94 considered as the first epic that took a non-Tamil story for its theme. We find a number of references to north-Indian cities, mountains and rivers particularly of Madhya Pradesh. As indicated earlier we will concentrate here on the references about the city of Ujjain only. The very first canto that is now available is called “Unjai Kāndam” which means the canto of Ujjain. This capital city is referred as Unjai or Ucchaini or Unchánai" to avoid the non-Tamil sound Ja’ according to the strict rules of Tamil phonology. In Peruñkatai Ujjain is referred to as a well-guarded,” big," beautiful,” cool", and victorious?, city of well built, equiped and protected”, flawless”, old”, high forts”, inhabited by valiant elephants.” A large number of references are there that point out the antiquity”, and richness” of the city. It is also described as a good”, and famous”, city of public halls,” courts”, big streets,” bazaars”, and noisy of annual water-sport.” A peculiar type of tiger-faced terraced house is mentioned,” among other types.” The city is further described as having different chéries (divisions or colonies).” pādis (sub-divisions or colonies),” numerous parks,” and extension neighbourhoods.” It also appears that the people of Ujjain which had enough sculptural treasures worshipped Kumāra or Kārthikāya.” - In the heart of the city of Ujjain was the king’s palace.” Around it should have existed the colony of Brahmins* and ascetics” with white storied buildings” and abodes of Gods.” The city it is told contained sixteen thousand war-camps,” colonies of three lakhs of smiths,” five lakhs of factory-sites” and numerous colonies of warriors, The greatness of Ujjain in having the temples, of God Śiva and of the Goddess Kāli in big grove is also graphically depicted with great devotion by Końgu-vel, the Jain author of this great Tamil epic Perunkatai.” Avanthi or Ujjain is referred to in Silappatikāram and Manimékalai. The latter speaks of the story of Udayanan himself.so Silappadikāram mentions that the king of Avanthi happily presented Karikālan, the greatest of early Chola monarches a
