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 CHAPTER VIII.

The Chera, Chola and Pandya having been the only crowned heads among the Tamils for many centuries, they were collectively known as “the three kings.” There were however several princes and chiefs ruling over extensive provinces in the Tamil land, who were more or less subject to one of the three kings. Some of them attempted at times to throw off their allegiance and set up as independent kings, but they were speedily subdued. First amongst the feudatory princes I should mention the Thirayan whose capital was at Kânchipuram. This prince belonged to the tribe of Thirayan or “Sea kings,” from whom the Cholas also derived their decent. During the infancy of Karikâl Chola, the Great, the Thirayan of Kânchi usurped the Chola kingdom and ruled over it for a long period. From the poem Perum-pân-ârru composed in honor of the Thirayan, it appears that the king bore the titles of Pal-vér Thirayan and Thondaimân and was a warrior of great renown. Had the Thirayan removed at once the seat of his authority to Uraiyûr the ancient capital of the Cholas, he might have continued in possession of the Chola kingdom and bequeathed it to his descendants. But he remained at Kânchi and Karikâl who escaped from prison, found little or no difficulty in regaining the throne of his ancestors.

Other chiefs feudatory to the Chola were the rulers of Venkadam, Malâdu and Milalai-kuram. Of the chiefs of Venkadam, Pulli was contemporary with the poet Màmülar and Athanungan with the poet Kallil-áth-thirayanar. These chiefs were constantly at war with the Vadugar, •who inhabited the country immediately north of Tamilakam.

Malayaman was the hereditary title of the chiefs of Maládu. The principal town in his province was Koval the modern Tirukoilur on the banks of the river Pennai. An extensive and fertile mountain plateau called Mullûr-malai formed part of his territory. Here Malayamám-Kàri granted lands to many Brah-