Ponnambalam or the 'Golden Hall at Chidambaram. According to traditions this hall was first built by Hiranya Varman, probably a Pallava king, during the sixth century; and we have no reason to believe that this shrine was in existence before the days of the Chola king Kocchengannan who is said to have built several temples to Siva and Vishnu, and also gilded the hall at Chidambaram.
செம்பொன்னணிந்து சிற்றம்பலத்தை—T. T. 82.
This Chola king lived probably in the latter half of the sixth century.
(4) Manikka Vachakar refers to Pey Ammaiyar, the Saiva lady saint and poetess of Karaikal, who could not have flourished earlier than the sixth century for the siinple reason that the andadi form of Tamil poem, in which her திருவிரட்டைமணிமாலை and அற்பதத்திருவந்தாதி were written, did not come into use before that period, as explained by Nacchinarkiniyar in his commentary on the Tolkapyar's sutra விருந்தேதானும்.
(5) A careful and candid study of the present work will convince the reader that the religious doctrines expounded by Manikka Vachakar in his Tiruvachakam, the general tenor of his writings and his contempt for other religions and sects may not enable him to take the poet's age beyond the hymnal period, i. e, A. D. 500—950.
(6) One of the 'sacred sports' of Siva at Madura was the send-off of the Pandya king Varaguna to His loka or heaven; and this act of divine grace has been alluded to by Manikka Vachakar:—
நரகொடு சுவர்க்க நானிலம்பு காமற்
பரகதிபாண்டியற் கருளினை.
