Having felt that the book was talking about is own life Krishna Pillai wrote the epic based on the two part book.
Without translating the work, adding aspects of Tamil culture and wrote this important Tamil Christian literary work.
This book contains 3800 verses. It contains 21 special poems that have been written in the style of Yamagam(repeated stanza with different meanings), Thiribu (Alternate meanings), Siledai(paronomasia), Madakku(repeated start to verses) which were considered as challenging works by poets then. It is divided into five ‘Paruvams’ (Sections or volumes) namely Aathi Paruvam (The Beginning)), Kumaara Paruvam(Childhood/teenage), Nithaana Paruvam(Calmness), Aaranya Paruvam (Wilderness), Ratchanya Paruvam (Redemption), within these sections there are a total of 47 chapters.
H. A. Krishna Pillai has adapted Shivite Devara poetry that had been set to tune and has written 144 verses based on them. Adapting Devaram’s meter and style he has titled them as Devaram and inserted into the collection.
Krishna Pillai describes the purpose of this book as “like a rare medicine that provides redemption to the soul of entire human race”
Literary Significance
A Christian Epic in Tamil written in the grammar of epics such as Kambaramayana.
🔏Being Created-en
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