ஒப்பாரி கண்ணி

Title in original script: ஒப்பாரி கண்ணி The manuscript is constituted by a text comprising the palm leaves numbered from 1 to 29. The text is incomplete. The manuscript is in good condition. The leaves are darkened by fungus infestation, and the scripts of some leaves have been damaged by mould. The text is entitled Oppāri Kaṇṇi. Oppāri is a versified song which is still commonly sung during funeral in rural areas where the traditional culture is alive. The women, sat in a circle, their hands put on others shoulders, sung it in house in front of the corpse. Mixing the song with their cries and laments, the song praises the dead and/or glorifies his/her qualities during his/her life. Some specialised women are remunerated for performing this art. Some examples of oppāri, such as Māri Ammaṉ oppāri or Maturai Vīraṉ oppāri are mentioned in Tamil literature. Size of the manuscript: 21.5cm x 3.6cm. The palm leaves of the text are numbered from 1 to 29, the leaf 13 is missing. The manuscript is in good condition. The leaves are darkened by fungus infestation, and the scripts of some leaves have been damaged by mould.