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# 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

## Contents

- [c23.s24.t1 4.21.1 Flora](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c23.s24.t1) — 10 parts
- [c23.s24.t2 4.21.2 Fauna](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c23.s24.t2) — 6 parts

### 4.21 Flora and fauna

### [c23.s24.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.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.t1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c23.s24.t1.1)

(i) Comb teak tree

### [c23.s24.t1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.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'.

### [c23.s24.t1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c23.s24.t1.3)

(ii) Ironwood tree

### [c23.s24.t1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c23.s24.t1.4)

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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c23.s24.t1.5)

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

### [c23.s24.t1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c23.s24.t1.7)

(iv) Paddy

### [c23.s24.t1.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c23.s24.t1.9)

(v) Palm tree

### [c23.s24.t1.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c23.s24.t2.1)

(i) Elephant

### [c23.s24.t2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c23.s24.t2.3)

(ii) Tiger

### [c23.s24.t2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.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](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c23.s24.t2.5)

(iii) Cock

### [c23.s24.t2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.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.

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Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c23.s24](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c23.s24) · Pramāṇa