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

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508<br />

If <strong>the</strong> Iryacakravart<strong>in</strong>s were Eatriyae, <strong>the</strong> author <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Tam(1<br />

work could not have aiade a mistake <strong>in</strong> caU<br />

1hia patron a Brhmia<br />

ruler. If <strong>the</strong> ryacakravartiu <strong>in</strong> whose time <strong>the</strong> Cekarca-ckara-<br />

.lai was composed were a Brh mia, his ancestors must also have<br />

been Brlhma4aa. They were probably Irya Brahma4as <strong>and</strong> hence<br />

<strong>the</strong> name riyar.<br />

We are, <strong>the</strong>refore, <strong>in</strong>cl<strong>in</strong>ed to believe that <strong>the</strong><br />

Iryacakravart<strong>in</strong>e were Brhmaas, probably L7a Brhm4as, who<br />

may have hailed from Gujart, as is cla(m.d by de ueyroz. We<br />

have seen that <strong>in</strong> Gujarit <strong>the</strong>re were at this time a people called<br />

The ancestors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Iryacakravart<strong>in</strong>s were probably<br />

from this co mmunity. As 4rya chiefta<strong>in</strong>s <strong>the</strong>y may have used <strong>the</strong><br />

title <strong>of</strong> iryacakravart<strong>in</strong>.<br />

How <strong>and</strong> when <strong>the</strong> Iryacakravart<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> South India<br />

became masters <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> k<strong>in</strong>gdom <strong>of</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn <strong>Ceylon</strong> is not clearly<br />

known, The Ti mI 1 chronicles state that <strong>the</strong> first 4ryacakravart<strong>in</strong><br />

was <strong>in</strong>vited by one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> nobles <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jaffna</strong>, called PIi Maavaa,<br />

to rule over <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn k<strong>in</strong>gdom, which was without a ruler for<br />

some time This is ra<strong>the</strong>r doubtful. It is unlikely that <strong>the</strong><br />

kizmen <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> previous rulers would haie kept quiet without<br />

1. See eupra, p.<br />

2. XI!• p. 25 ; !!. P . 7.

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