A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c12.34

c12.34

Another important battle he fought was at Vāhaipparandalai, ‘the field of vāhai trees’, where nine minor enemy chieftains lost their umbrellas and had to submit. As a result of his victorious campaigns, says the poet of Paṭṭinappālai, ‘the numerous Oḷiyar submitted to him, the ancient Aruvāḷar carried out his behests, the Northerners lost splendour, and the Westerners were depressed; conscious of the might of his large army ready to shatter the fortresses of enemy kings, Karikāla turned his flushed look of anger against the Pāndya, whose strength gave way; the line of low herdsmen was brought to an end, and the family of Irungōvēḷ, was uprooted.’ The Aruvāḷar were the people of Aruvānād, the lower valley of the Pennār, to the north of the Kaveri delta. Karikāla is said to have prevented the migration of people from his land to other regions evidently by offering them inducements to stay.