Manimekalai is from the Tamil/Sanskrit மணிமேகலை — mani (jewel) + mekalai (girdle) — jewel-girdle. A modern American baby name in the broader Tamil heritage aesthetic. Manimekalai is the foundational heroine of the Manimekalai (மணிமேகலை, c. 6th c. CE) — one of the foundational Five Great Epics of Tamil literature (alongside Silapadhikaram, Civaka Cintamani, Valayapathi, and Kundalakesi) + the foundational Buddhist Tamil-language epic. Composed by Cīttalai Cāttanār — central to the foundational Sangam-era Tamil-Buddhist literary heritage. The foundational story follows Manimekalai (daughter of Madhavi from Silapadhikaram) renouncing the courtesan tradition to become a Buddhist nun + her foundational quest for spiritual truth. Foundational Tamil + Tamil-Buddhist heroine + central to modern Tamil Buddhist revival heritage. Notable modern bearer: Manimekalai Mohan — Indian classical Carnatic vocalist.
Featured throughout Tamil heritage.
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Manimekalai reduces to seven.