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Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s7.t9: 4.6.9 Title of ministers, palace officials or merchants

Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c23.s7.t9

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4.6.9 Title of ministers, palace officials or merchants

c23.s7.t9.1

The title *kāviti* is borne by a member of the merchant guild (*nikama*) of *veḷ-aṟai* (Veḷḷaṟai), who, as mentioned above, served as *kāl(a)tika*- 'superintendent of pearls' (Mangulam, No. **3**, ca. 2nd century B.C.). The title *kāviti kōṉ* 'chief *kāviti*' is borne by a donor in an inscription at Tirumalai (No. **52**, ca. 1st century A.D.).

c23.s7.t9.2

The title *kāviti* was bestowed by kings on the Vēḷāḷar, Vaiśyas (men and women), ministers or palace officials, as recorded in early Tamil works.²

c23.s7.t9.3

² *Tol. Poruḷ.* 30, comm. Nacc.

c23.s7.t9.4

The expression *kāviti* seems to be derived ultimately from Skt. *gṛhapati* 'householder' through Pkt. *gahapati*. Cf. Sinh. Pkt. *gapati*/*gapiti* ³ and the variants *kaviti*/*kāvati* in later Tamil inscriptions.⁴

c23.s7.t9.5

³ S. Paranavitana 1970: pp. lxxxviii-lxxxix.

c23.s7.t9.6

⁴ See Commentary (3.5) for the suggested derivation.

c23.s7.t9.7

It is significant that Tamil merchants with the title *gahapati* are mentioned in Early Sinhala-Brāhmī inscriptions.⁵ The title *kapāti* (cf. Sinh. Pkt. *kapati*) occurs as part of the name of a Tamil merchant in the Tamil-Brāhmī legend on a recently discovered lead coin from Tissamaharama in Sri Lanka.⁶

c23.s7.t9.8

⁵ S. Paranavitana 1970: Nos. 94, 356 and 357.

c23.s7.t9.9

⁶ See No. 4, Table 1.6.

c23.s7.t9.10

The original import of the term *gahapati* can be gathered from Prakrit inscriptions where it is specifically associated with merchant classes and prosperous landowning gentry who were supporters of Buddhist and Jaina religions. It is likely that *kāviti* had a somewhat similar significance in early times in the Tamil country also, later becoming a title bestowed by the king on merchants and officials as recorded in early literary works. Still later, the term *kāviti* came to mean an 'accountant' in medieval Tamil inscriptions.

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