Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s7.t13.7

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.