of the audience.⁴ One of first virtues preached and practised by them was charity. “Those who give food give life indeed” was a common saying among them. A life of self-control and wisdom and universal charity was declared to be the highest happiness of man. Buddhist monks were very numerous in the Tamil country, as may be inferred from the statement that there were a thousand monks attached to the seven Vihâras at Kavirip-paddinam alone. The Buddhists did not observe the distinctions of caste, and invited all ranks to assemble on a footing of equality.

One of the greatest facts of ancient Tamil society was religious toleration, the spirit of free enquiry, or the liberty of the human understanding. The monarchs themselves of every sect to the public halls, and allowed them to preach their doctrines during festivals and other occasions of public gathering. They protected impartially the temples and monstries of all sects; and althought they might have personally inclined to believe in the doctrines of a particular sect and built and endowed places of worship for that sect, they cautiously avioded interfering with the rites and ceremonies of rival faiths. This religious liberty had a great and salutary influence upon the intellectual and moral development of the Tamils. By softening feelings and manners, Buddhism also powerfully contributed to the amelioration of the social state. The Nigranta and Buddhists aimed at a high ideal of morality. Justice, humanity, charity to all living beings and love of truch were the virtues which they taught by precept and example. These two religions necessarily exercised a very considerable influence upon moral and intellectual order, and upon public idea and sentiments.

VI. Superstitions

P.T. SRINIVASA AIYANGAR in his History of the Tamils from the Earliest Times to 600 A.D. has gathered together references to some of the supersititons in the classical period. The reading is from pages 273 to 275.

NOW FOR A FEW supersitions which prevailed among the people As now, so in those old days, the crow announced by its cries that a guest was coming to the house. “The sweet food made from the white rice grown all round Toṇḍi, mixed with the ghi given by the

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⁴ Ibid., X. 11 to 14.