[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Archaeology, epigraphy and coins](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy) › [Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003) › c22.s3.t3 # Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c22.s3.t3: 3.3.3 Vocabulary Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c22.s3.t3 - **Language:** English ### 3.3.3 Vocabulary ### [c22.s3.t3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.1) The IA loanwords in the Tamil-Brāhmī inscriptions are all nouns.⁵ Apart from personal names, the vocabulary comprises mostly religious or cultural terms. Some of the more interesting items are briefly noticed below. ### [c22.s3.t3.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.2) ⁵ See the Indexes in Appendices V and VI for word lists and the Commentary on the entries for discussion. ### [c22.s3.t3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.3) (i) \*Religious terms\* ### [c22.s3.t3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.4) Religious terms especially associated with the Jaina religion are discussed in the sections on Jainism.⁶ The following are some of the other religious terms common to Indian religious tradition. ### [c22.s3.t3.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.5) ⁶ See sections 4.8 to 4.13. ### [c22.s3.t3.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.6) \*atiṭṭāṉam\* (Pkt. \*adhiṭṭhāna\*): lit., 'permanent fixed abode' of the itinerant monk who stayed in the cave during the rainy season. The term occurs in the Tamil-Brāhmī inscriptions in the special sense of 'stone beds' carved on the floor of the cave for the use of the monks. ### [c22.s3.t3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.7) \*tāṇa\* (Pkt. \*dāna(ṁ)\* 'religious gift'). ### [c22.s3.t3.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.8) \*dhammam\* / \*dhamam\* (Pkt. \*dhamma\*) 'charity, religious endowment'. ### [c22.s3.t3.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.9) (ii) \*Cultural terms\* ### [c22.s3.t3.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.10) These comprise mostly titles and names of some professions: ### [c22.s3.t3.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.11) \*kaṇatikaṉ\* 'chief of scribes'; cf. Sinh. Pkt. \*kaṇa\* 'scribe', Pkt. \*adhika\* 'superintendent'. ### [c22.s3.t3.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.12) \*kaṇaka\* (Pkt. \*gaṇaka\*) 'accountant'. ### [c22.s3.t3.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.13) \*kāviti\* 'an ancient title bestowed on Vaiśyas and court officials'. cf. Sinh. Pkt. \*gapati\* / \*gapiti\* \< Pkt. \*gahapati\* \< Skt. \*gṛhapati\*, lit., 'householder', a title of merchant classes and landed gentry. ### [c22.s3.t3.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.14) \*kuṭumpikaṉ\* (Pkt. \*kuṭumbika\*) 'householder, husbandman'. ### [c22.s3.t3.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.15) \*ta(c)caṉ\* (Pkt. \*taccha\*) 'carpenter'. The term occurs in the Tamil-Brāhmī inscriptions with the meanings 'carpenter, stonemason'.¹ ### [c22.s3.t3.16](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.16) ¹ However, see Commentary (73.8) for possible alternative Dravidian etymology. ### [c22.s3.t3.17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.17) \*māraya-\* (read \*mārāya\*) 'an ancient title', probably from Pkt. \*mahārāya\*. ### [c22.s3.t3.18](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.18) \*vaṇikaṉ\* / \*vāṇikaṉ\* (Pkt. \*vaṇija\* / \*vāṇija\* \< Skt. \*vaṇik\*) 'trader'. ### [c22.s3.t3.19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.19) \*siri\* (Pkt. \*siri\* \< Skt \*śrī\* ) 'an auspicious affix to personal names'. ### [c22.s3.t3.20](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.20) (iii) \*Miscellaneous loanwords from Prakrit\* ### [c22.s3.t3.21](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.21) Selected examples are listed below. ### [c22.s3.t3.22](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.22) \*āci\* (Pkt. \*āsi\*) 'support, prop'. cf. Ta. \*ācu\* 'support'. The inscriptional context indicates the meaning of a wooden 'support' for a canopy in front of the cave. ### [c22.s3.t3.23](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.23) \*kaṭikai\* (cf. Skt. \*ghaṭikā\*) 'an assembly of learned persons or institution of higher learning or the place of such assembly or institution'. ### [c22.s3.t3.24](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.24) \*nikama-\* (Pkt. \*nigama\*) 'merchant guild'. ### [c22.s3.t3.25](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.25) \*pāṇita-\* (Pkt. \*phāṇita\*) 'juice of sugar cane, candy, molasses'. ### [c22.s3.t3.26](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3.26) \*sālakaṉ\* (Pkt. \*sālaka\*) 'brother-in-law', but occurs in the Tamil- Brāhmī inscription with the meaning 'sister-in-law's husband' as indicated by the context (cf. Ta. \*cālakaṉ\*). --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c22.s3.t3) · Pramāṇa