(that is, Vishnu). The Pandyan kings were generally staunch Shaivites: the only king described as a parama-vaishnava (Great Vaishnavite) in the Pandyan inscriptions was Jatila Parantaka (r. c. 765-815), who was also known as Netun-jataiyan. His successor Shrimara Shrivallabha (r. c. 815-862) was known as Netumaran, although he is not known to be a Vaishnavite. Either of these kings can be identified as the Netumaran mentioned by Periyalvar. Thus, Periyalvar can be placed in the first half of the 9th century.