Page:Gleaning Of Tamil Literature.pdf/29

 *“Atiuppadais’ if Tatnil 29

Kingdom. of. Cholan: Karikalan, His capital was Kaveripumpattinam on thé sta shore ‘(néar ‘Maya- -varam,. Tanjore District.). A great monarch as he owas, his empire. extended..up to the Himalayas. His sovereignty: was accepted by many of the -Northern rulers, in cognizance of which’ they paid tributes, His administration was véry, mild ahd he was enthusiastic about the. development of the ‘Tamil literature.’. All facilities including deforest- ing, were provided for.:the people: coming :from distant places to settle in his lahd. He todk measures for improving water supplies from the river Kaveri.. By fostering trade and agriculture he improved the economic condition of his empire. . He was a great warrior and his martial abilities facilitated his easy victory over - the combined armies of nine kings. at the battle of ‘Venni’. The two literary. pieces Porunarruppadai and .Pattinap- palai pay glowing tributes to his. glorious: reign, vividly, describing: his -great achievements... The first piece was sung by ‘Mudathamakkanniar’ and the other by Uruthirankkannanar.

The poem ;Porunararruppadai describes ‘the pathetic condition: of:the bards who were, intellec- tually. great. but financially: impoverished... But the.kings greatly interested-in the development of culture; inyproved: the, candition. of those, bards who: wore,.tattered: ‘clothes, by their, benevolent �