மணிமேகலையில் பௌத்த மெய்யியல்

Abstract

Seethalai Sathanar’s Manimekalai stands as a unique philosophical encyclopedia in the history of Tamil literature, shaped by an egalitarian perspective and a Buddhist foundation. This article analyzes—from both literary and logical standpoints—the epic's core Buddhist tenets, including Anitya (impermanence), Anatma (non-self), Dukkha (suffering), Karma (action and consequence), and Nirvana (liberation), while illustrating their practical application through the protagonist's renunciation of worldly affluence for an ascetic life. Furthermore, it explores profound concepts presented by characters such as Sathanar and Aravana Adigal—including the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, the Five Aggregates (Pancha Skandhas), and Dependent Origination (Pratityasamutpada)—ultimately demonstrating how Buddhism integrates individual spiritual liberation with social welfare through the alleviation of hunger, symbolized by the Amudhasurabi (the inexhaustible alms bowl).