• Tamil

The name of a people (Tamils) whose home was in South India. The Ceylon Chronicles (Mhv., Cv., and Dpv. , passim) contain records of invasions of Ceylon by the Tamils, the most noteworthy being that which was repelled by Dutthagāmani. The Tamil leader on that occasion was Elāra. Other Tamils mentioned by name in the Mahāvamsa are Sena, Gutta, Pulahattha, Vatuka and Niliya. Large numbers of Tamils settled in Ceylon, chiefly in the north and east of the Island and, in due course, gained possession of that part of the country. They were employed as mercenary soldiers by some of the Sinhalese kings and many were brought as captives (E.g., Cv.lxx.230; lxxv.20, 69; lxxviii.76, etc.). The Tamil bhāsā is mentioned among the eighteen non-Aryan languages (E.g., VibhA.388; it was full of consonants, AA.i.409). In the Akitti Jātaka (J.iv.238) the Tamilrattha is spoken of as including also the region round Kāvīrapattana, while in the Petavatthu Commentary (p.133) it is spoken of as part of Dakkhinapātha.