The Chola and the Pandya dynasties suffer a temporary eclipse and the whole country passes throught a period of transition, at the end of which, we find that the North had achieved a cultural conquest even more pronounced than the political conquest. The very names of the Pandya and Chola kings become Sanskritized.

It was during this time, perhaps by the end of the third century or a little earlier, that the Yoga system of philosophy began to appear in Tamilakam. Tradition says that Patanjalai lived at Chidambaram and wrote his commentary on Panini’s grammar, a treatise on medicine, his immortal treatiese on Yoga and the Tantric rules for the worship of Nataraja. The sage is represented as a Naga and is considered as an incarnation of Sesha Naga. This seems to suggest that the theory and practice of Yoga were developed among the ancient Nagas, Patanjali’s name is coupled with that of Vyagrapada, another sage who is said to have arrived at chidambaram earlier. This sage is represented with eyes in his toes. Is he to be identified with Akshapada, the father of Nyaya Sastra? These two sages are said to be the first to witness the cosmic dance of Nataraja. The account may be symbolic of the fact that the supreme truth of the Shaiva religion can only be discerned by the combined eyes of Yoga and Nyaya. By saying so, we do not in the least deny, the historicity of the two sages mentioned above. The Agamic cult of worship, which probably existed as a secret cult from early times, was elaborated during this period. It was certainly enriched by the influx of Tantric thought from the North. The worship of Ganesha, the elephat headed God, whose form is that of the Pranava mantra is recognised in the Yoga system.

V. Janism and Buddhism

Jainism and Buddhism have had a very long and important history in the Tamil country. Some of the earlies Tamil insciptions, which beling to the pre-Christain era, are to be found in the caves in which jain and Buddhist monks lived. Three or four of the Cankam poets may have been Jains and Buddhists, judging by their names, The Epic of the Anklet, as has been noted is by a Jain, while the Man imekalai was composed by a Buddhist. V.KANAKASABHAI in his well know book The Tamils Eighteen Hundred Years Ago discusses Jain and Buddhist influence on Tamil Civilization Pages 232 and 233 of The Tamils Eighteen hundred years Ago, reprinted in Madras 1956 by South India Saiva Siddhanta works Publishing Socieity, first published in 1904.