Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s6.t4.3

c23.s6.t4.3

The coin-legend has been read as *atiṇṇaṉ etir=āṉa cēntaṉ* and translated as 'Cēntaṉ, the successor of Atiṇṇaṉ'.² The phrase *etir āṉa* does not occur in this sense elsewhere, but the interpretation is plausible, as it is based on a comparison with a similar usage *etirāṉa* 'succeeding' (year) occurring in the Pāṇṭiya inscriptions. However, as it is unlikely that a successor would issue a coin in his name when the predecessor was still alive, the expression may be read as *etirāṉ* and given the wider meaning 'descendant' (< *etir* 'to come to pass in future'; *TL*). It is perhaps in this sense that *etiraṉ* occurs as part of a personal name in *vēṭkōvaṉ etiraṉ cāttaṉ* (alias) *nāṉūṟṟuva-p-peruṅkō vēḷāṉ*.³ Perhaps Atiṇṇaṉ was an illustrious forbear from whom Cēntaṉ wished to trace his lineage. The name Atiṇṇaṉ is not attested in literary works, but may be compared with Atiṉaṉ occurring as a personal name in the Tamil-Brāhmī cave inscription at Arittapatti (No. 7, ca. 2nd century B.C.).