[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Archaeology, epigraphy and coins](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy) › [Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003) › c26.s3.1 # Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c26.s3.1 Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c26.s3.1 - **Language:** English ### [c26.s3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s3.1) The Brāhmī script is a syllabary in which each \*akshara\* is an open syllable, either a vowel or ending in one (except in the case of the \*anusvāra\*). A basic consonant being mute is not regarded as an \*akshara\* and cannot stand alone. These principles resulted in a system of writing with the following conventions: - [Previous: c26.s2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s2.1) - [Next: c26.s3.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s3.2) - [Up: c26.s3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s3) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c26.s3.1) · Pramāṇa