Who is the author of Manimekalai?

Manimekalai is one of the five great epics of Tamil literature, composed by the merchant-poet Seethalai Sathanar (also known as Shattan). Written as a sequel to Silappathikaram, it follows the life of Manimekalai, the daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi. While Silappathikaram was authored by Ilango Adigal, Manimekalai was written by Sathanar, a Buddhist poet, likely between the 2nd and 6th centuries CE [1]. The epic is a significant Buddhist religious work that details the protagonist's journey toward renunciation, her receipt of a magic bowl to feed the poor, and her eventual ordination as a Buddhist nun. It provides deep insights into the cultural, religious, and philosophical landscape of the post-Sangam era, particularly regarding Buddhist doctrines and the social conditions in the Chola capital of Puhar [1].

Sources

1. [1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4919973/
2. [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 5: Evolution of Society in South India > South India during 5.1Mauryan times > p. 64