A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c12.74

c12.74

This dark period marked by the ascendancy of Buddhism, and probably also of Jainism, was characterized also by great literary activity in Tamil. Most of the works grouped under the head ‘The Eighteen Minor Works’ were written during this period as also the *Śilappadikāram*, *Maṇimēkalai* and other works. Many of the authors were the votaries of the ‘heretical’ sects.