the sangam literature "paṭṭiṉappālai", mentions "eelattu-unavu" (food from eelam). one of the prominent sangam tamil poets is known as eelattu poothanthevanar meaning poothan-thevan (proper name) hailing from "eelam". (akanaṉūṟu: 88, 231, 307; kuṟuntokai: 189, 360, 343; naṟṟiṇai: 88, 366). the tamil inscriptions from the pallava & chola period dating from 9th century ce link the word with toddy, toddy tapper's quarters ("eelat-cheri"), tax on toddy tapping ("eelap-poodchi"), a class of toddy tappers ("eelath-chanran"). eelavar is a caste of toddy tappers found in the southern parts of kerala. "eela-kaasu" and "eela-karung-kaasu" are refers to coinages found in the chola inscriptions of parantaka i. the tamil lexicons "thivaakaram, pingkalam and choodaamani", dating from c. 8th century ce, equate the word with the sinhala language and with gold.