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TAMIL STUDIES

The sixth book consisting of over 210 lines was written by a woman named Kakkai-Patiniyar Nacchellaiyar in honour oi the Chera king Adukot. pattu Cheral Adan. He was the nephew of Nedum Cheral Adan, by the wife of Velavikoman, and a liberal king who gave away cows and lands to Brahmans, and ruled his country justly from his capital at Tondi, the modern Kadalundi in the Malabar district. If he was a cousin brother of Senguttuvan noticed above he must have flourished during the first quarter of the third century A. D. He reigned for thirty-eight years.

The seventh book, addressed to Selvakkadungo-Azhi-Adan, was composed by Kapilar. This Chera king was the nephew of Anduvan Cheran by Porayan and his wife Perundevi, daughter of Orutandai. He was a valiant king and pious devotee of Vishnu, for whose worship he granted the village of Okandur as devadayam. He fought several battles and performed many sacrifices. He is believed to have reigned 25 years. Nothing further is known about this king except that he was a predecessor of Senguttuvan, and that he must have flourished before A. D. 150.

Kapilar was a Brahman of Tiruvadavur in the Pandya country. It is not known why he has not composed even a stanza in praise of any Pandya sovereign in whose dominion he was born. Perhaps he had migrated while young to the hill country and settled there, as all his extant poems are descriptive of upland scenery (குறிஞ்சி) and of hill kings and