Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c20.s8.t2: 1.8.2 Jaina nicītikai inscriptions
Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c20.s8.t2
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1.8.2 Jaina nicītikai inscriptions
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(i) *Tirunatharkunru
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An inscription in the Early Vaṭṭeḻuttu script was discovered by the ASI in 1904 on the bare summit of a rocky outcrop (Fig. 1.16) at Tirunatharkunru near Senji (Gingee) in Viluppuram District.² The text and translation with an eye copy of the inscription were published by Gopinatha Rao in 1908.³ The inscription is an epitaph commemorating the death of Cantirananti, a Jaina monk, after 57 days of fasting.⁴
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² *ARE* 239/1904.
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³ *TAS*. I, 1908 (1988 reprint): p. 339.
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⁴ See No. *116*. See also Fig. 8.51 (tracing) and Pl. 50 (estampage).
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The *nicītikai*⁵ inscription at Tirunatharkunru is an important discovery for several reasons. It is the first of the Early Vaṭṭeḻuttu inscriptions discovered in Tamil Nadu. It is also the first discovery of a Vaṭṭeḻuttu inscription from the northern region (forming part of the Pallava territories). It is a Jaina record of a type altogether different from the earlier cave inscriptions in the Tamil-Brāhmī script, but closely resembling similar Old Kannada inscriptions in Karnataka.
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⁵ The expression *nicītikai* is interpreted in this study as a 'seat of penance'. See Commentary on Nos. *115* & *116*.
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It is interesting that though Gopinatha Rao could read and interpret the text, he considered that the inscription was in the 'Tamil script',⁶ probably because no Vaṭṭeḻuttu inscription was then known outside the Pāṇṭiya and Cēra territories. Later, Subramanian identified the script as Vaṭṭeḻuttu and inferred that this script was once in use all over the Tamil country.⁷ He assigned the inscription tentatively to ca. 300 A.D., later modifying the date as ca. 400 A.D.⁸ On the basis of comparison with several Early Vaṭṭeḻuttu inscriptions discovered later, the Tirunatharkunru inscription is now placed in the 6th century A.D.⁹
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⁶ *TAS*. I, 1908 (1988 reprint): pp. 299-316.
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⁷ T.N. Subramanian 1938 (1996 reprint): p. 84.
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⁸ T. N. Subramanian 1957: p. 1555.
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⁹ See section 5.19 (Vaṭṭeḻuttu) and Palaeographic Charts 4, 6 and 8 in Chapter 5.
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(ii) *Paraiyanpattu
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An Early Vaṭṭeḻuttu inscription in five lines is engraved deeply in bold characters on the bare summit of a rocky outcrop at Paraiyanpattu¹⁰ (near Avalurpet, Senji Taluk, Viluppuram District). It is a Jaina epitaph of the same type as the one found earlier at Tirunatharkunru. The inscription may be assigned to ca. 6th century A.D. from palaeographic evidence. It records the death by religious fasting (*ārātaṇi*) of a disciple of Vaccaṇanti Ācāriyar of Pāṇāṭu.
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¹⁰ *ARE* B 355/1984-85 = No. *115*. See also Fig. 8.50 (tracing) and Pl. 49 (estampage). The inscription was discovered by Pulavar S. Kuppuswamy.