i{}i thousand five hundred miles* away from the Himalayas, perceived and praised the greatness of Imayam (the Himalayas) as the symbol of their concept of Indian unity? In the whole of the Himalayan ranges, Kailai (Mount Kailas) was considered to be very sacred, because it is the abode of God Sivas” and the birth place of God Murugano” and that is also the reason why many a reference about the Imayam is found in ancient Tamil Literature. Besides, Imayam finds its place in Puranic lore because of its association with Rāvanā and because of the story that Siva used the very Imayam as a bow in his heroic act of burning the Three-Forts. In this context also references are made by the ancient Tamil poets.” - w It may also be mentioned here that the Himalayas was not only considered as the northern boundary of India, but as a great challenge to the kings of Tamilnad. They felt satisfied only when they imprinted their royal seals such as bow, tiger, and fish on that mountain. Hence the poets took pride in singing the praise of the kings who imprinted their seals on the Imayam.* The very word “Maram' (upplb) meaning heroism meant to Atiyārkkunallär, the commentator to Cilapathikāram, that of the Tamil king imprinting his royal emblem in the Himalayas."- Also we findin Cilapathikāram how the ambitious Cera king Cenguttuvan was able to take a slab from the Himalayas to make an idol for Kannaki, the Pathini Goddess, and to bathé it in the Ganges.* A Cera King by name Netunchêralåthen had his title as ‘Imayavarampan’ meaning one who had as the boundary of his realm the Imayam (the Himalayas) itself.” In fact ancient Tamil people and Poets wished their kings to have their victories won even beyond the Imayam.” They also considered North as a sacred direction.* We also find that the ambition of the ancient Tamil Kings was to rule over the whole of Nävalan Tivu (Jambú Dvipa),” which also strengthens the conception that India was considered to be one national entity. ĮV Like the Himalayas, the Gangai is also referred to in ancient Tamil Literature with deep admiration and reverence. It is portrayed as a big river” of very great fame,” which has its floods from the many streams that fall from the high, bright and red
