Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c25.s8.4

c25.s8.4

(b) An inscription at Tirupparankunram (No. **54**) is engraved in two segments on the rock wall abutting the head-side of two stone beds. To an observer facing the inscriptions, the first segment is seen above the right bed and the second segment above the left bed. He would also notice that the first segment is engraved from right to left with the letters turned upside down, but the second is engraved normally from left to right and the letters in proper orientation. It is, however, clear that, as in the two inscriptions discussed in (a) above, the scribe intended to engrave both the segments of this inscription in such a way that the monks lying on the beds resting their heads on the stone pillows and looking up at the inscription would be able to read it normally. The scribe must have been, however, careless and not remembered to engrave the second segment from right to left and turn the letters upside down.