76 padikāram for contextual reasons wherein Tamil is connected with the meaning of Tamil people (warriors) although such a meaning is readily available in two solitary instances” in Safigam anthologies. 1.2.5. Although the absense of the word Tamil in any context in the whole of the special third division of Tolkāppiyam is striking, the pertinent references to the patronising famous threekings of Tamilnādu in an appropriate place” and in an odd place like that of the chaptero on prosody are interesting. 2. On the whole ‘Tamil’ has 51 references in ancient Tamil literature, of which 5 are in Tolkāppiyam, 17 in Sañgam anthologies, 24 in Silappadikäram and 5 in Manimekalai." This simpie statistics will reveal the ascending importance assumed by the word “Tamil’ in the chronological development of the Tamil Society. A close look will also show that the occurrence has a distribution of i in Pattupäțțu, 2 + 1 each in Akanāņuru & PariPädal and 2+2 Patirrupattu but 7 in Puranänäru. To any student of ancient Tamil literature, this raise in the number will certainly convince the contextual need for it namely the subjectmatter dealt in Puranāmūru is about the external public life of the society. This very reason explains the comparatively larger number of occurrences in Silappadikāram and relatively diminished references in Manimékalai. 3. Now let us briefly and quickly review the nature and significance of the epithets added to the word Tamil in pre and post positions. With regard to this the most significant reference is in the Tolkāppiyam text itself wherein the oldest and greatest of Tamil grammarians refers to Tamil as ‘Centamil’ in a couple of places.” ‘Cem’ is a contraction of the word ‘Cemmai’. It will be certainly interesting and useful to know, the meanings of the word “cemmai" as found in the Tamil lexicon" which are as follows. . (1) · Redness, ruddiness (2) Goodnesss, soundness, good condition (3) Spotlessness, uprightness, directness, recititude (4) Fairness, impartiality (5) Unity
