Manimekalai
Manimekalai, written by Seethalai Saathanar, is one of the masterpieces of
Tamil literature and belongs to
The Five Great Epics of Tamil Literature.
Manimekalai is closely associated with
Cilappatikaram and tells the story of the daughter of Kovalan and Madhavai. Manimekalai is Buddhist in nature.
As a continuation of சிலப்பதிகாரம் (
Cilappatikaram), this epic describes how Manimekalai, the daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi, takes up social service as the primary aim of her life and how she sacrifices her entire life for the same cause.
Manimekalai is set in both Tamil Nadu and Srilanka. The story runs as follows. Manimekalai is on the verge of marrying a prince, when she is abducted and taken to an island "Manipallava Theevu" by her fairy God Mother known as "Manimegala Theivam". There she comes across "Arughar" (also known as Budha) and she acquires the enchanted "aaputhiran kai amutha surabhi" - a corcucopia bowl. She uses this bowl to feed "Kayasandigai" (first in line), a cursed Yaksha (fairy) who is suffering from "Yaanai(Elephant) - Thee(Fire)" disease - an eating disorder caused due to excessive desire to eat. After this, Manimekalai is brought back to Tamil Nadu, where she uses her bowl to feed the needy.
*
Prosodical and Poetical Analyses of the Epic Poem: Manimekalai [http://www.tamilnation.org/forum/wignesh/
