Studies in Cola History and Administration c7.13

c7.13

(b) Paṭṭiṉappālai. A poem of 301 lines by Kaḍiyalūr Uruttiraṅkaṇṇaṉār. It contains gorgeous descriptions of the land of the Kāvēri and of Kāvirip-pūmpaṭṭiṉam in particular, and mentions incidentally some occurrences of the life and rule of Karikāla, here called Tirumāvaḷavaṉ (l. 299). In a vivid passage replete with striking similes (ll. 220-8) the poet tells us how Karikāla in his youth was imprisoned by his enemies and effected his escape after a tough fight with the guards of his prison and thereby made himself master of the kingdom. Besides giving a vague general account of Karikāla’s prowess in war and the devastation of enemy countries that was a marked feature of his work as conqueror, the poet tells us that among those subjugated by Karikāla were the many Oḷiyar, the ancient Aruvāḷar, the Northerners and the Westerners and the Pāṇḍya; while the petty chieftains of the shepherd class and of the line of Iruṅgōvēḷ were stamped out by him. He is believed to have given up Uraiyūr and shifted his capital elsewhere, though he took care to renew and fortify that city afresh (ll. 285-8).