In the previous lesson you learnt about the spread of Buddhism in Tamil Nadu and its impact on Tamil Literature. In this lesson, you will study all about the two great Buddhist classics namely Manimekalai and Kundalakeci, and the grammatical work Viracolium.
Some of the Buddhist works in Tamil have been lost. Of the ones available, only Manimekalai is in its entirety. kundalakeci too, has come down to us as a fragment. Had we been deprived of these two classics, we would never have understood the magnitude of the contribution of Buddhism to Tamil Nadu and Tamil literature.

Let us now learn something about Manimekalai, the work. It was written by Cithalaicaathanaar. There is a reference in Cilappatikaaram to the effect that it was Cithalaicaathanaar who narrated the story of Kannaki to Ilangovadikal the author of Cilappathikaaram.

A unique feature of Manimekalai is that it can be said to be a reformist work. It advocates the philosophy of kindness to all, vegetarianism, and abstinence from liquor and killing. More important than all this, Manimekalai (the heroine) is credited with the honour of having transformed prisons into places of dharma Aram because she fed the prisoners food from the Amuthacurapi.

One important point must be mentioned here. During the Sangam era, there were many religions in practice in Tamil Nadu. Each of them propagated its own doctrines. But there was no animosity between them. On the other hand, they were distinguished by their tolerance towards one another, However, Seethalaisaathanaar, who wrote at length about several Buddhist tenets to be followed by men for their upliftment, sowed the seeds of religious intolerance. This was indirectly responsible for the production of Kundalakeci and the counter-production of Neelakeci, one of the five minor epics.

Although the grammatical work Veeracoliyam has now fallen into disuse, it must have been quite popular when it was composed. This is evident from the many references to it by later commentators.

Thus, we can see how Buddhism which once flourished in Tamil Nadu and enriched its literature. It is unfortunate that Buddhism is not as prevalent in India, its birthplace, as it is in foreign countries today.