ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



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Keerimalle, near Kangaisentorre. * She did so, and finding 

 herself cured, erected a temple in the neighbourhood at what 

 has thenceforward been called Mavitapuram, or "the city 

 where the horse quitted," f Subsequently to this event, it 

 happened that a blind minstrel, named Ydlppdnen, departing 

 from Chola, arrived at the Court of the King Narasingha 

 Raja, % who then swayed the sceptre of Ceylon, and having 

 by his wonderful feats on the lute ingratiated himself into the 

 favor of that monarch, obtained from him a grant of the penin* 

 sula. He called it after his own name Ydlppdnen Nadu or 

 Ydlppdnam, || and inviting from the Continent as many of his 

 countrymen as chose to share with him in his good fortune* 

 established them in the different parts of his territory, which 



* Kangaisen, or Kangaiyen is another name for Skanda, and 

 Torre implies "a port." It is situated about 12 miles north of Jaff- 

 napatam, and is occasionally resorted to by the European residents of 

 that place for the sake of the sea breeze. There are the remains of 

 a Fort built by the Portuguese. 



f Mdvittapuram is situated exactly 11 miles north of Jaffna- 

 patam, and the temple, which now stands there, is said to occupy the 

 site of that erected by the Chola Princess. The tradition concerning 

 the Princess, although it wears in some respects the character of a 

 fable, is evidently founded upon some historical fact, her memory 

 being still commemorated by the people of Jaffna in the annual ablutions 

 performed at Keerimalle, and the festival celebrated at Mavittapu- 

 ram. 



| The Kylasa Mala represents Narasingha Raja as the son of 

 the Chola Princess herself by a Prince, who resided at Kadiramalle, 

 or Katragam. His name, however, does not occur in the list of the 

 Singhalese Kings, and I am therefore induced to believe, that he was 

 merely a subordinate King, who ruled over the northern part of the 

 maritime provinces of Ceylon; for there are said to have been in ancient 

 times no less than sixteen Kings in the Island, each having a certain por- 

 tion of it under his sway, and paying homage to the Emperor of 

 Sitawaka, Philaleth.es' History of Ceylon, page 51. Note. 



|| This name is still in use amongst the natives, although the 

 Europeans have corrupted it into Jaffana or Jaffna. 



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