that a large number of temples to Vishnu and other deities had already come into existence before the days of Nammalvar.
(3) The chewing of betel-leaf I was almost unknown to the Hindu populace prior to A. D. 500 ; because, as one writer, observes its use is not mentioned by any author before the sixth century A. D. Our Alvar speaks of வெற்றிலை a more modern form of வெள்
2 ? which we find in the inscriptions of the ninth and tenth centuries A. D. The author of Silappadikaram (second century A.D) does, however, refer to its use thus,—
அம்மென்றிரைய லோடடைக்காயீந்து. But we doubt whether the custom had been so universal in the days of llango-adikal, as it was in our Alvar's time.
(4) It seems that at the time of our Alvar the struggle between the Vaishnava and Saiva sects on the one hand, and Jainism and Buddhism on the other had come to an end, that Brahmanism --Siva and Vishnu cults—had come out triumphant at least in the extreme south, and that a sort of reconciliation had been effected among the Saivas and Vaishnavas. While Tiruinalisai, Tirumangai and Tondaradippodi Alvars speak very vehemently and pour forth their invectives against the non-Vaishnava
1. F. R. A. S. for 1908, p. 910. 2. இலையமிர்து வெள்ளிலைஈரடுக்கு அடைக்காய்பத்து
50 yo s _0.—Epig. 'nd. Vol, IX, p. 90.
