Manimekalai
E39753
Manimekalai is a classical Tamil Buddhist epic poem, traditionally attributed to the poet Sīthalai Sāttanār, that continues the story of Kovalan and Madhavi’s daughter and explores themes of renunciation and compassion.
Aliases (3)
- Cilappatikāram ×1
- Maṇimēkalai ×1
- Silappatikaram ×1
Statements (47)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
Buddhist epic
→
Tamil epic poem → classical Tamil literature → didactic poem → |
| approximateCentury |
early centuries CE
→
|
| associatedReligion |
Mahayana Buddhism
→
Theravada Buddhism → |
| author |
Sīthalai Sāttanār
→
|
| containsCharacter |
Buddhist monks
→
goddess Manimekala → |
| culturalRegion |
Tamilakam
→
|
| followsWork |
Silappatikaram
→
|
| genre |
epic poetry
→
|
| influenced |
Tamil ethical and didactic traditions
→
later Tamil Buddhist literature → |
| language |
Tamil
→
|
| literaryCycle |
Eighteen Greater Texts of Tamil (Pattuppāṭṭu and associated epics)
→
|
| literaryForm |
akaval metre
→
|
| mainCharacter |
Kovalan
→
Madhavi → Manimekalai → |
| moralFocus |
charity and almsgiving
→
compassion for all beings → |
| period |
post-Sangam era
→
|
| philosophicalContent |
discussion of different Indian philosophical schools
→
exposition of Buddhist doctrines → |
| plotElement |
Manimekalai becomes a Buddhist nun
→
Manimekalai receives a magic begging bowl (Amrita Surabhi) → Manimekalai renounces life as a courtesan → magic bowl feeds the hungry endlessly → |
| preservesInformationAbout |
early Buddhism in South India
→
urban life in ancient Tamilakam → |
| protagonistIs |
daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi
→
|
| relatedWork |
Civaka Cintamani
→
Kundalakesi → Silappatikaram → Valayapathi → |
| religiousTradition |
Buddhism
→
|
| setting |
Kaveripattinam
→
Manipallavam island NERFINISHED → |
| structure |
divided into cantos
→
|
| survivalStatus |
extant but partly damaged in places
→
|
| theme |
Buddhist ethics
→
compassion → karma and rebirth → non-violence → renunciation → |
Referenced by (7)
| Subject (surface form when different) | Predicate |
|---|---|
|
Tamil
("Silappatikaram")
→
Tamil → |
hasMajorWork |
|
Sangam literature
("Cilappatikāram")
→
Sangam literature ("Maṇimēkalai") → |
hasPart |
|
Tamil people
→
|
classicalWork |
|
Manimekalai
→
|
mainCharacter |
|
Tamil literature
→
|
majorWork |