And the best ‘ulas' are those composed by the famous poet Ottaikkuttan on Vikrama Chola (11181143) and Kulottunga Chola II (1143-1146). These together with the one on Rajaraja Chola (1146-1163) are known as the Muvar-Ula. The following oftquoted stanza confirms what we have said above :—
வெண்பாவிற் புகழேந்தி பரணிக்கோ
செயங் கொண்டான் விருத்தமென்னு
மொண்பாவி லுயர்கம்பன் கோவையுலா
வந்தாதிக் கொட்டக் கூத்தன்
கண்பாய கலம்பகத் திற் கிரட்டையர்கள்
வசைபாடக் காளமேகம்
பண்பாகப் பகர்சந்தம் படிக்காச
லாதொருவர் பரொணாதே.
The Exegetical Period: From the table it will be seen that this period of Tamil literature was co-extensive with the era of sectarian reformation and that it lasted from A. D. 1200 to A. D. 1430. The cleavage between the Saivas and Vaishnavas had become permanent and each of them crystallised into a distinct sect. Sri Ramanuja Charya rose and laboured hard to strengthen the foundation of Vishnuism. Sri Vedanta Desika and Sri Manavala Mahamuni constructed two enduring edifices of different designs on the foundation laid by Sri Ramanuja. For Sivaism similar work was undertaken by Meykanda Deva, Arunandi Siva Charya, Maraignana Sambanda and Umapati Siva Charya. The Vaishnava Acharyas wrote mostly in Sanskrit
