Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s24: 4.21 Flora and fauna

Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s24

Language: English

c23.s24.t1 4.21.1 Flora — 10 parts
c23.s24.t2 4.21.2 Fauna — 6 parts

4.21 Flora and fauna

c23.s24.1

There are no direct references to flora or fauna in these inscriptions except for *kōḷi* 'cock' (Nos. *112 & 113*); however, villages have been named after the local flora or fauna.

4.21.1 Flora

c23.s24.t1.2

The place name *kumuḷ-ūr* (*kumuḻūr*) occurs in the inscription at Sittannavasal-A (No. *49*, ca. 1st century B.C.). Cf. Ta. *kumiḻ*, Ka. *kumuḷe* 'comb teak tree'.

The place name *parampaṉ-kōkūr* occurs in the inscription at Ammankoyilpatti (No. *84*, 4th century A.D.). *kōkūr* may be construed as *kōku*+*ūr*, literally 'the village of *kō(ṅ)ku*'. Cf. *kōṅku* 'common caung, ironwood tree of Malabar'.

c23.s24.t1.5

(iii) A flowering tree (*mayil koṉṟai*)

c23.s24.t1.6

The place name *nāḷaḷ* (read *ñāḻal*) occurs in the inscription at Kudumiyamalai (No. *77*, ca. 3rd century A.D.). Cf. *ñāḻal* / *nāḻal*, a flowering tree called *pulinaka-k-koṉṟai* or *mayil koṉṟai* in modern Tamil. There are literary and inscriptional references to several places in the Tamil country named after *ñāḻal* in ancient times.

c23.s24.t1.7

(iv) Paddy

c23.s24.t1.8

An inscription at Varichiyur (No. *16*, ca. 2nd century B.C.) refers to *nūṟu kala nel* 'hundred kalams of paddy'. A place name *nelveḷi*, literally 'paddy field' occurs in another inscription at Arittapatti (No. *7*, ca. 2nd century B.C.).

c23.s24.t1.9

(v) Palm tree

c23.s24.t1.10

The place name *paṉai tuṟai* occurs in the inscription at Aiyarmalai (No. *50*, ca. 1st century B.C.). The tree-like symbol engraved at the end of the Cēra inscription at Edakal-A (No. *80*, ca. 3rd century A.D.) probably depicts the palm, the insignia of the Cēra dynasty.

4.21.2 Fauna

c23.s24.t2.1

(i) Elephant

c23.s24.t2.2

In the Anaimalai inscription (No. *60*, ca. 2nd century A.D.), the hill on which the cave shelter is situated, is described as *iva-kuṉṟa*-, literally, 'elephant hill'; cf. LT *ipam* 'elephant' (<Skt. *ibha*).

c23.s24.t2.3

(ii) Tiger

c23.s24.t2.4

The place name *palpuli*, literally '(place of) many tigers' occurs in the Early Vaṭṭeḻuttu inscription at Edakal-B (No. *118*, ca. 5th century A.D.).

c23.s24.t2.5

(iii) Cock

c23.s24.t2.6

The Early Vaṭṭeluttu inscriptions at Arasalapuram (No. *112*, ca. 5th century A.D.) and Indalur (No. *113*, ca.6th century A.D.) are memorial stones for cocks which presumably died while fighting for their villages. The stelae depict the figures of the bird described as *kōḻi* 'fowl in general', but 'cock' in the context of the inscriptions.