The Silappadikaram, one of the Five Great Epics of Tamil literature, was composed by which figure?

Ilango Adigal, a Jain monk. The stored answer is Ilango Adigal, a Jain monk. Ilango Adigal is the poet of the Silappadikaram, and he was a Chera prince. The Jain label is traditional, since translator Dikshitar says it is only contended. Sattanar is the reputed author of the Manimekalai, the sequel. Tolkappiyar and Avvaiyar are not linked to this epic. Memory hook: Ilango wrote the Anklet, Sattanar wrote its sequel. Read more: The Sangam Age: Literature and Society, Jainism: Origins and Teachings, Classical Languages of India.

In the epics, who is Manimekalai's father?

Kovalan. Her father is Kovalan. Her mother is Madavi, the courtesan of Puhar. She is not Kannaki's child, so the word stepdaughter is wrong. The sea-goddess in the story says Kovalan named his daughter after her. Senguttuvan was a Chera king and Ilango was his brother. Sattanar is the reputed poet of the Manimekalai. Memory hook: Kovalan's daughter by Madavi. Read more: The Sangam Age: Literature and Society, Jainism: Origins and Teachings, Classical Languages of India.

In the Manimekalai, how does the heroine get the never-failing alms-bowl?

It rises in the Gomukhi tank on Visakha day. The bowl rises in the Gomukhi tank on the island of Manipallavam. This is the day of Visakha, the anniversary of the Buddha's birth. The sea-goddess only carries the heroine to the island. Aravana, at Kanchi, teaches her the Buddha's law, not the bowl. Madavi does not bring it. Memory hook: the tank gives the bowl, not the goddess. Read more: The Sangam Age: Chera, Chola and Pandya Kingdoms, Buddhism: The Buddha's Life and Councils, Sangam Literature: The Ettuthogai and Pathupattu.

The epic, Silappadikaram refers to the

Jaina elements in the storyline. The answer is Jaina elements in the storyline. This is CDS (II) 2016, Question 82. A Jain ascetic named Kavunti walks with the couple to Madurai. Dikshitar says the twin epics show clear influence of the Buddha and the Jaina cults. The Rama story belongs to the Ramayana. Memory hook: Jain element goes with the Silappadikaram, Buddha with the Manimekalai. Read more: The Sangam Age: Chera, Chola and Pandya Kingdoms, Buddhism: The Buddha's Life and Councils, Sangam Literature: The Ettuthogai and Pathupattu.

Which river is praised in the fifth century Tamil epic, Silappadikaram?

Cauvery. The answer is the Cauvery. This is CDS (II) 2017, Question 93. Dikshitar notes the epic has excellent descriptions of rivers like the Vaigai and the Kaveri. The story begins in Puhar, a city of the Kaveri country. The Godavari and the Saraswati are not the rivers praised here. The Ganga appears only when the Chera king bathes a stone in it. Memory hook: Silappadikaram sings the Kaveri. Read more: The Sangam Age: Chera, Chola and Pandya Kingdoms, Buddhism: The Buddha's Life and Councils, Sangam Literature: The Ettuthogai and Pathupattu.

Which king's link does Dikshitar use to place the Silappadikaram in the 2nd century CE?

Gajabahu of Ceylon. He uses King Gajabahu of Ceylon. Gajabahu attended the opening of the Pattini temple. Dikshitar admits this link has not found acceptance with every scholar. Verma (2025) instead says the poem was composed in the fifth century CE. So the date stays disputed. Memory hook: Gajabahu gives the 2nd century, and the date is still debated. Read more: The Sangam Age: Literature and Society, Jainism: Origins and Teachings, Classical Languages of India.

In the Manimekalai, who teaches the heroine the Buddha's law at Kanchi?

The sage Aravana. The sage Aravana teaches her. She first goes to Vanji and hears teachers of many sects. None of their creeds satisfy her, so she goes to Kanchi. Her mother Madavi and Suthamathi are with Aravana there. Sattanar is the poet, and Senguttuvan is the Chera king of the earlier epic. Memory hook: Aravana of Kanchi teaches the Buddha's law. Read more: The Sangam Age: Chera, Chola and Pandya Kingdoms, Buddhism: The Buddha's Life and Councils, Sangam Literature: The Ettuthogai and Pathupattu.

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Which text is listed with the Silappadigaram among three important treatises on the arts in NCERT’s arts book?

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Which text is listed with the Silappadigaram among three important treatises on the arts in NCERT’s arts book?

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