46 
The Tamil Epic Chintamani. [no. 3, new series. 
struciion, and Grammarians quote this work as of undoubted autho- 
rity. 
Nacchenarkinnear of Madura, himself a man of great erudition, 
and a commentator on three parts of Tclkappeyam, the Cural, and Sil- 
lapadekaram, has also written notes on Chintamani. The com- 
ments of this author, on Chintamani andl the other works, are 
regarded by the Tamil Literati as unquestionable authority. The 
commentary of this writer composed before he had examined the 
claims of the Jaina theology, was not at first received by that sect. 
He afterwards, however, revised his commentary, conforming it to 
their doctrinal peculiarities, and it was thenceforth received by them 
as a correct exposition of his author. 
The Chintamani contains three thousand one hundred and forty- 
five tetrastichs, and it is divided into thirteen sections called Ilam- 
bakam. 
1. The story of the hero Jivaka commences with certain par- 
ticulars relating to him prior to birth. When an infant, he was 
cherished by a Chitty, a merchant, who rescued him from the forest 
in which he was born ; his mother having fled thither from the as- 
sassin who had slain the King her husband. This section called 
Namagal Ilambakam contains 408 verses. 
2. The second section called Kovindiyar Ilambakam relates the 
early exploits of young Jivaka. It appears that a gang of free-booters 
attacked the city in which he dwelt, plundered it, and carried away 
much property, driving before them, as they retired, the cattle be- 
longing to the inhabitants. On this occasion the young hero distin- 
guished himself by great bravery, pursued the plunderers, and rescued 
the spoils they had taken. In consequence of this deed of valour, 
a citizen named Pasukavalam was induced to give his daughter 
Kovindeyar in marriage to the son of the Chitty the foster father of 
Jivaka. Thisi section contains 84 stanzas. 
3. The third section is named Kandarvatatteyar Ilambakam so 
called from the celebrated musician of the name of Tatteyar whose 
skill on the Indian lute or vina was almost unrivalled. She formed 
^ reiiolution not to marry any one who did not surpass her in her 
