Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c21.s2.6

c21.s2.6

The writing on the first bed seems to be *anatai ariyā*. If my reading be correct, one would be tempted to take *anatai*, which occurs also in three other beds, as derivative of the Vedic root *an* 'to live'. If this be the correct derivation of *anatai*, it might mean *living*. The second word in the first bed is *ariyā* which is, perhaps, meant for *ariyānā* 'of the (Buddhist) saints' (?).³