somewhat implies derogation or depreciation, it seems improper to use it in this context. The Dravidian languages constitute a separate group by themselves, maintaining their independence and bearing relationship to almost all other families of languages in various degrees. It is true, that the particulars in which they seem to accord with most of the Scythian languages are numerous, distinctive, and of so essential a nature, that they appear to amount to a family likeness, and therefore to suggest the idea of a common descent. But at the same time, it is also true, that the particulars in which they accord with the languages of the Indo-European family are not only numerous, but remarkable, equally suggesting the idea of a common descent. Hence, it is proper to say that the Dravidian languages occupy a position of their own between the Indo-European and the Scythian families of languages. Dr.Caldwell also says, “Whilst I regard the grammatical structure and prevailing characteristic of the Dravidian idioms as in the main Scythian, I claim for them also, and have always claimed, as will be seen further on, the possession of certain remarkable affinities to the Indo-European family.” The relationship between Tamil and the families of languages other than Indo-European and Scythian is not remarkable or considerable and worth mentioning here.

     All the western philologists, including Dr. Caldwell, had an indelible wrong notion in their minds, that the Tamilians were immigrants from the Mediterranean region and that they were indebted to the Aryans for all the higher arts of life. This strong prejudice effectively stood in their way of understanding the true meaning and origin of all the important words connected with the civilization and culture of the ancient Tamilians.

     It is true that Arjuna, one of the five Pandava brothers, married a daughter of the contemporary Pandiyan king in the course of his many wanderings. But this alliance does not warrant the derivation of the name Pandiyan from Pƒ-du, the name of the father of the Pandavas, as all the three Tamilian dynasties with