Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c25.s12.t1.49

c25.s12.t1.49

I have also found a unique and hitherto unnoticed occurrence of the early circular form of the Tamil-Brāhmī letter *ḻ* (but with reversed orientation) from the published estampages² of an early cave inscription at Bambaragastalava, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka (detail in Fig. 5.5). The expression in which this form occurs is a personal name which has been read as *aśaḍiya* by Paranavitana and as *aśaḷiya* by Karunaratne, both treating the third letter as the reversed form of *ḍi*.³ However, these expressions occur nowhere else.⁴ The letter in question which is clearly seen in the estampages in both the publications, is the earlier circular form of Tamil-Brāhmī *ḻa* but with reversed orientation and the top circle (looking squarish as in Kodumanal)⁵ bisected by the vertical line. I read the expression as *aśaḻaya* (*aśaḻa* + *aya* < Pkt. *asaḍa* + *aya* < Skt. *āshāḍha* + *ārya*).⁶ This unique occurrence confirms the existence of the Tamil-Brāhmī script from at least the 2nd century B.C., the date assigned to this inscription by Karunaratne.