Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s23.t1.4

c23.s23.t1.4

The expression *iḻa-kuṭumpikaṉ* at Tirupparankunram (No. **55**, ca. 1st century A.D.) has been connected with Īḻam, the Jaffna region of Sri Lanka. However, it is preferable to regard *īḻa-kuṭumpikaṉ* as a 'householder of the family of toddy-drawers (*īḻavar*)', as personal names in this inscription betray influence of Kannada pointing to Karnataka rather than Sri Lanka.¹