Lesson - 3
P10413 Manimekalai
- Inthiravizhavur Edutha Kaathai
This
lesson discusses another major epic called Manimekalai. The first story-part
called Vizhavarai Kaathai is the main subject matter. Indravizha as a
special event of social participation without religious differences has
been taken up to highlight the epic character of this great Tamil work.
Manimekalai is the daughter of Kovalan the
hero of Cilapathikaaram and Maadhavi the alter-heroine. Thirty story parts
narrate the life of Manimekalai as a young woman rejecting worldly life.
This is considered as an epic of social reform, propagating the religion
of Buddhism and the three principles of temporary nature of youth, human
body and material wealth.
This important unit Vizhavarai Kaathai,
describes Indravizha as a function to relieve mankind from enmity, hunger
and disease. The origin and the manner of organising of this function
is described in the third central unit. The announcer of this event praises
the country, the king and the people in the beginning and at the end of
the announcement, as a tradition.
You will learn from this lesson the manner
of conducting a social function and the peerless culture depicted therein.
The 28-day function and its special nature provide some insight into the
ancient traditions. The elderly people of Poompuhar used to gather together
seeking goodness for the town. The ideas of benevolence of conducting
such a function and of malevolence in non-conduct of the event can be
understood from this lesson. The secularism adopted by the ancient people
during festival days is of great significance, relevant to modern times.
The practice of public announcement infuses patriotic spirit in the people.
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