Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s13.9

c23.s13.9

The Plates record the grant of land to Vajranandi, a senior Jaina monk at Amaṇcērkkai in Parutti-k-kuṉṟil (modern Tirupparuttikkunram known in the past as Jina Kāñci near Kanchipuram).² The grant was issued in the sixth regnal year (*ca.* 546 A.D.) of Simhavarman. Vajranandi is described in the Sanskrit portion of the Plates as a *gaṇī* (cf. *kaṇi* in the Mangulam and Alagarmalai cave inscriptions) translated as *kuravar* (< Skt. *guravaḥ*) in the Tamil portion. The inscription contains the earliest reference to *paḷḷiccantam*, grant of tax-free land to Jaina monasteries (*paḷḷi*). However, the Paḷḷaṉkōvil Plates are palaeographically late and appear to be a copy made towards the end of the 7th century A.D. of the earlier original.³