Page:Tamil studies.djvu/247

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TAMIL STUDIES

translation of Ramayana ; Kacchiyappa translated the Skandapurana ; and Puliyui Nambi and Paranjoti Muni turned into beautiful Tamil verse the Halasya Mahatmya. Besides the translations of quasi-sectarian works Tamil versions or adaptations of other Sanskrit poems were also undertaken. Pugazhendi rendered Naishadam into excellent Tamil Venba metre : Dandi wrote for Tamil the Alankara Sastra, while Buddha-Mitra composed his Virasoliyam on Sanskrit model and Pavanandi wrote the celebrated Nannul as an epitome of Tolkapyam.

Again it was during this period which lasted from A. D. 50 to A. D. 1200 that the sacred hymns and poems of Saivas and Vaishnavas, which had till then remained scattered, were collected and arranged. The Saivas assisted by Nambiyandar Nambi (A. D. 1025) compiled the Devaram hymns, the Tiruvachakam and other poems into eleven tirumurais, while the Vaishnavas assisted by Sri Nathamuni (A.D. 1025) gathered their hymns into a single volume and called it the 'Nalayira Prabandam' or the great ‘Book of 4000 Psalms'. Sekkilar (A.D, 1135) wrote the lives of the Saiva saints and called it Tiruttondar Puranam ; while the Vaishnavas wrote their Divyasuri Charitai and Guru paramparai about that time. All temples dedicated to Siva or Vishnu were being regularly visited by the respective sectarians, and festivals were instituted and celebrated with scrupulous regularity. Theapotheosis of pious votaries was made complete and their images were set up in temples ; and to