XX ones selected by the author. We are not also quite sure if the original work contained divisions on the basis of the different Puram motifs with equal number of verses in each as in Tirukkural of Nalaţiyar. There is every room to guess that the work was more Akam in character than Puram and as it was intended only to sing the praises of the three monarchies the Puram motifs had been pressed into service, monarchy itself being Puram theme par excellance. The emphasis is on the Akam feature. It reflects the genius of the artistry of the poet that a Puram theme could be made to subserve the purposes of Akam presentation. There can be no disputing the point that the best part of the work is Kaikkilai. Now to the historical and political value of the poem. The monarchies celebrated in the poem were the first great monarchies in the Tamil country which substituted the petty chieftaincies and paved the way for the latter day imperialistic pattern in the Tamil country. Eact of these monarchies established it sway over distinct parts of the Tamil Nad, named after each for at least three hundred or four hundred years. Sri K. N. Sivaraja Pillai whose excellent thesis “The Chronology of the Early Tamils" has been unfortunately treated as of little value for purposes of research has taken the chronology of the early Călas from 59 B.C. to 200 A.D.--from Velian Tittan the conqueror of Uraiyūr to Ko-c-Cenkagåg. The Pântiyar, chronology according to him is irom 1 A.D. to 175 A.D.—from Nefuñceliyap - I to Ukkira-p-peruvaiuti. The Céra chronoiogy extends from 25 B.C. to 200 A.D. If Sri K. N. Sivaraja Piłłai were to be our final authority, a beautiful sychronism can be established and even a provisional theory as to the identity of the patrons of the poet could be hazarded. Be it understood that this discussion in no way alters the position earlier taken as to the question of identity of the patrons. All that is attempted here is the presentation of the interesting point of view of a scholarly historian. We have earlier referred to the fact that only one ruler is mentioned by name viz Nalańkiłłi. In trying to fix the
