113992242-Dravidian-Settlements-in-Ceylon-and-the-Beginnings-of-the-Kingdom-of-Jaffna-By-Karthigesu-Indrapala-Complete-Phd-Thesis-University-of-London-1965

aside these arguments and shown that there is no reliable
evidence for the existence of an independent kingdom, ruled by
Tamile or others, in the Jaffna district during the period
preceding the fail of Po].onnaruva. It is not our intention,
therefore, to discuss these arguments here. But since these
theories have a direct bearing on our aubject, we shall briefly
outline them along with the counter-arguments before we proceed
on our inquiry.
C.Rasanayagam is the chief protagonist of the
theory of an independent ktndom having existed in the pre-
Christian centuries His argment that an independent kliigdom
of the Ngaa existed in Jaffna from the fifteenth century B.C.
is based on a reference in the Mhbhrata that Arjuna married
a princess of Maipura, a place beyond KalifLga. Rasanayagam has
identified Naipura with Jaffna, for the latter is sometimes
referred to in the Tamil works of the fourteenth century A.D.
2
as Maavai. He has argued that 'Maavai seems to be a contracted
poetical form of Maavr or Naipuram' and that, therefore,
Arjun.a married a ga princess from Jaffna Such an identification
403
1. C.Rasanayagaxn, . cit., p. 33 if.
2. Ccm., p. 80.
3 • C. Rae anayagam, . cit. ,
ft1 3 f 'f