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Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s25.t2: 4.22.2 Music and dance

Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s25.t2

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4.22.2 Music and dance

c23.s25.t2.1

An inscription at Arachalur (No. *85*, ca. 4th century A.D.) refers to the composing of musical notations by Tēvaṉ Cāttaṉ. The adjoining inscriptions (Nos. *86* & *87*) provide two charts consisting of the syllables *ta*, *tā*, *tē* and *tai* (No. *86*) and *kai*, *ta* and *tai* (No. *87*) arranged symmetrically in a square format, each with five rows and columns. The charts appear to contain syllables uttered in music accompanying dance.

c23.s25.t2.2

The Arachalur musical inscriptions are the earliest epigraphic records of the achievements of ancient Tamils in the fine arts of music and dance. These inscriptions are much earlier than their famous counterparts at Kudumiyamalai and nearby sites.³ The Arachalur inscriptions are also earlier than *Cilappatikāram* (ca. 6th century A.D.) which contains detailed descriptions (amplified in the commentary by Aṭiyārkkunallār) of music and dance in ancient Tamil country.

c23.s25.t2.3

³ *Pallava Inscrs.* Nos. 22, 23, 25, 30 and 31, ca. 7th century A.D. The ascription of these musical inscriptions to Mahendra Pallava has been questioned in recent years.

Linked texts (1)