Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c25.s15.t3.2

c25.s15.t3.2

***c:*** This is the later Tamil-Brāhmī form in which the closed loop at the left seen in the earlier forms opens out (see clear examples in coins 2 & 4 in Fig. 5.9). This form is attested in the recently discovered Tamil-Brāhmī cave inscription at Mannarkoil (No. *89*, ca. 2nd century A.D.). The earlier reading of this letter in the coin-legends as a rare form of *h* turned to the left produced strange expressions like *arahaṇa*, *vāhiṭṭi* and *hātakaṇi* not attested elsewhere. Treating the letter as *c* yields meaningful readings like *aracaṉ*, *vāciṭṭi* and *cātakaṇi*, which are the appropriate Tamil renderings of the corresponding Prakrit expressions *rāñō*, *vāsiṭhi* and *sātakaṇi* in the Prakrit legends on the obverse.