Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s4.t3.1

c23.s4.t3.1

The Edakal inscriptions (Nos. **80** & **82**, ca. 3rd century A.D.) in Kerala are the only records of the Cēras of the Caṅkam Age found so far in the western region of ancient Tamil country. Unlike the Irumpoṟai inscriptions at Pugalur, those at Edakal are very brief and mention only the names of the Cēra kings. Inscriptional and literary evidence points to the existence of two branches of the Cēra dynasty, one on the west coast and the other ruling from Karur. The mention of the name *cēra* and the absence of the name *irumpoṟai* in the Edakal records would appear to indicate that they refer to the Cēra line ruling from the west coast.