Biography
Kapilar (Tamil: ??????) was refliterature|Sangam]] poet. He was a contemporary of Karikala Chola, Irunkovel and Vel Pari. He was the close friend and confidant of Vel Pari, one of the Velir kings.
Life
He was born into a Brahmin family in Tiruvadavur in the Pandyan Kingdom. Initially a poet at the Pandyan court, he would leave at an early age and show his talent at various places before finally ending up at the court of Vel Pari.
At the court of Vel Pari
Kapilar would hear about the generosity and virtue of Vel Pari, a powerful Velir King who ruled over Parambu nadu, a heavily fortified kingdom that comprised about 300 villages, and pay him a visit. They would go on to become the thickest of friends. He would be his confidant and stay with Vel Pari until the latter's last breath.
Last Days
During this period the three crowned Tamil kings were in the process of expanding their empires and turned the independenet Velir chiefs into sub-ordinates or eliminated them. When the three crowned Kings besiege the kingdom of Parambu, Vel Pari a warrior like no other will refuse to bow and face them head on. Kapilar would sing some of the most notable poems in praise of his patron during this time. In the end, Vel Pari would finally be killed by treachery after defying them for years.
Kapilar, a true friend, would then take the two daughters of Vel Pari and go in search of appropriate grooms. He would knock on the doors of the other Velir kings and unsuccessfully plead with each before finally giving up. He would be let down each time as the other Vels would fear retribution from the 3 crowned kings. The most notable of these encounters is when he sings to Irunkovel and the latter would throw an insult and shut the door on the great poet. He would finally leave the two princesses in the care of Brahmins.
The death of his friend will affect him so greatly that he would perform vadakirrutal, one of the Tamil acts of committing suicide. He would sit facing north and starve himself to death. ..
