Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c22.s2.t4.1

c22.s2.t4.1

The present study has brought to light the hitherto unsuspected influence of Old Kannada on the Tamil-Brāhmī inscriptions from a period (ca. 2nd century B.C.-4th century A.D.) anterior to the earliest known Kannada inscriptions and literature. See especially No. **49** from Sittannavasal-A (ca. 1st century B.C.), No. **55** from Tirupparankunram (ca. 1st century A.D.), No. **79** from Edakal-A (ca. 3rd century A.D.) and No. **83** from Nekanurpatti (ca. 4th century A.D.). Some of the more interesting lexical items and grammatical usages showing the influence of Old Kannada are listed below.¹