Which of the following ancient Sangam epics, often styled as the twin epics of Tamil literature along with Silappadhikaram, details the tragic life of Manimegalai and her spiritual transition into a Buddhist nun?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Manimekalai, authored by Kulavanan Sattanar of Madurai, is a renowned epic poem belonging to the post-Sangam period that focuses on the daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi and her philosophical journey toward adopting Buddhism. Alternative works like Civaka Cintamani belong to the medieval period and espouse Jain tenets, while Kundalakesi and Valayapathi are classified among the five major Tamil epics though much of their text is lost. The epic provides extensive insights into ancient philosophical debates and social ethics.