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APPENDIX D.
A striking piece of internal evidence.
whole matter is that such an intense literary activity, as the one that has been ascribed to: the legendary Sangam is to be sought for in the time approximating the century for which we have the earliest known Vatteluttu records.
There is a striking piece of internal evidence in Manimekalai which would open the eyes of those who hug to their bosom their pet theory of 'the early origin of the Sangam which however rests on the slender basis of the Gajabāhusynchronisin. Canto XII of Manimēkalai contains an account of an interview between Manimēkalai and a Buddhist Abbot of Kavirippoompattinam. In the course of a long sermon the grey-headed old monk Aravanavadigal says," .... Buddha-Dharma is losing its hold in the mind of the people and as a result forns of error are increasing in the country. Yet do I not despair. I still continue to preach the law which few care to understand.” Evidently the Abbot laments the rapid decay of Buddhisın in the Tamil country. It 'is a well-known fact that Buddhism which was flourishing during the days of Fahien was in process of decay when Hieun-Tsang visited Conjeevaram (7th certury A.D.). According to his testimony, in Malakuta or Malakota, the name by which the Pandya country was called by him, Buddhism was almost extinct, the ancient monasteries being mostly in ruins. “The inhabitants were reputed to care very little for learning and to be wholly immersed
