192 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XIII. 



Ko-chengannan, and Ko-killi — " are mentioned as ancestors 

 of Vijaydlaya, the grandfather of Pardntaka" Vijayalaya 

 reigned about the year 875.* We therefore are enabled to 

 take a further step and say that Karikdla\s reigD was long 

 prior to 875 anno Christi. 



(3) The Chilappadikdram, a Tamil poem of the second 

 century! (and it matters little for purposes of this inquiry 

 whether it is of the second century or later by a few 

 hundred years), which records many notable events of the first 

 and second centuries, makes mention of this great prince in 

 different places. It was from him that Mddhavi, the dancing 

 girl, on completion of her studies, after due exhibition of her 

 ability, received the customary first prize granted to experts 

 in music and dance. And this event happened — if the time 

 ranging over the period covered by the several events chro- 

 nicled in this poem be properly computed — many years 

 prior to the visit of Gaja Bdhu I. to India. J The ancient 

 commentator of Chilappadikdram, Adiydrkkunalldr, and 

 the still more ancient commentary known as the Arumpa- 

 davurai, state that Karikdla was reigning over the Chola 

 country at the beginning of Kovalan and Kannakafs career, 

 and that this prince's daughter, Natconai, was the wife of 

 Seralatan and mother of Senkuttuvan, friend of Gaja Bahu I. 

 I would call particular attention to the following among 

 other passages in the Chilappadikdram which refer to 

 Karikdla, his daughter's husband Seralatan, and her son 

 Senkuttuvan : — 



(1) Qu(^ihLjaipd£ff)<sir<5disiJsrr<d}j<ssr ^D<5mu^iijQ<S(r<sh-^/B &,3sdi5iTLL 

 Qurr&). 



* Cf. South Indian Inscriptions, vol. I., p. 112. By studying the list 

 given in this page, and computing backwards from the reign of Raja-raja 

 (Saka 919 to 930 = 997 to 1008 of the Christian era), it will be found that 

 Vijayalaya's reign will be about the year I have mentioned above. 



•j- Cf. my Paper ChilajJjjadlkdram, Journal No. 44, vol. XIII., 1893, of 

 this Society ; also Mr. W. P. Ranasinha's Paper, "Which Oaja Bahu visited 

 India?" read in September, 1894; and the notes of discussion on that 

 Paper. 



J The visit was between 113 and 135 of the Christian era. 



