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The Tamil
46 THE JAINS IN THE TAMIL LAND.. embodying in their doctrines some of the highest and noblest principles of human conduct, found favour, among the ancient Dravidians who not only tolerated them in their midst but even accorded them in their religious life a position of great honour and trust.
The period immediately following the age of their value Kural is characterised by the growth of classical to Jain History.
literature, mainly under the Jain auspices. This age is generally called the Augustan age of Tamil literature, the period of the predominafice of the Jains in intellect and learning, though not in political power. It was during this period second century A.D. that the famous Tanıil epic Silappadikāram is supposed to have been written. The author of the work was Ilangovadigal, a brother of the Chera prince, Senguttuvan, and, perhaps, a member of the Jain Church. From this epic and its companion volume, Manimekalai, can be gleaned a graphic account of the state of the Dravidian society at that time. It would appear that there was then perfect religious toleration, Jainism advancing so far as to be embraced by members of the royal family. Religious conversion did not, as it does now, destroy the bonds of society and family. Thus, for example, Ilangõvadigal, the author of the epic Silappadikāram, was a Jain; while his brother, Senguttuvan, was a Saivite. In short, the fervent manner in which Jain beliefs and morals are depicted, the copious
IV. A. Smith, Early History Pope in Journal of the Royal • of India (1914), p. 445 ; Dr. Amatic fociety, 1889 Vol, p. 242.
