The Bhikṣuṇī Maṇimēkhalai

80 - The Historical Materials
clearly meant in the actual description of the battle that is given in
this work.
Where could we possibly locate this Kāriyāṟu? Kāri at the time seems
ṣṇa,
ṣṇa is nowadays was Kāri then in the
Tamil country. Of course, it takes other forms more dialectical and
popular. The Malayamān chieftain was called Kāri, as was stated
already, and Kāriyāṟu is open to the interpretation that it was a river
which was a feature of the territory of the chieftain Kāri. It does not
happen to be so in this context however. The Editor of the work with
his usual learning and circumspection, has quoted a verse from the
Periyapurāṇam in connection with the life of Tirunāvukkaraśu or
Appar. Describing his visit to the holy places of the Śaivas, he is said
to have visited the shrine which is named Tiru-Kārikkarai. Omitting
the complimentary expletive at the beginning, the name would stand
Kārikkarai, the bank of the Kāri river, which may either be the river
by name Kāri or by translation black river.
Appar is said to have visited Tiruvālangāḍu near Arkonam, passed
from there to Tripāśur and then after a prolonged journey, crossing
hills and rivers, he arrived at Tiru-Kārikkarai, worshipped Śiva there,
and at the next stage of his march reached Kāḷahasti. This
eleventh-twelfth century work, the Periyapurāṇam, clearly marks out
for us the [46] itinerary of Appar in the seventh century. Whether
Appar actually did the journey or no, the eleventh century conviction
of the Śaivas was that Appar did visit these shrines, and in all
probability visited them in that order. The passage is certainly very
good authority for the eleventh century geography of this tract, and
may not be altogether fictitious in regard to the seventh century when