Page:Tamil studies.djvu/347

320 son of Maran and a learned and illustrious member of the Vaidya family, Madhurakavi made this stone temple of Vishnu. The same Madhurakavi the wise minister of the Pandva named Parantaka also gave away to the firsi born (Brahmans) this immensely rich agraharam, When 3871 years of Kali had passed on the day of the sun in the month of Kartigai this image of the god was duly set up there'. Had this temple been in existence in our Alvar's time he must surely have visited it. As there are no hymns on this god when he has sung the deity at Tirumokur, it is almost certain that our Alvar must have visited this part of the Pandya country sometime before A. D. 770.

Taking all these facts into our careful consideration we cannot help concluding that Tirumangai Alvar must have flourished between A. D. 680 and 760.

Let us now pass on to the Vaishnava Saints of the Pandya country. Periyalvar or Vishnu Chittan was a Brahman of Srivilliputtur. He calls himself புதுவைமன் and புத்தூர்க்கோன்; here மன் and கோன் mean simply an influential man; and in our Alvar's time Srivilliputtur was a newly created Brahman settlement. At the instance of Selva Nambi of Tirukkottiyur (a Purohit of the Pandya king), a conference of theologians was held at Madura. And in the religious controversy which took place there, Periyalvar is said to have