Page:Introduction to Tamil Poetry.pdf/7

6 several Jain saints and there is much influence of Thiruk- kural noticed in these quadruplets. The second period-200 A.D. to 600 A.D. is probably a dark period in which either many compositions were not made, or if made, were not preserved. The political state of affairs of the country (the country came under the power of a foreign clan--the Pallavas) and the internecine warfare should be responsible for the paucity of output. At the same time, mention must necessarily be made of the five great Tamil epics, many of which appear to have been composed in this period. The place of honour goes to Cilappadikāram (or the Epic of the anklets) written by Ilango Ațigal. Manimekalai (or the epic of the waistlet), Civaka Chintāmaņi, Vaļaiyāpathi and Kundalakési are the other four great epics, some of which however were com- posed still later. The period 600 to 1200 A.D. may be put down as the period of religious revival, for it is in this age that hosts of compositions on religious themes were composed by the Saiva Saints and Vaishnava Saints. These were preceded by Saint Tirumular who was the doyen of the Agamic faith and Siddhars like Korakkar and Sivaväkkiär who represent the dissenters of the Vedic faith. It is in this period that the four great Saiva Samayacharyar (Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar and Manickavachakar) lived and composed their devotional poems which are noteworthy not only from a philosophical point of view but also from the literary point of view. It is in this period that the twelve great Vaishnava Alwārs lived and gave of their best in regard to the hymns to Vishnu. These poems also are worthy of study from both philosophical and literary points of view. A war poem called “Kalingattu Parani” was also composed by Jayankondar who lived in the time Kulõttunga I (11th to 12th century A.D.) and this poem is significant from historical and lyrical points of view. It contains the genealogy of many of the Chola kings, alludes