Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s7.t13: 4.6.13 Assembly of learned persons
Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s7.t13
- Language
- English
4.6.13 Assembly of learned persons
c23.s7.t13.1
An inscription at Mannarkoil (No. **88**, ca. 2nd century A.D.), mentions *kaṭikai* 'an assembly of learned persons or institution of higher learning; the place of such an assembly or institution'. The expression is derived from Skt. *ghaṭikā* 'assembly'.
c23.s7.t13.2
The most famous *ghaṭikā* in the Tamil country was the one at Kanchipuram, which flourished during the Pallava rule.¹ It seems to have come into existence even prior to the conquest of Kanchipuram by the Pallavas in the middle of the 3rd century A.D.² Similar *ghaṭikās*, though probably on a smaller scale, functioned in many other places in the Tamil country as indicated by literary and epigraphic evidence; for example, at Vēmpaṟṟūr (modern Veppattur in Thanjavur District)³ and Kavanur (in Chengalpattu District).⁴
c23.s7.t13.3
¹ C. Minakshi 1977 (revised edn.): pp. 223-232.
c23.s7.t13.4
² *Pallava Inscrs.* pp. xxx-xxxi.
c23.s7.t13.5
³ *ARE* 293/1908, Cōḻa, 11th cent. A.D.
c23.s7.t13.6
⁴ *ARE* 51/1933, Pāṇṭiya, ca. 13th cent. A.D.
c23.s7.t13.7
The Mannarkoil inscription dated on palaeographic evidence to the 2nd century A.D. is the earliest reference known so far to a *kaṭikai* functioning in the Tamil country and that too in the far south.⁵ The mention of *kaṭikai* in the inscription in a Jaina hermitage, and the donor of the *paḷḷi* being referred to as the son of the chief of the *kaṭikai*, would appear to indicate that the *kaṭikai* was associated with the local Jaina community and its composition and functions were probably different from those of the *ghaṭikās* of the Pallava period.
c23.s7.t13.8
⁵ See Commentary (88.3) for identification of the place name.