A CATALOGUE OF BOOKS IN THE TAMIL LANGUAGE, WITH THE NAMES OF THE AUTHORS, THE SUBJECTS, AND THE DATES, AS FAR AS THEY CAN BE ASCERTAINED.

BY SIMON CASIE CHETTY, ESQ., C.M.R.A.S.

(Read June 3, 1848, and February 24, 1849.)

SECTION 1.-PHILOLOGY.

1. Akattiyam.

A GRAMMAR, so called from Akattiyan or Agastiya, the reputed inventor of the Tamil Language. Who the author of this work was is not certain ; some regard it as the genuine composition of Agastya himself, whilst others maintain that it was written by another person under his name, long after his time. It is, however, not the less esteemed among the literati of the south of India, and is generally consulted by them as a standard work.

2. Tolkáppiyam.

Another grammar, the oldest now in existence. It is divided into three parts, comprising 1,276 sutras, or aphorisms, in verse; but it is written in so abstruse and difficult a style that few can understand it. The author is called from the title of his work Tolkáppiyan, but his real name was Tiranatúmákkini, and he is said to have lived at Tolkáppiyakkuḍi, a village situated to the south of Madura. A tradition states that he was a disciple of Agastya, and having quarrelled with him composed the present work, with a view of supplanting the one written by his master.

3. Nannúl.

Another Grammar, written by a Jaina ascetic, named Pavananti, and inscribed to the king Chéyakankan, who is conjectured to have reigned at Madura about 800 years ago. The author had proposed to treat of his subject under five different heads, viz., Letters, Words, Composition, Versification, and Embellishment; but having died before he had completed his design, the work comprises only the first two heads.

4. Virasóliyam.

Another Grammar, so called from Virasóliyan, by whom it was written. It chiefly treats of Orthography and Etymology, as also of the rules of Versification, and is probably of the same date as the preceding work.

5. Néminátam.

A treatise on Orthography and Etymology: by Kuṇavira Panditan.

6. Kárikai.

A treatise on Versification, by a Jaina ascetic, named Amirtasákaran, or "the sea of Nectar," who flourished some time after Pavananti. This work is, however, considered very obscure, in a great measure to the studied brevity of the style employed hence the proverb " Better live by beating the Périkai (kettle drum) than by writing verses by studying the Kárikai.”

Two different treatises on Rhetoric: one by Tandi A'siriyan and the other by Máran.

9. Iraiyanár Akapporul.

A treatise on the choice of subjects for amatory poems, consisting of a series of rules and examples, written by

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Iraiyanár, the head professor of the ancient Tamil University at Madura. The title Trai, or Traiyanár, being also applicable to Siva, his votaries believe it to have been revealed by him directly to the University.

10. Nampi Akapporul.

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A treatise on the Composition of Amatory Poems by Nárkavirácha Nampi.

11. Purapporul.

A treatise on the Composition of War-chants or Moral Verses.

12. Kuvalayáṇantam.

A treatise on Grammar and Rhetoric.

13. Yapparunkalam.

14. Chankayappu.

Two different treatises on Prosody and Versification: by two different authors.

Different treatises by different authors, containing rules

for the construction of various kinds of poems.

21. Panchalakkana Pirayókappayan.

A treatise on Grammar in all its parts, consisting of a series of 1,000 verses, written by Kallaren.

22. Chitampara Páḍdiyal.

23. Champanta Páḍdiyal.

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Three different treatises by three different authors, each consisting of a centum of stanzas on the powers of the first letter with which a poem commences, and the right selection of the same.

25. Poruttaviyal.

A treatise on the subject of Invocation, &c., at the beginning of a poem.

26. Ilakkana Vilakkam.

An exposition of the true rules of Grammar, with strictures on the Nannúl: by Vaitiyanáta Paṇḍáram.

27. Ilakkana Vilakka Chúrávali.

A counter-blast to the preceding work, and scholium for the elucidation of obscure passages in the Nannúl: by Chivañána Tampirán.

28. Ilakkana Kottu.

A collection of rules on the declensions of Nouns and conjugations of Verbs: by Chuvámináta Tampírán.

29. Ilakkana Tiraḍḍu.

A compendium of the grammatical aphorisms of Pavananti.

30. Nannul Chúttira Virutti.

An exposition of the rules of Grammar according to the Nannúl: by Chivañána Tampirán.

31. Nannúl Virutti Urai.

An explanation of the text of the Nannúl, written by Chankara Namachchiváyar, a poet of Tirunelvéli, at the request of Marutappa Tévan, Poligar of U'ṭṭumálai, about 1770 A.D.

32. Nannúl Kándikai Urai.

Another explanation of the text of the Nannúl: by Vichákapperumál Aiyar, of Tiruttanikai, near Madras.

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33. Tolkáppiya Chúttira Virutti.

An exposition of the rules of Grammar according to the Tolkáppiyam.

34. Aniyiyal Vilakkam.

Illustrations of the rules of Poetry and Rhetoric: by Charavanapperumál Aiyar, of Madras.

35. Iyaṭṭamil Churukkam.

A compendium of the rules of Grammar with regard to compositions in prose Tamil: by the same author as the last.

36. Ilakkana Vináviḍai.

An explanation of Grammar by means of questions and answers in prose: by Tánḍavaraya Mutaliyár, Madras, 1828.

37. Ilakkanachchurukka Viņáviḍai.

Another explanation, like the preceding: by Vichákapperumál Aiyar, of Madras, 1828.

38. Uraiyari Nannúl.

An exposition of the Nannúl, written in the A'chiriya metre: by A'ndi Pulavar, of Uṭṭankál.

A vocabulary ascribed to a Chaiva ascetic, named Kánkéyan, the date of whose existence is, however, involved in obscurity. Like all other ancient Tamil compositions this work is written in verse, and the author has divided it into ten chapters, the first of which treats of the deities; the second of man; the third of beasts and birds; the fourth of plants; the fifth, sixth, and seventh of metals and minerals and of various other objects; the eighth and ninth of words expressing qualities and actions; and the tenth of words of different significations. It is chiefly designed for the use of schools, and as such is held in general esteem.