Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c25.s12.t1.7
Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c25.s12.t1.7
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c25.s12.t1.7
In Asokan Brāhmī, the letter *ḍ* is formed by the addition of a thick dot to the lower end of *ḍ*.⁵ The Tamil-Brāhmī *ḻ* is formed by transposing the dot (enlarged into a circle⁶) from the bottom to the top of the letter (Chart 3:I. 1 & 2). The rare Asokan *ḍ* is not known to have been in use after his time. This is important evidence that the origin of Tamil-Brāhmī cannot be dated much later.