A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c9.22

c9.22

References to Agastya's work on Tamil grammar make their appearance rather late. The first occurs in the amazing legend of the three Śangams narrated in the Iraiyanār Agapporuḷ Urai, a work of the eighth or ninth century A.D. Here Agastya is counted as a member of the first and second Śangams which lasted for 4,440 years and 3,700 years respectively. His work Agattiyam is said to have been the grammar (nūl) for the first Śangam, while that work together with the Tolkāppiyam and three other works formed the nūl for the second Śangam.