Page:Tamil studies.djvu/315

288 (2) Camo co pow arwari Calib .Pur. (3) Einon coor Q6wQ1484, Quot Laban Qu.16. (4) 2.000FTH Gamira Love šs Carral.Pad. (5) யந்தணர் கேள்விகேட்டுப் படிவ மொடியாது

Canal Co, 2007.—Ib. The above is a brief account of Brahmanism in the Tamil country as it existed and was known to the authors of the Purananuru and other classics of the pre-Puranic period. And an outline of the Puranic Hinduism which follows will clearly show that none of the Saiva Nayanars or Vaishnava Alvars ever held the religious views explained in the above works. This one fact will in itself suffice to prove that both the Saiva and Vaishnava Saints, probably with the exception of one or two, fcurished only during the Puranic period, viz., after A. D. 500.

The essential features of the early Puranic period were the setting up of idols and the construction of temples for them. The Tamil kings of this periodchiefly the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Pandyaswhose purohits or spiritual advisers were Brahmans, were imbued with devotion to Vishnu or Siva. It appears that Brahma had no votaries, as his name scarcely occurs in the academic works. Later on, however, he was united with Siva and Vishnu to make up the triad; and Indra and Baladeva were ousted from the Hindu pantheon. Still Brahma has been occasionally referred to in both the Saiva and Vaishnava hymns, though he had no temples to reside in like his friends Siva and Vishnu; and even now he has only