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fought at Talaiyalankanam the Pandya king Nedunjeliyan defeated the combined forces of these seven chiefs, namely, the Chera, the Chola, Tidiyan, Elini, Irungovenman, Porunan and Erumaiyuran (he of Mahishapura) Verse 253 of the same poet states that Erumaiyuran was related to the Badagas In another old Tamil work called Silappadıkaram it is stated that the Chera king Seng ittuvan of about the 2nd century A. D, while on an expedition to the north, stayed On the Nilgiris and witnessed with great pleasure the dance of the Kannadıgas These facts testify to the antiquity of the Mysore country.
Varahamihira, who flourished in the 5th century, mentions the Karnataka country in his Brihatsamhita The poet Rajasekhara, who lived in about A D 900, refers in his Kavyaminam sa to the mannerisms of the Kannadigas in reading their books
Greatness of the Kannada Country.
The Kannada country was the abode of every comfort and possessed all the marks of a high state of civilisation. It was adorned by virtuous kings, distinguished scholars, able statesmen, celebrated divines, brave warriors, pious devotees famous merchants, shilful artists an loyal servants. It is described in glowing terms by many poets and chroniclers: These descriptions are not mere poetical fancies, they are amply borne out by the accounts fuinished to us by foreign writers
KINGS -The Kannada country was ruled over by such renowned kings as tripulisha, Nripatunga, Tailapa, Tribhuvanamalla, Vishnuvardhana, Vira-Ballala, Bukka, Harihara, Krishna-Deva-Raya, Rajanripa, KanthiravaNarasa-Raja, and Chikk-Deva-Raja. Distingilished for their valour, justice, liberality and appreciation of merit, they have left behind a name which is even now cherished and honored in niany parts of the country. Though professing a faith differing from those of their subjects, they treated the
