been regarded as even quasi-canonical, but the Dravidian Hindus produced two large collections of sacred works, one śivaite the other Vishnuite, which in popular esteem rival the sanctity of the Vedas. Both consist of hymns, attributed to a succession of saints and still sung in the temple worship, and in both sects the saints are followed by a series of teachers and philosophers.

IV. Elements of Philosophy

The extent to which philosophical, speculation was popular among the Tamils of the early period is not known. From existing literature it is argued that they were more realistic than speculative. Swami VIPULANANDA advances this theory in an article published in the Journal of the Annamalai University and republished in Tamil Culture, Vol. V, 1959. The article is entitled "The Development of Tamilian Religious Thought". The reading is from pages 254 to 259.

THESE ANTHOLOGIES OPEN up an entirely new world, entering into which one meets with a god-like race of men and women, strong in physique, possessed of a keen intellect, proud, valiant, active and energetic. They appear to have given little or no thought to metaphysical speculations. Life in those remote times was strenuous and the hero, who won renown by steady perseverance and indomitable courage, either in the battle-field or in the more peaceful avocations of life, was held up as the ideal to be followed. He, whose valour was sung by bards here on earth, was sure of mounting the celestial car, which carried the soul in its ascent to the abode of the Immortals. This earliest epoch in the civilisation of the Tamils is the age in which Heroism was exalted to the position of a religion. The acquisition of fame was held up as the motive for virtuous action and the performance of strenuous deeds of valour.

The War-God Muruga, ruddy-complexioned, resembling the sun at dawn, was worshipped from the earliest times as the ideal of unfailing Achievement His mother, the great Goddess, whom the Tamilian soldiers invoked in the field of battle was known as Korravai, the Victorious One. Even in those early days, there were philosophers, Arivar, who by years of mental discipline had attained intuitive insight into the past, the present and the future; and there were also anchorites, Thapathar who performed severe austerities; the Arivar and the Thapathar having the attainment of Truth as the sole aim of life worshipped Shiva, the unborn, the embodiment of Truth. To those who shrank from the path of Truth, the God of