institutions vaguely known to the Tamilians of those times and foisted upon Nakkirar.
Several attempts in later times were made to establish Tamil Sangams. The one referred to in the Chinnamanur grant seems to have been the first and the earliest endeavour after the dissolution of the famous third academy. It was probably the fourth, and lasted for one century and a haif from about A. D. 600 to A. D. 750. Though it was not so famous as the third, it appears to have done some useful work at least by way of collecting and preserving rare Tamil works which would otherwise have perished. Perundevanar, the author of Bharata Venba must have belonged to this academy[1], as his name, famous though it was, does not appear in Nakkirar's list of the members of the third academy. Naladiyar (A. D. 750) and some other poems included in the eighteen minor works (பதினெண் கீழ்க்கணக்கு ) should, I think, be attributed to this Sangam. From the expressions சங்கத் தமிழ் and சங்கமுகத்தமிழ் which occur in the works of Tirumangai Alvar, I am inclined to believe that the great Vaishnava apostle knew this fourth Sangam, though he was not probably its member.
- ↑ According to the astronomical calculation made by Divan Bahadur Swamikkannu Pillai Avl, from a reference in the Silappadikaram, the poets Ilango-adigal and Sattanar must have flourished in the eighth century. If so, the latter author must have been a member of the above academy. We cannot now go deeper into this question or accept Mr. Swamikkannu Pillai's theory, until stronger and more convincing evidences be forth-coming.
