Chithalai Chathanar

Etymology

Pronounced Sa-tha-naar, the name is derived from (Tamil: சாத்து, sāttu) meaning Buddhist monk.[2] Applying this principle to the name Maturai Kulavāṇikan Cāttan, the author of Manimekalai, we see that the two appellations Maturai and Kulavanikan were prefixed to his name in order to distinguish him from another poet of Maturai with the same name and from a third who lived elsewhere. Several examples could be cited of this system of nomenclature which prevailed during the early days.[3]

Biography

Satthanar hailed from a place known as Seerthandalai, later came to be known as Seethalai.[1] He was a grain merchant at Madurai and hence came to be called "Koolavanigan". He was a contemporary of Cheran Senguttuvan and was believed to have practiced Buddhism. He has sung in praise of the Pandyan king Chittira Maadatthu Thunjiya Nanmaran in the Sangam work of Purananuru.[4]

Vaiyapuri Pillai sees him along with Ilango Adigal as developing two divergent strands of the Chilampu legend that forms the basis for both Cilapatikaram and Manimekalai.[5] He is seen as an expert in both orthodox and heterodox systems of Indian philosophy and as an advocate of Buddhist philosophy.[6] It is seen that Maṇimekhalai was written after the Tirukkural was composed, because there are two verses from the Tirukkural quoted in Manimekalai.[7][8]

Contribution to the Sangam literature

Satthanar composed the Manimekalai and has authored 11 Sangam verses, including 3 in Natrinai, 5 in Agananuru, and 1 each in Kurunthogai, Purananuru, and Tiruvalluva Maalai.[4]

See also

References
  1. Vedanayagam 2017, pp. 21–23.
  2. Kantacāmi 1978.
  3. University of Ceylon Review 1978.
  4. Kowmareeshwari 2012, p. 240.
  5. Journal of the Institute of Asian Studies 1991.
  6. Tamil Studies 1984.
  7. Hisselle Dhammaratana,Buddhism in South India, Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy, 1964. Available at Buddhist Publication Society Online Library
  8. Rao Bahadur Krishnaswāmi Aiyangar, Maṇimekhalai in its Historical Setting, London, 1928. Available at www.archive.org

Further reading
  • Mukherjee, Sujit (1998). A Dictionary of Indian Literature. Orient Longman. p. 354. ISBN 81-250-1453-5.
  • Vedanayagam, Rama (2017). Tiruvalluva Maalai: Moolamum Eliya Urai Vilakkamum (in Tamil) (1 ed.). Chennai: Manimekalai Prasuram. pp. 21–23.
  • Cō. Na Kantacāmi (1978). Buddhism as Expounded in Manimekalai. Annamalai University. p. 393.
  • University of Ceylon Review (Volumes 6-8 ed.). 1948. p. 97.
  • Kowmareeshwari (Ed.), S. (August 2012). Agananuru, Purananuru. Sanga Ilakkiyam (in Tamil). 3 (1 ed.). Chennai: Saradha Pathippagam. p. 240.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  • Journal of the Institute of Asian Studies (Volume 9 ed.). Institute of Asian Studies. 1991. p. 35.
  • Tamil Studies (Volume 4 ed.). International Institute of Tamil Historical Studies. 1984.


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