Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s1.t8.104

Language: English

c28.s1.t8.104

| **ILL.** | Tracing: Fig. 8.14. Estampage: Pl. 14. |
| **Locus** | On the brow of the cave on the southern face of the Siddharmalai hill facing Mettuppatti; weather-worn and faint, but legible. |
| **No. of lines** | 1 |
| **Length** | 99 cm. |
| **Date** | ca. 2nd century B.C. |
| **Publ.** | *ARE* B. 373/1985-86 (with Pl.). *IAR* 1985-86: p. 98. |
| | I. Mahadevan 1994a: pp. 116-134 (with Pl.). |
| **Notes** | |
| 1. | *amaṇaṉ* < *camaṇaṉ* < *samaṇa* (Pkt.) < *śramaṇa* (Skt.). Cf. *amaṇṇaṉ* (Nos. ***61*** & ***62***). The expression denotes exclusively a Jaina monk in Tamil tradition. See section 4.9.3 (ii). |
| 2. | Cf. (inscr.) *matirai*, LT *maturai*, the ancient capital of the Pāṇṭiya kingdom. See section 4.20.4 (i). |
| 3. | *utayaṇa(ṉ)* + *sa* > *utayaṉasa*. Note the unique occurrence of *-sa* (*-ssa*), the Pkt. genitive suffix in this Tamil inscription. The PNG suffix *-(a)ṉ* is dropped in sandhi. Cf. *cēnta-a* (No. ***28***) and *vīra* (*vīra*)-*a* (No. ***79***). |
| 4. | Cf. Udayana (Skt.), Udayaṇa (AMg.); Utayaṇaṉ (Ta.), hero of *Peruṅkatai*. |