The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c35.s2.20

c35.s2.20

The ancient Tamil literature, now being vigorously explored by many patriotic students in Southern India, mentions numerous kings by their clumsy names or titles, of whom some may be referred to an extremely early period. But the first Pāndya king who can be placed in a chronological position at all definite is Nedum-cheliyan, who lived in the second century of the Christian era, and was more or less contemporary with Nedumudi Killi, grandson of Karikāla Chola, with Chenkuttuvan, a powerful Chera king, and with Gajabāhu I of Ceylon. As is usually the case in Indian history, the key is obtained by the synchronism with a foreign prince. Although it cannot be said that the chronology of the early kings of Ceylon has been settled definitely, Professor Geiger's dating of the reign of Gajabāhu between A. D. 173 and 191 may be accepted as a close approximation to the truth.¹