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98 JAINS AND TAMIL LITERATURE.
by contrast. That it is so is seen from the fact that, when in the early part of the eighteenth century, Kachiyappa Munivar, the disciple of Sivagnāna, Munivar, wanted to compose poems in honour of Saiva saints, he set Chintā mani as his model.
As many, even among Tamil scholars, do not appear to know the story of Jivakan, the follow
ing concise account is extracted 1:The story of
“Sacchanthan was the king of EmankataJirakan.
nadu and married Vijayai. So enamoured was he of the queen that he neglected his government and left his minister, Kattiankāran, in charge of it. The latter proved treacherous to his master : he formed a plot against his life and assasinated him, Vijayai was driven out of the realm and the usurper ascended the throne. Advanced in pregnancy, the queen gave birth to Jivakan in the cemetery amid a wild forest and began the life of a devotee. The child was taken by a rich merchant who brought him up as his own and posted him up in all branches of learning. When he had come of age, a gang of free-booters attacked the city and plundered it. The young hero pursued them and rescued the plunder. In appreciation of his valour, Pasukavalan, a citizen,gave him his daughter, Govindaiyār, in marriage. While enjoying the happiness of wedded life, he competed with Tattaiyār in a Vīna performance, and, proving himself far superior to her in the art, gained the hand and
"Purnalingam Pillai, History of Tamil Literature.
