Manimekalai (Tamil: மணிமேகலை), written by Seethalai Saathanar, is one of the masterpieces of Tamil literature and is considered to be one of the five great epics of Tamil literature. Manimekalai is a sequel to Silapathikaram and tells the story of the daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi. Manimekalai has also been translated into Japanese by Shuzo Matsunaga on January 1991.
Story of Manimekalai
As a continuation of Silappatikaram (Tamil: சிலப்பதிகாரம்), this epic describes how Manimekalai, the daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi, followers of Jainism, makes social service the primary aim of her life, and how she sacrifices her entire life for that cause. Maṇimekalai studied the six systems of philosophy in Hinduism and other prevalent religions of the time. She compared them to the teachings of the Buddha and became impressed with the latter. Later, upon hearing doctrinal expositions from the Buddhist teacher Bhikkhu Aravaṇa Aḍigal, she became a Buddhist nun and devoted her time to the propagation of Buddhism in South India.
Manimekalai is set in both Tamil Nadu and in Nainatheevu, Jaffna Peninsula in modern Sri Lanka. The story runs as follows. Manimekalai is on the verge of marrying a prince when she is abducted and taken to the island "Manipallava Theevu" by her fairy godmother, who is known as "Manimegala Theivam". There she comes across "Arughar" (also known as Rishabha or Adinath) and she acquires the enchanted "aaputhiran kai amutha surabhi" - a cornucopia 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.
