Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s7.t7: 4.6.7 Superintendent of pearls
Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s7.t7
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4.6.7 Superintendent of pearls
c23.s7.t7.1
In an inscription at Mangulam (No. *3*, ca. 2nd century B.C.), the *kāviti* of the merchant guild of veḷ-aṟai (Veḷḷaṟai) is described as *kāḷitika-* (read *kāḷatika-*). The expression is interpreted as 'superintendent of pearls' from *kāḷ* 'pearl' and *(a)tikaṉ* 'superintendent'. He was presumably a minister or high official (as indicated by his title *kāviti*) entrusted with the responsibility of superintending pearl fisheries.
c23.s7.t7.2
Pearls from the Pāṇṭiya kingdom were famous from ancient times and are mentioned in the *Rāmāyaṇa*,⁴ *Arthaśāstra*⁵ and also in the *Periplus*.⁶ The Mangulam inscription provides evidence of state control over pearl-fishery and trade even from this early date. An inscription from Kilavalavu (No. *10*, ca. 2nd century B.C.) refers to Toṇṭi, the Pāṇṭiya port on the east coast, which was involved in pearl fishery and trade from early times.
c23.s7.t7.3
⁴ *Rāmāyaṇa*, Kish. Kāṇḍa, 41: 19 (MLJ edition, Madras 1958).
c23.s7.t7.4
⁵ *Arthaśāstra*, ii: 11. See summary in K.A. Nilakanta Sastri 1955 (4th edn. 1975): p. 84.
c23.s7.t7.5
⁶ The *Periplus*: paragraph 56 (in K.A. Nilakanta Sastri 1939, revised edn. 2001: pp. 57-58).
Linked texts (2)
- Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit
- Vālmīkirāmāyaṇa — Vālmīki, Sanskrit