Sivavilasa

Summary

Sivavilasa introduces and analyses a Sanskrit semi‑historical poem of the same name attributed to Damodara, a member of the professional Cakyar actor caste. Although its title suggests a story about the god Siva, the poem actually narrates the marriage alliance between the royal families of Kayankulam and Cochin in medieval Kerala. Composed of eight sargas, the poem is praised for its elegant style, vivid descriptions and fluent storytelling. The article provides a summary of the narrative, which centers on the daughter of the king of Kayankulam marrying a prince from the Cochin line known as Perumpatappu. It notes that the manuscript is preserved in the Government Oriental Manuscripts Library in Madras and discusses the poem’s dedication to Sankaranarayana (also called Rudranarayana), hinting at the author’s spiritual affiliations. The author compares the Sanskrit text with a Malayalam campu on the same subject attributed to Damodara, highlighting how the two works diverge despite sharing the same basic story. Through an examination of the concluding verses, the article deduces the author’s identity and situates the poem within the broader context of Kerala’s Sanskrit literature.