The Pandyan Kingdom from the Earliest Times to the Sixteenth Century c20.6.2

c20.6.2

We learn from the poem that some time after Kampana conquered the Śāmbuvarāya of the Rājagambhīrarājya and established his rule over Toṇḍaimaṇḍalam (Tundīra) with his capital at Marakatanagarī (another name for Kāñchī?), a mysterious lady appeared before Kamparāya and narrated to him in detail the wicked deeds of the Yavanas (Muham-madans) in the southern country. She said: ‘The temples in the land have fallen into neglect as worship in them has been stopped. Within their walls the frightful howls of jackals have taken the place of the sweet reverberations of the *mridanga*. Like the Turushkas who know no limits, the Kāvēri has forgotten her ancient boundaries and brings frequent destruction with her floods. The sweet odour of the sacrificial smoke and the chant of the Vedas have deserted the villages (*agrahāras*) which are now filled with the foul smell of roasted flesh and the fierce noises of the ruffianly Turushkas. The suburban gardens of Madura present a most painful sight; many of their beautiful cocoanut palms have been cut down; and on every side are seen rows of stakes from which swing strings of human skulls strung together. The Tāmraparṇī is flowing red with the blood of slaughtered cows. The Veda is forgotten and justice has gone into hiding;