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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. X. 



of many other apostles of the Saiva religion, form part of a 

 purdnd written by Sekkilar-suvami. In it is described the 

 rise, development, and overthrow of Jainism and Buddhism 

 in South India. It appears that when Kii-pandian was on 

 the throne of Madura, the influence of the Jains was so> 

 powerful that they succeeded in making a convert of that 

 king to their religion. His queen, however, Mankaiyarkkarasi 

 by name, and minister Kulachchirai-nayinar, remained true 

 to their ancestral religion. They persuaded the king to 

 preside at a public controversy between the Jains and the 

 Saivites ; and Sampanta-miirtti was the chosen champion of 

 the Saivites. The many arguments which were urged and 

 the miracles performed on that occasion need not be 

 recounted here ; but it is enough to say that the Jains were 

 defeated and the king himself reconverted to the religion of 

 Siva. This event is generally placed by native Tamil scholars 

 in the middle of the third century before Christ. European 

 savants refer it to the seventh or eighth century after Christ. 

 It is related in the purdna of Sekkilar-suvami that, after over- 

 throwing the Jains at Madura, Sampanta-miirtti proceeded 

 to Ramesvaram and sang hymns in praise of Ramanata, 

 the god enshrined in that temple, and also in praise of 

 Tirukketisvaram and Tirukkonamalai (Trincomalee). I 

 may incidentally remark that Mr. Boake is not quite right 

 in saying that there are only sixty-four places of worship 

 sacred to the Hindus. There are (including those in ruins) 

 1,008, of which two only are in Ceylon, namely, Tirukketis- 

 varam and Tirukkonamalai. Ramesvaram is of course part 

 of India. 



I think what I have stated is sufficient to entitle us to- 

 believe that Sampanta-miirtti flourished at least as early 

 as 700 A.c. In his hymns he speaks of Tirukketisvaram 

 as a temple on the borders of the city of Matoddam along the 

 Palavi ; and of Matoddam itself he says that it abounds in gold,, 

 pearls, and precious stones, and was full of mango groves, 

 areca trees, and plantain bushes, among which peacocks and 

 monkeys disported themselves. The temple must indeed 



