A revered Christian saint and a distinguished Tamil scholar, each demonstrating profound dedication by enduring self-inflicted penances

Saint Jerome, dedicated to study, prayer and penance. He carries in his hand to beat himself as part of penance. (c. 347-420 AD) 

Sathanar was an excellent Tamil poet, if anyone else composed poetry poorly, he would not punish them; instead, he would punish himself. He would punish himself by stabbing his head with his pen. As a result, not only did sores appear here and there on his head, but they also became infected with pus. Therefore, he was called 'Sīr-thalai' Sathanar (Pus-headed Sathanar). Over time, known as 'Sīthalai Sathanar'. He was called 'Madurai Pathinettu Kulavanikan Sīthalai Sathanar' (Sīthalai Sathanar, the Merchant of 18 Grains from Madurai). The author of the Tamil epic "Manimekalai" is Seethalai Sathanar. "Manimekalai" is one of the five great epics of Tamil literature and serves as a sequel to "Silappatikaram," another significant epic composed by Ilango Adigal. He is traditionally believed to have lived around the 1st century CE.