The epic, Silappadikaram refers to the
- A.story of Rama
- B.Jaina elements in the storyline
- C.culture of Sri Lankan Buddhists
- D.cult of Shakti worship
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, Jaina elements in the storyline. Silappadikaram was written by Ilango Adigal, a prince who became a Jaina monk, and Jaina ideas run through its story.
Silappadikaram, the tale of the anklet, is one of the five great epics of Tamil literature, composed in the early centuries CE. It tells the story of Kovalan, a merchant of Puhar, and his wife Kannagi, who proves her husband's innocence before the Pandya king at Madurai with her anklet and then burns the city in her grief. A Jaina nun guides the couple on their journey, and Jaina teachings such as the force of past deeds shape the plot. Its companion epic, Manimekalai by Sattanar, is Buddhist.
Option A is wrong because the story of Rama is told in the Ramayana and, in Tamil, in Kamban's Ramavataram. Option C is wrong because the Buddhist epic is Manimekalai, and neither epic is about Sri Lankan Buddhists. Option D is wrong because Shakti worship is not the theme, even though Kannagi was later worshipped as the goddess Pattini.
Exam tip: Silappadikaram = Ilango Adigal (Jaina); Manimekalai = Sattanar (Buddhist).
Practice Questions
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