Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c21.s4.t2.1

c21.s4.t2.1

***ḻ*: The letter *ḻ* was first identified in the cave inscription at Tirupparankunram.**⁶ Krishna Sastri commented that "one can venture to say that it is somewhat like the modern Tamil letter *ḻa*".⁷ However, he did not venture far enough and finally opted to read it as *jaṁ* on the basis of its "very slight" similarity to the Asokan *j* at Khalsi.¹ Subrahmanya Aiyer identified the letter as *l* on the basis of its remarkable resemblance to the modern Tamil form.² As he pointed out, its significance would not have been missed but for its association with Brāhmī. The identification suited the context as it produced a recognisable Tamil word (*īla-*). The correctness of the identification has been amply confirmed by later discoveries of the letter in appropriate linguistic context in stone and pottery inscriptions.