Open AccessManimekalai: The ancient Buddhist Tamil epic, its relevance to psychiatry
Author(s) -
O Somasundaram,
Tejus Murthy
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
indian journal of psychiatry/indian journal of psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1998-3794
pISSN - 0019-5545
DOI - 10.4103/0019-5545.183788
Subject(s) - buddhism , gautama buddha , tamil , epic , relevance (law) , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , piety , prison , psychology , psychoanalysis , philosophy , literature , psychiatry , art , religious studies , theology , law , criminology , political science
This article refers to materials of psychiatric interest found in the Manimekalai written by the 2(nd) Century CE Buddhist poet Sathanar. From the early description of a wandering psychotic in the streets of Pukar, the ancient maritime capital of the Cholas it is opined that this description fits that of present-day schizophrenia. A drunkard making fun of a Jain monk and a cross-dressed individual are also found in the same streets. Manimekalai's request to the Chola king to convert the prison to a place of piety with Buddhist monks is mentioned. Lord Buddha's teachings on the compassionate way of life are presented.