Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s23.t3.4

c23.s23.t3.4

The Early Vaṭṭeḻuttu inscription at Paraiyanpattu (No. **115**, ca. 6th century A.D.) mentions an ancient territorial division called *pāṇāṭ(u)* which may be construed as *pāṇ* + *nāṭu* 'the *pāṇ* country'; *pāṇāṭu* is also mentioned in ancient Tamil literature.³ The territory is referred to as *pāṇa-rāṣhṭra* in the *Lōkavibhāga*, a Digambara Jaina work in Sanskrit, which also mentions the city of *pāṭalikā* in the territory.⁴ The city has been identified with modern Tiru-p-patiri-p-puliyur, a suburb of Cuddalore in South Arcot District; *pāṇāṭu* spread over parts of South and North Arcot Districts. The territory was known in later times as *perum-pāṇa-p-pāṭi* ruled over by the Bāṇa chieftains.