South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c8.6.1

c8.6.1

The chief command of the army was given, as was already noted, to the greatest Ceylon general of the time Laṅkāpura Daṇḍanātha. He attacked Rāmēśvaram and, after a number of battles, took possession of the place. He marched further forward to almost where Pamban is at present and took possession of a very convenient haven called Kundukāla² ‘midway between the two seas and four leagues distant from Ramissaram.’ Passing over minor details, Laṅkāpura defeated the Pāṇḍyan forces in a number of villages and towns. On his way back to his camp, he attacked the chieftain Āḷavanda Perumāḷ who was encamped at the ‘village Vadali,’¹ and killed him. It was after this that Kulaśēkhara made a great effort by leading his forces personally. He is said to have collected his armies from all over the Pāṇḍyan kingdom, including auxiliaries from the two Kongus and Tinnevelly. From his headquarters at the fortified villages of Erukoṭṭa and Iḍagalissara (which places I am not able to identify yet) he sent ‘a great army by land’² and many soldiers by sea and ships, to assault the fortress of Parākramapura.’ There was a hotly contested battle, Kulaśēkhara having his horse shot under him, and the Ceylon General got so much the better of his enemy that the very camp of the Pāṇḍya was burnt down. The Ceylonese then marched and occupied Vadali (Vēdāḷai).