History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c23.2

c23.2

According to Amīr Khusrau Kāfūr raided the temple of Barmatpurī. This has been identified by Prof. Aiyangar with chidambaram, firstly because chidambaram has a golden ceiling and secondly because it is known as Brahmapuri. Prof. Aiyangar, however, also says that it can be identified with Rameshvaram since Amīr Khusrau in *Deval Rānī* (speaking about this particular campaign) says that the army proceeded towards M'abar and "to the shores of the sea of Lanka, against the ruler whom he called Pandya Guru."¹ My reading of the text of *Deval Rānī* confirms the first assumption of Prof. Aiyangar; firstly because the place raided is called Marhatpuri by Khusrau and secondly because there was no king by the name of Pandya Guru. Moreover, Khusrau talks of the army having marched on the banks of many rivers لب دریا سواحل بر سواحل but never to have actually crossed the sea. The text of *Deval Rānī* (p. 72) reads:—