தமிழ்க் காப்பியங்களின் சிறப்புகள்: சிலப்பதிகாரம், மணிமேகலை, சீவக சிந்தாமணி ஆகியவற்றின் ஓர் ஒப்பீட்டு ஆய்வு

Abstract

In the tradition of Tamil literature, the epic literary genre emerged and developed following the Sangam literature. Among the works revered as the Aimperumkappiyangal (Five Great Epics)—Silappatikaram, Manimekalai, Sivaka Chintamani, Valayapathi, and Kundalakesi—this research paper aims to examine the special features of the three epics that are available in their entirety today: Silappatikaram, Manimekalai, and Sivaka Chintamani. This paper analyzes political righteousness, social perspective, and feminist perspective through Silappatikaram; religious philosophy and social justice through Manimekalai; and religious doctrines, social structure, and culture through Sivaka Chintamani. Furthermore, this paper reveals from a comparative perspective how these three epics reflect the social structure and multifaceted human life of that period while carrying their respective religious philosophies (Jainism and Buddhism).