Page:Tamil studies.djvu/273

246 were Nedumtokai, Kurumtokai, Natrinai, Ainkurunuru, Paditruppattu, Kurumkali, Paripadal, Kuttu, Vari, Perisai, Sitrisai, Muttollayiram, Akananuru and Purananuru, besides many minor poems. It lasted for 1850 years.

Concerning the foundation of the third Sangam nothing definite can be said. Tradition says that it took place in the reign of one Mudattirumaran, and this seems to have been tacitly accepted by the commentator of Iraiyanar's Agapporul and Adiyarkunallar. The name Mudattirumaran appears to be a synonym for Kun or Kubja Pandyan. If this identification be correct, the third academy must have been established in the reign of Sundara Pandya, that is about 670 A.D. But this is against all tradition and facts. The Tiruvilayadal Purana tells us that it was established in the reign of one Vamsa Sekhara Pandya, who is also credited with the founding of the Madura city after the 'deluge'. Neither of these Pandyas is mentioned in the literature or in the inscriptions which have been examined, and it is therefore impossible to ascertain the precise date of the establishment of the third academy.

It has been said that Kalladar and Mangudi Marudanar were members of this academy. These two poets have sung the military exploits of Nedum Selivan of Talaiyalankanam fame. If these poets were contemporaries of this king, they should have been