Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s23.t6.2

c23.s23.t6.2

A noteworthy feature of the place names is the occurrence of common toponyms based on local geographical features like hill (*-aṟai*, *-kuṉṟu*, *-malai*), jungle (*-kāṭu*), territorial division (*-nāṭu*), river (*yāṟu*), tanks (*ēri*, *poykai*), waterfront (*-tuṟai*). Village names are also derived from local flora and fauna; these names are given in the following section. Directions like *mēl-* (western), *kīḻ-* (eastern) and *teṉku-* (southern) are prefixed to place names to distinguish them from other places with the same names.