Elements of Hindu Iconography v1.c7.140

v1.c7.140

Again, in many of the other Śaivāgamas, as in this, we are told that the *Drāviḍa-vēdas* are to be recited in temples as a part of the service in the temple; by *Drāviḍa-vēdas*, the *Dēvāram* hymns composed by Tirujñānasambandha, Vāgīśa (Appar), and Sundaramūrti, are meant. It is known that the last of them lived not earlier than the middle of the ninth century. Consequently the majority of the Śaivāgamas have to be looked upon as being later than the ninth century. Several of the words employed in them in describing the *rāgas* used in the singing of the *Drāviḍa-vēdas*, belong to the Tamil language.