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JUNE, 1908.)
TAMIL HISTORICAL TEXTS.
171
The impression produced by the verse is also corroborated by the general tenor of the whole work. The hero, Nandi, is described in this work as being a Pallava king :--- Pallavar kon Nandi - verse 2 of Introduction, verses 15, 35, 40, 70, &c., of the poem. (The Pallava king Nandi.) Pallavar tonral - 0.1 (born of the Pallavu dynasty). Pallavar kölari -v. 59 (a lion among the Pallavas). Pallavan ---vv. 65, 83. Kadavar - . 29.
In verse 39 the king is said to have belonged to the race of the moon :- Chandra-kula prakasan (the light of the Chandra = kula or the Lunar Race).
His capitals appear to have been Kanchi, the modern Conjeevaram -- . 8, 10, 22, 29 and 80; Mallai, the modern Mahabalipuram, situated in the Chinglepat District -- ov. 1, 3, 46, 54, 72 and 83; and Magilai, or Mailappar, the modern Mailapur, a suburb of Madras — t. 44, 51, 55 and 69.
His rule extended over (1) the Tondainadu - ov. 4, 5 and 39 ; (2) the country watered by the Kaveri :- Kaviri vala nadan - vv. 11, 17, 27, 28 and 44. Ponni na naftu mannan-(king of the prosperous country watered by the Ponni, i.e., the KAveri). Sõnadan - (owner of the Chola country) v. 74. (3) Over the Chêra country :- Sêranddan - v. 74. (4) Over the Kongu country :- Konga ! - 1. 41. (5) Over the Alagai nadu:- Alagai nadan -0. 39. (6) Over the western regions :- Kudakk=udai vēndan -0.65.
In verse 28, he is described as " Kdoiri dala nadın Kumari = kxongan Gangai-mandlan kurai kalal rira = Nandi" - "the valiant Nandi, lord of the prosperous country watered by the Kivêri, of the sea-coast round Kumari (the Cape Comorin) and the spouse of the Ganges."
He is said to have held sway over the Bâga kings :-" Vada Vengada-nadudai mannar piran"-». 55. "Lord over the kings of the northern Verknta (hills)." See also no. 33 and 67, where he is described as vada Vé ngadattan (lord of the northern Venkata bills).
Nandi is said to have won battles at the following places : -(1) Tellaru - Do. 28, 33, 38, 49, 52, 53, 71, 75, 79, 80, 85, 86 and 96. (2) Kurukódu - Do. 2, 85 and 84. (8) Palaiyaru- v. 81. (4) Velldru - v. 23. (5) Nalldru - v. 61.
In verse 27, the Chêra, Chola, Pandya kings and the kings of the northern regions are said to have paid tribute to him. He had fought with the Chêras and the Cholas (vv. 42 and 81), and also with the Pâqdyas (vv. 4 and 81 ).
In verse 81 he is described as having thwarted the intentions of his younger brothers, thus:
“Kula virar - Agam = aliyattambiyar - enņam = ellám paludaga venra talai mina viraltuan Sembiyar Tennar Sérar = edir vandu wdyach=cheruvenra &c. &c.”
In w, 54 and S, the place is called Kadar - Mallei, which is the name by which it is known to the Vaishnava Alvar Tirumalai (see the two decades on Kadar - Mallai . ttaladayagam, and the decades on, 7ruvdli and Tirunaraiyar). The Alvar describes it as a flourishing sea-port (Krunedun-tandagam, verue 9.) The place was also praised by Bhutatta var in verse 70 of his lyarpa,
