Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s2: Late Tamil-Brāhmī Inscriptions (60-89)

Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s2

Language: English

c28.s2.t1 XIX. Anaimalai — 19 parts
c28.s2.t2 Pugalur - 2 — 6 parts
c28.s2.t3 Pugalur - 3 — 12 parts
c28.s2.t4 Pugalur - 4 — 5 parts
c28.s2.t5 Pugalur - 5 — 8 parts
c28.s2.t6 Pugalur - 6 — 19 parts
c28.s2.t7 Pugalur - 7 — 13 parts
c28.s2.t8 Pugalur - 8 — 3 parts
c28.s2.t9 Pugalur - 9 — 8 parts
c28.s2.t10 Pugalur - 10 — 5 parts
c28.s2.t11 Pugalur - 11 — 3 parts
c28.s2.t12 Pugalur - 12 — 7 parts
c28.s2.t13 XXI. Mamandur — 22 parts
c28.s2.t14 XXIII. Tondur — 7 parts
c28.s2.t15 XXIV. Kudumiyamalai — 12 parts
c28.s2.t16 XXV. Tiruchirapalli - A — 46 parts
c28.s2.t17 XXVII. Nekanurpatti — 6 parts
c28.s2.t18 XXVIII. Ammankoyilpatti — 50 parts

Late Tamil-Brāhmī Inscriptions (60-89)

XIX. Anaimalai

c28.s2.t1.1

**60.** **A.** L.1 **i va ku ṉa ṟa¹ tū u² ṟai³ yu ḷa⁴ pā⁵ ta na tā ṇa e ri ā⁶ ri ta ṇa** L.2 **a ta⁷ tu vā yi a ra ṭ⁸ ṭa kā yi pa ṇa**

c28.s2.t1.2

**B.** L.1 *iva-⁹ kuṉṟatu¹⁰ uṟaiyuḷ¹¹ pataṉtaṉ¹² ēri āritaṉ* L.2 *attuvāyi¹³ araṭṭa kāyipaṉ*

c28.s2.t1.3

L.1 *இவகுன்றது உறையுள் பதந்தன் ஏரி ஆரிதன்* L.2 *அத்துவாயி அரட்ட காயிபன்*

c28.s2.t1.4

In the abode (of ascetics) at **Ivakuṉṟa(m):** the venerable **Āritaṉ** of **Ēri (and) Araṭṭa Kāyipaṉ**, the expounder of meaning (of the scriptures).

c28.s2.t1.6

Notes

c28.s2.t1.7

1. HKS reads *ḍu* and KVS *ṟa*.
2. HKS and KVS also read *u*. I had earlier read this as *ru*.
3. HKS reads *ḍai* and KVS *ṟai*.
4. The character *ḷa* is identified here for the first time by HKS.
5. HKS reads *pā* and KVS *nā*.
6. HKS reads *ā* and KVS *a*.
7. HKS tentatively identified the 'clear dot' after this letter as the *anusvāra*. Rechecking *in situ* has shown it to be only a natural feature, though a *puḷḷi* is linguistically possible here.
8. This is the earliest known occurrence of the *puḷḷi* first identified by Jebarajan and Siromoney. (Basic consonants marked with the *puḷḷi* are transcribed without the 'inherent' medial vowel *-a*.)
9. *iva-*. Cf. *iha* (AMg.) < *ibha* (Skt.) > *ipam* (Ta.) 'elephant'. TVM and RN identify *iva-kuṉṟa(m)* with Āṉaimalai, the present name of the hill.
10. The suffix *tū* for *tu* (LT *-ttu*) is archaic . Cf. **ni kā mā tū** for *nikamatu* (*nikamattu*) (No. 3).
11. *uṟaiyuḷ* may be construed as *uṟai* + *uḷ* 'in the abode (of ascetics)' or treated as one word, *uṟaiyuḷ* 'abode of ascetics'.
12. *pataṉtaṉ* < *bhadanta* (Pkt.) 'venerable', an honorific prefixed to names of monks (TVM). **pā ta na tā ṇa** (for *pataṉtaṉ*) is archaic for this period. See n.10 above and n.6, No. 52.
13. Read *attavāyi*. Cf. *attha-* (Pkt.) < *artha* (Skt.) 'meaning', and *-vāyi* (AMg.) < *vādin* (Skt.) 'one who expounds' or < *vācin* (Skt.) 'one who recites'. See section 4.9.3 (v).

c28.s2.t1.8

[Figure: Figure 8.29. XX. PUGALUR 1

c28.s2.t1.9

XX. PUGALUR (புகளூர்) - 1

c28.s2.t1.10

L. 1 **mu¹ tā a ma ṇa ṇa ṇa yā ṟa ṟū ra ce ṅa kā ya pa ṇa u ṟai ya** L. 2 **ko ā ta ṇa ce la li ru ma po ṟai ma ka ṇa** L. 3 **pe ru ṅa ka ṭu ṅa ko ṇa ma ka ṇa ḷa ṅa** L. 4 **ka ṭu ṅa ko ḷa ṅa ko ā ka a ṟu ta ta ka la²**

c28.s2.t1.11

¹ The first letter *mu* was discovered by M.D. Sampath during our field work in 1991.

c28.s2.t1.12

² The last letter *la* is engraved in a natural depression in the rock and was discovered during my second attempt in 1966.

c28.s2.t1.13

**B.** L. 1 **mutā amaṇṇaṉ³ yāṟṟūr ceṅkāyapaṉ uṟai-y [/*]** L. 2 **kō ātaṉ cel-l=irumpoṟai makaṉ** L. 3 **peruṅkaṭuṅkōṉ makaṉ [i*]⁴ḷaṅ-** L. 4 **kaṭuṅkō [i*]⁴ḷaṅkō āka aṟutta kal**

c28.s2.t1.14

³ Cf. *amaṇaṉ* (n.1, No. 24). See section 4.9.3 (ii).
4. [*i*] is supplied from the context. Probably the initial vowel *i* was elided in speech. See also n.7, No. 62; n.5, No. 67 and n.3, No. 89.

c28.s2.t1.15

L. 1 மூதா அமண்ணன் யாற்றூர் செங்காயபன் உறைய் [/*] L. 2 கோ ஆதன் செல்லிரும்பொறை மகன் L. 3 பெருங்கடுங்கோன் மகன் [இ*]ளங் L. 4 கடுங்கோ [இ*]ளங்கோ ஆக அறுத்த கல்

c28.s2.t1.16

The abode of the senior Jaina monk, Ceṅkāyapaṉ of Yāṟṟūr. The rock (shelter) was carved when (I)ḷaṅkaṭuṅkō, the son of Peruṅkaṭuṅkōṉ, the son of King Ātaṉ Cel Irumboṟai,⁵ became the heir apparent.

c28.s2.t1.17

⁵ See R. Panneerselvam 1968 and, following him, I. Mahadevan 1971 for the identification of Ātaṉ Cel Irumboṟai and his successors. See section 4.3.1.

c28.s2.t1.18

| **ILL.** | Tracing: Fig. 8.29. Direct photograph (computer-enhanced): Pl. 27. |
| **Locus** | The lower inscription on the brow of the western cave on the southern face of the Āṟunāṭṭārmalai hill; too weather-worn and faint to produce a legible estampage, but clearly visible to the naked eye. See section 1.4.1and Fig. 1.9. |
| **No. of lines** | 4 |
| **Length** | L. 1:156 cm.; L. 2:134 cm.; L. 3:126 cm.; L. 4:142 cm. |
| **Date** | ca. 2nd century A.D. |
| **Publ.** | ARE 349/1927-28. IM:56/1966. RN:16.2 (pp. 66-74); RPS:38 (pp. 163-197); TVM:14-I (pp. 279-284; Pl. 23). I. Mahadevan 1965a, 1971: pp. 73-106. R. Panneerselvam 1968: pp. 421-425. K.V. Ramesh (in A.Chakravarti 1974):No. 4. K. G. Krishnan 1981a:pp. 24-30. |

c28.s2.t1.19

Notes

Pugalur - 2

c28.s2.t2.1

62. **A.** L. 1 **mū¹ tā ma ṇa ṇa ṇa yā ṟa ṟu ce ṅa kā ya pa ṇa u ṟai ya** L. 2 **ko ā ...² la li ru ma pu ṟai ma ka ṇa pe ru ṅa** L. 3 **ka tu ṅa ko ṇa ma ka ṇa ka ṭu ṅa ko ṇa ḷa ṅa ka ṭu ṅa** L. 4 **ko ḷa ṅa ko ā ka a ṟu pi ta ka la**

c28.s2.t2.2

**B.** L. 1 ***mūtā=maṇṇaṇ*³ *yāṟṟu*⁴ *ceṅkāyapaṉ* *uṟai-y* [/*]** L. 2 ***kō ā[ta*ṇ* ce*]*⁵ *l-l=irumpuṟai*⁶ *makaṉ peruṅ-*** L. 3 ***kaṭuṅkōṉ makaṉ kaṭuṅkōṉ [i*]⁷ *ḷaṅkaṭuṅ-*** L. 4 ***kō [i*]⁷ *ḷaṅkō āka aṟupita*⁸ *kal***

c28.s2.t2.3

L. 1 மூதாமண்ணண் யாற்று செங்காயபன் உறைய் [/*] L. 2 கோ ஆத[ந்* செ*]ல்லிரும்பூறை மகன் பெருங் L. 3 கடுங்கோன் மகன் கடுங்கோன் [இ*]ளங்கடுங் L. 4 கோ [இ*]ளங்கோ ஆக அறுபித கல்

c28.s2.t2.4

The abode of the senior Jaina monk, **Yāṟṟu Ceṅkāyapaṉ**. The rock (shelter) was caused to be carved when **Kaṭuṅkōṉ (I)ḷaṅkaṭuṅkō**, the son of **Peruṅkaṭuṅkōṉ**, the son of King **Ā(taṉ Ce)l Irumpuṟai**, became the heir apparent.

c28.s2.t2.5

| **ILL.** | Tracing: Fig. 8.30. Estampage: Pl. 28. |
| **Locus** | The upper inscription on the brow of the cave. L. 1 is worn very thin due to weathering. L. 2 is damaged in the middle due to flaking of the stone. The upper inscription seems to have been engraved later than the lower inscription (No. ***61***) when the height of the drip ledge was increased. See section 1.4.1. |
| **No. of lines** | 4 |
| **Length** | L. 1:112 cm.; L. 2:107 cm.; L. 3:126 cm.; L. 4: 94 cm. |
| **Date** | ca. 2nd century A.D. |
| **Publ.** | *ARE* B. 297/1963-64 (with Pl.). *IM*:57/1966. *HTS*:15.1(pp. 57-62); RN:16.1 (pp. 66-74); RPS:39 (pp. 163-197). I. Mahadevan 1971: pp. 73-106. K.G. Krishnan 1981a: pp. 24-30. |
| **Notes** | |
| 1. | The first letter *mū* was identified by Natana Kasinathan (RN). |
| 2. | Three letters have been lost here due to flaking of the stone. |
| 3. | *mūtāmaṇṇaṇ* is construed as *mūtā* + *amaṇṇaṇ*. Cf. *mutā amaṇṇaṇ* (No. ***61***). |
| 4. | Cf. *yāṟṟūr* (Nos. ***61*** & ***63***). The present form may be an abbreviation of the place name. |
| 5. | The lost letters have been restored from the evidence of the near-identical passage in the adjacent inscription (No. ***61***). |
| 6. | *irumpuṟai* is a variant of *irumpoṟai*. This variant occurs on some of the copper coins of the dynasty found at Karur (Fig. 1.22C). Cf. n.5, No. ***61***. See section 4.3.2. |
| 7. | [i*] supplied from the context. See n.4, No. ***61***. |
| 8. | *aṟuppitta*. |

c28.s2.t2.6

[Figure: Figure 8.31. PUGALŪR 3 Inscription No. 63 Tracing. Scale: one-fifth.]

Pugalur - 3

c28.s2.t3.1

63. A. L. 1 **yā ṟa rū ra ce ṅa kā ya pa ṉa** L. 2 **[t]ā¹ va ṉa ū ra² pa pi ṉa a ṉa ku ṟa ṟa ṉa** L. 3 **ṉa a ṟu pi ta ta a ti ṭa ṭā ṉa ma**

c28.s2.t3.2

B. L. 1 *yāṟṟūr ceṅkāyapaṉ* [ / * ] L. 2 *[t]āvaṉ-ūr-p-piṉ-aṉ* ³ *kuṟṟaṉ-* L. 3 *ṉ⁴ aṟupitta⁵ atiṭṭāṉam⁶*

c28.s2.t3.3

L. 1 யாற்றூர் செங்காயபன் [|*] L. 2 [த]ாவன்ஊர்ப் பின்அன் குற்றன் L. 3 ன் அறுபித்த அதிட்டானம்

c28.s2.t3.4

(To) Ceṅkāyapaṉ of Yāṟṟūr. The seat was caused to be carved by Piṇṇaṉ Kuṟṟaṉ of Tāvaṉūr.

c28.s2.t3.5

ILL. Tracing: Fig. 8.31. Estampage: Pl. 28.

c28.s2.t3.6

Locus On the stone bed at left inside the cave; worn out by prolonged occupation and barely visible. (See Fig. 1.10.)

c28.s2.t3.7

No. of lines 3

c28.s2.t3.8

Length L. 1 & 2: 51 cm. each; L. 3: 42 cm.

c28.s2.t3.9

Date ca. 2nd century A.D.

c28.s2.t3.10

Publ. *ARE* 342 [A]/1927-28. IM: 60/1966. HTS: 15.5 (pp. 57-62); RN: 16.3 (pp. 66-74); TVM: 14-III (left) (pp. 279-284, Pl. 24 middle).

c28.s2.t3.11

Notes
1. The lower portion of the letter is damaged.
2. There is a small circular depression between the 5th and 6th letters in L. 2.
3. *piṉṉaṉ* 'younger brother', here as a personal name.
4. The doubling of *ṉ* indicates sandhi with the vowel of the following word, which is, however, written separately. See section 6.17.4.
5. *aṟuppitta*.
6. See n.10, No. 49.

c28.s2.t3.15

Figure 8.32. PUGALUR 4-6 Inscriptions Nos. *64-66*

Pugalur - 4

c28.s2.t4.1

**64. A.** L. 1 **. . . a ti** L. 2 **ṭa ṭā ṇa ṇa ma**

c28.s2.t4.2

**B.** L. 1 **. . . ati-** L. 2 **ṭṭāṇṇam**¹

c28.s2.t4.3

L. 1 . . . அதி L. 2 ட்டான‌னம்

c28.s2.t4.4

The seat . . .

c28.s2.t4.5

Pugalur - 5

c28.s2.t5.1

L. 1 **na li [ya]¹ ū ra ā pi ṭa ṉa ku ṟu ma ma ka ḷa²**
L. 2 **kī ra ṉa ko³ ṟi ce yi pi ta pā ḷi**

c28.s2.t5.2

c28.s2.t5.3

L. 1 *nali-[y]-ūr-ā*⁴ *piṭaṉ*⁵ *kuṟummakaḷ*⁶
L. 2 *kīraṉ koṟi*⁷ *ceyipita*⁸ *paḷi*⁹

c28.s2.t5.4

L. 1 நலி[ய்]ஊர்ஆ பிடன் குறும்மகள்
L. 2 கீரன் கொறி செயிபித பளி

c28.s2.t5.5

The hermitage was caused to be made by **Kīraṉ Koṟṟi**, the young daughter of **Piṭṭaṉ** of **Nalliyūr**.

c28.s2.t5.6

c28.s2.t5.7

Notes

c28.s2.t5.8

1. This letter which looks like *pi* is an unusual variant of *y*. See n. 6, No. **55**. Similar variations of *y* looking like *pi* or *pe* have been noticed more recently on pottery inscriptions. See section 5.11: *y* and Palaeographic Chart 7. See also No. 6, Table 1.5 and Fig. 1.20 C.
2. This letter is engraved below the line to avoid the uneven and rough rock surface here.
3. I had earlier incorrectly copied this letter as *nō*. It is *ko* as pointed out by MSV.
4. *nalli-*. Cf. *nalli-* (No. **66**). *-ā* is the genitive suffix. Cf. *kuvirā* (No. **23**) and *nalli-y-ūr-ā* (No. **66**). See Commentary for discussion.
5. *piṭṭaṉ*. Cf. Piṭṭaṉ, N. of a chieftain. See section 4.5.2.
6. Cf. LT *kuṟumakaḷ* 'daughter, young woman'. Alternatively, this may be construed as two words *kuṟum makaḷ* 'young daughter'.
7. *koṟṟi*. Cf. *koṟṟi* (No. **66**). Cf. LT *koṟṟi*. 'goddess of victory', occurring here as a personal name.
8. *ceyipitta*. Cf. LT *ceyvitta*.

Pugalur - 6

c28.s2.t6.1

66. A. na la li [ya]¹ ū ra ā pi ṭa na tai ma ka ḷa kī ra ṇa ko ṟa ṟi² a ti ṭā ṇa ma

c28.s2.t6.2

B. *nalli-[y]-ūr-ā piṭantai*³ *makaḷ*⁴ *kīraṉ koṟṟi atiṭṭāṉam*⁵

c28.s2.t6.3

நல்லி[ய்]ஊர்ஆ பிடந்தை மகள் கீரன் கொற்றி அதிடானம்

c28.s2.t6.4

The seat (is the gift) of Kīraṉ Koṟṟi, the daughter of Piṭṭantai of Nalliyūr.

c28.s2.t6.5

ILL. Tracing: Fig. 8.32. Estampage: Pl. 30.

c28.s2.t6.6

Locus Above the stone bed in the cave.

c28.s2.t6.7

No. of lines 1

c28.s2.t6.8

Length 116 cm.

c28.s2.t6.9

Date ca. 2nd century A.D.

c28.s2.t6.10

Publ. *ARE* 346/1927-28. IM:58/1966.

c28.s2.t6.11

HTS:15.4 (pp. 57-62); MSV:17.2 (pp. 134-137); RN:16.11 (pp. 66-74);

c28.s2.t6.12

RPS:40 (pp. 163-197); TVM:14-VII (pp. 279-284, Pl. 25, 3rd from top).

c28.s2.t6.13

Notes

c28.s2.t6.14

1. An unusual variant of *y*. See n.1, No. **65.**

c28.s2.t6.15

2. The *-i* medial stroke of this letter is engraved on the ledge above the stone bed.

c28.s2.t6.16

3. *piṭṭantai*. *pi(ṭ)ṭan* and *pi(ṭ)tantai* occurring in near-identical adjacent inscriptions (Nos. **65** & **66**) are variants of the same name. See Commentary. See also n.9, No. **3** and n.1, No. **29.**

c28.s2.t6.17

4. *makaḷ* 'daughter' (as in RN and RPS).

c28.s2.t6.18

5. *atiṭṭāṉam*. The occurrence of this word was first noticed by M.D. Sampath during our field work in 1991. The expressions *paḷḷi* and *atiṭṭāṉam* refer respectively to the 'cave' and 'stone bed' in it, as indicated by the locations of Nos. **65** & **66**. See also n.10, No. **49** and n.11, No. **76.**

c28.s2.t6.23

[Figure: Figure 8.33. PUGALUR 7-9 Inscriptions Nos. 67-69

Pugalur - 7

c28.s2.t7.1

67. A. L. 1 **ko ṛ¹ ṛa na tai ḷa va² [ṇa]³ ...** L. 2 **mu⁴ ṉ¹ ṛu**

c28.s2.t7.2

¹ These two letters are marked by the *puḷi* (one of them in L.2 noticed earlier by RN). I was hesitant to accept the claim as the rock surface is heavily pitted here (I. Mahadevan 1992). However, subsequent verification by our team *in situ* has confirmed the two *puḷi* marks.

c28.s2.t7.3

² TVM and RN read *e*.

c28.s2.t7.4

³ This letter is damaged and the rest of the line is lost. The three short horizontal lines seen to the upper left of this letter seem to be later scratches.

c28.s2.t7.5

⁴ The reading is *mu* as pointed out by RN.

c28.s2.t7.6

B. L. 1 *koṛṛantai [i\*]⁵ ḷava[ṇ]* . . . L. 2 *muṉṛu*⁶

c28.s2.t7.7

⁵ [*i*\*] is supplied from the context. See n.4, No. *61*; n.7, No. *62* and n.3, No. *89*.

c28.s2.t7.8

⁶ As in RN. Cf. LT *muṉril*.

c28.s2.t7.9

L. 1 கொற்றந்தை [இ\*]ளவ[ன்] . . . L. 2 மூன்று

c28.s2.t7.10

The forecourt⁷ (is the gift) of Koṛṛantai (I)ḷavaṇ.

c28.s2.t7.11

⁷ The 'forecourt' is apparently the spacious rock floor with a number of stone beds outside the cave.

c28.s2.t7.12

c28.s2.t7.13

Notes

Pugalur - 8

c28.s2.t8.1

| **68.** | **A.** | **. . . a ti ṭa ṭā ṇa ma** |
| | **B.** | . . . *atiṭṭānam*¹ |
| | | . . . அதிட்டானம் |
| | | The seat . . . |

c28.s2.t8.2

¹ Only the last word of the inscription has survived.

c28.s2.t8.3

Pugalur - 9

c28.s2.t9.1

69. A. L. 1 **ka ru ū ra po ṇa vā ṇi ka ṇa** L. 2 **na¹ t² ti a ti ṭ² ṭā ṇa ma**

c28.s2.t9.2

B. L. 1 ***karu-ūr*³ *poṇ-vāṇikaṉ*** L. 2 ***natti*⁴ *atiṭṭāṉam***

c28.s2.t9.3

L. 1 **கருஊர் பொன் வாணிகன்** L. 2 **நத்தி அதிட்டானம்**

c28.s2.t9.4

The seat (is the gift) of **Natti**, the gold merchant from **Karu-ūr**.

c28.s2.t9.5

c28.s2.t9.6

Notes

c28.s2.t9.7

1. TVM reads *ne* and MSV *po*.
2. The *puḷḷi* marks above these two letters were spotted by M.D. Sampath and myself during our field work in 1991. (Two other *puḷḷi* marks mentioned by TVM as occurring with the 6th and 10th letters in the first line could not be confirmed by us.)
3. Cf. LT *karuvūr* (modern Karūr), the ancient capital of the Irumporai branch of the Cēra dynasty during the Caṅkam Age. See section 4.20.4 (iii).
4. Reading according to RN and RPS.

c28.s2.t9.9

[Figure: Figure 8.34. PUGALUR 10 & 12 Inscriptions Nos. 70 & 72

Pugalur - 10

c28.s2.t10.1

**70. A. L. 1 e¹ ṇa ṇai¹ vā ṇa ṇi ka** **L. 2 ṇa ve² ni³ ā ta ṇa a ti ṭa ṭā ṇa ma**

c28.s2.t10.2

**B. L. 1 *eṇṇai*⁴-*vāṇṇika*-** **L. 2 *ṇ*⁵ *veṇi*⁶ *ātaṉ atiṭṭāṉam***

c28.s2.t10.3

**L. 1 எண்ணை வாண்ணிக** **L. 2 ன் வெணி ஆதன் அதிட்டானம்**

c28.s2.t10.4

The seat (is the gift) of Veṇṇi Ātaṉ, the oil merchant.

c28.s2.t10.5

Pugalur - 11

c28.s2.t11.1

L. 2 **pe . . .** L. 3 **ka ṇa . . .** L. 4 **ma ka . . .** L. 5 **ḷa vā . . .**

c28.s2.t11.2

L. 1 . . . L. 2 பெ . . . L. 3 கண் . . . L. 4 மக . . . L. 5 ளவா . . .

c28.s2.t11.3

Pugalur - 12

c28.s2.t12.1

72. A. ṇā ka ṉa ma ka ṉa¹ pe² ru³ ṅa kī ra ṉa¹

c28.s2.t12.2

**B. *ṇākaṉ*⁴ *makaṉ peruṅkīraṉ*⁵**

c28.s2.t12.3

ணாகன் மகன் பெருங்கீரன்

c28.s2.t12.4

Peruṅkīraṉ, the son of Ṇākaṉ.

c28.s2.t12.5

c28.s2.t12.6

1. These two letters are cut across by chisel marks which do not appear to be part of the inscription. They have probably been tampered with, when the adjacent inscription in modern Tamil characters was engraved.
2. I had earlier read this letter as *ḷa*.
3. I had earlier missed this letter.
4. Cf. LT *nākaṉ*. The use of *ṇ* for *n* is due to the influence of Pkt. Cf. *vaccaṇanti* (No. **115**).
5. Reading according to TVM; verified *in situ* at the time of checking the inscription.

c28.s2.t12.7

[Figure: Figure 8.35. XXI. MAMANDUR

XXI. Mamandur

c28.s2.t13.1

**73. A.** L. 1 **ka¹ ṇi mā¹ ṉa²** L. 2 **te³ ṉū ra ta na ta ko ṉa ku ṉa ṟu⁴ ā⁵ ci** L. 3 **ce⁶ yi tā ṉa ta ca ṉa ci ṟu** L. 4 **...⁷ va ṉa**

c28.s2.t13.2

**B.** L. 1 *kaṇimāṉ* L. 2 *tēṉūr tanta kōṉ kuṉṟu* [*l*] *āci*⁸ L. 3 *ceyitāṉ tacaṉ*⁹ *ciṟu-* L. 4 *. . . vaṉ*

c28.s2.t13.3

L. 1 கணிமான் L. 2 தேனூர் தந்த கோன் குன்று [*l*]ஆசி L. 3 செயிதான் தசன் சிறு L. 4 . . . வன்

c28.s2.t13.4

The hill of Kaṇimāṉ, the chieftain, who took Tēṉūr. Ciṟu . . . vaṉ, the carpenter, made the props.¹⁰

c28.s2.t13.5

c28.s2.t13.6

**Notes**
1. The Southern Brāhmī characters of ca. 3rd century A.D. for *k* and *m* occur in L. 1. See n.1, No. *84*.
2. The vertical part of the letter has a pronounced curve. It is cut across in the middle by a cleft in the rock. This probably misled TVM into reading this letter as *ṭo*.
3. The vertical of the letter is cut across diagonally by a cleft in the rock.
4. There is a gap of about 15 cm. after this letter. There is a deep cleft here; the two letters after the cleft, covered by thick moss, were missed during my earlier copying.
5. TVM reads *ma*.
6. The letter is engraved twice, one below the other, but the upper one is erased.
7. There is a damaged letter here which cannot be identified as the lower portion is broken off.
8. Cf. LT *ācu* 'prop, support'; *āsi* (AMg.) 'support'.
9. *taccaṉ* 'carpenter'.
10. 'for the canopy' is understood, as indicated by the two large square post holes above the inscription.

c28.s2.t13.8

[Figure: Figure 8.36A. XXII. KUNNAKKUDI 1 & 2 Inscriptions Nos. 74 & 75 Tracings. Scale: one-eighth (No. 74), one-sixth (No. 75).]

c28.s2.t13.9

[Figure: Figure 8.36B. XXIII. TONDUR Inscription No. 76

c28.s2.t13.10

XXII. KUNNAKKUDI (குன்றக்குடி) - 1

c28.s2.t13.11

**74. A.** **kā¹ pi ū² r³ ā ta ṉa cā t³ tā⁴ ṇa**

c28.s2.t13.12

**B.** ***kāpi-ūr⁵ ātaṉ cāttāṉ⁶***

c28.s2.t13.13

காபிஊர் ஆதன் சாத்தான்

c28.s2.t13.14

Ātaṉ Cāttaṉ of Kāppi-ūr.

c28.s2.t13.15

| **ILL.** | Tracing: Fig. 8.36A. Estampage: Pl. 34A. |
| **Locus** | Inscription at left on the brow of the cave called Ñāṉiyārmaṭam to the west of the Subrahmaṇya temple on the hill. It runs from left to right, but the letters are engraved upside down. The illustrations are printed in the normal orientation. See section 5.8 on direction of writing. The inscription is legible and not 'much damaged' as stated in *ARE*. |
| **No. of lines** | 1 |
| **Length** | 105 cm. |
| **Date** | ca. 3rd century A.D. |
| **Publ.** | *ARE* 44/1909; *ARE* 1917-18:Pl. facing p. 6. *SII*. XXVI:No. 45. IM:69/1966. *HTS*:17.1 (p. 62); MSV: 3(pp. 40-42); RN:15.1 (pp. 65-66); TVM:15 (pp. 285-287, Pl. 26). T.V. Mahalingam 1958: pp. 5-7. |
| **Notes** | |
| 1. | The first letter was partly hidden under mortar which was scraped off by our team in 1992. |
| 2. | The three dots shown with this letter in the eye copy by TVM are not seen *in situ*. |
| 3. | The *puḷḷi* marks with these two letters came to light when the rock surface was cleaned. The *puḷḷi* is placed in each case to the right of the respective letter in the middle of the line. |
| 4. | The letter is *tā* and not *ta* as copied by me earlier and in TVM's eye copy. |
| 5. | *kāppi-*. Cf. LT *kāppi-yāṟṟu kāppiyaṉ-ār*. |
| 6. | Read *cāttaṉ*. It is possible that the orthography is archaic. See n.6, No. 52. |

c28.s2.t13.16

KUNNAKKUDI (குன்னக்குடி) - 2

c28.s2.t13.17

**75. A.** **ū ṟu tu . . .**

c28.s2.t13.18

**B.** **ūṟu¹ tu . . .**

c28.s2.t13.19

ஊ று து . . .

c28.s2.t13.20

The spring . . .

c28.s2.t13.21

c28.s2.t13.22

Notes

c28.s2.t13.23

1. *ūṟṟu* 'spring'. This refers probably to the square rock-cut well seen outside the cave.

XXIII. Tondur

c28.s2.t14.1

**76.** **A.** L. 1 **[i]¹ ḷa² ṅ³ kā yi pa ṇa e va a ka ḷa⁴ ū⁵ ra ṟa⁶ ma** L. 2 **mo ci ce yi ta a ti ṭā ṇa ma 3⁷**

c28.s2.t14.2

**B.** L. 1 *[i]ḷaṅkāyipaṇ ēva akaḷ-ūr=aṟam* [/*] L. 2 *mōci ceyita⁸ atiṭāṇam⁹ 3*

c28.s2.t14.3

L. 1 [இ]ளங்காயிபன் ஏவ அகழ்ஊரறம் [/*] L. 2 மோசி செயித அதிடானம் 3

c28.s2.t14.4

The charity by **Akaḻūr** (was endowed)¹⁰ at the bidding of **Iḷaṅkāyipaṉ**. Three seats¹¹ were made by **Mōci**.

c28.s2.t14.5

c28.s2.t14.7

Figure 8.37A. XXIV. KUDUMIYAMALAI Inscription No. 77 Tracing. Scale: one-third.

c28.s2.t14.8

Figure 8.37B. XXVI. EDAKAL-A 1 Inscription No. 79 Tracing. Scale: one-fifth.

XXIV. Kudumiyamalai

c28.s2.t15.1

77. **A.** **nā** **ḷa** **ḷ¹** **ko¹** **ṟa** **ṟa** **n¹** **ta** **ya** **pa** **...²** **ya³**

c28.s2.t15.2

**B.** ***nāḷaḷ⁴* *koṟṟantay⁵* *pa[ḷi*]⁶*-y⁷***

c28.s2.t15.3

**நாளள் கொற்றந்தய் ப[ளி*]ய்**

c28.s2.t15.4

The hermitage (is the gift) of Koṟṟantai of Nālaḷ.

c28.s2.t15.5

**ILL.** Tracing: Fig. 8.37A. Estampage: Pl. 35A.

c28.s2.t15.6

**Locus** On the large stone bed in the cave on the south-western slope of the hill; worn out and faint due to prolonged occupation.

c28.s2.t15.7

**No. of lines** 1

c28.s2.t15.8

**Length** 43 cm.

c28.s2.t15.9

**Date** *ca.* 3rd century A.D.

c28.s2.t15.10

**Publ.** C. Santhalingam 1981: p. 133; 1999a: pp. 1-3. (with Pl.).

c28.s2.t15.11

Notes

c28.s2.t15.12

1. The *puḷḷi* is marked to the left of the respective letters. Note the *puḷḷi* in *ko* to indicate the short medial vowel-*o*. See Nos. *102* & *104* for other examples.
2. A letter is completely worn down here.
3. The scratch on the rock surface seen to the top right of this letter is not part of the writing as verified *in situ*.
4. Read *nāḷal*. Cf. LT *ñaḻal* / *nāḻal* 'a flowering tree'. The word occurs here as a place name.
5. Variant of *koṟṟantai* (No. **67**). Cf. *matiray* (No. **36**) for *matirai* (No. **24**).
6. *[ḷi*]* restored from the context.

XXV. Tiruchirapalli - A

c28.s2.t16.1

**78. A.** ...¹ **pa ṉa ke²**

c28.s2.t16.2

**B.** ... *paṉkē*³

c28.s2.t16.3

... பன்கே

c28.s2.t16.4

To . . . paṉ.

c28.s2.t16.5

**ILL.** Estampage: Pl. 35B.

c28.s2.t16.6

**Locus** On the northern face of the Rockfort hill in the passage to the cave on the western side (see Fig. 1.15). The inscription is lost. Edited from an old and not very legible estampage.

c28.s2.t16.7

**No. of lines** 1

c28.s2.t16.8

**Length** --

c28.s2.t16.9

**Date** ca. 3rd century A.D.

c28.s2.t16.10

**Publ.** *ARE* 139/1937-38. IM:68/1966.

c28.s2.t16.11

*HTS:* 16 (pp. 62, 89).

c28.s2.t16.12

Notes

c28.s2.t16.13

1. The first three or four letters in the estampage are too illegible to be made out.
2. The last three letters are read tentatively.
3. The reading *ku pa ga gha ri* in *ARE* seems to suggest that the inscription has been read upside down.

c28.s2.t16.14

XXVI. EDAKAL - A (எடக்கல் - அ) - 1

c28.s2.t16.15

**79. A.** **o pa ṉa¹ pa vi ra a**

c28.s2.t16.16

¹ The letter appears to be *ṉa*, even though there is a superfluous stroke at lower left.

c28.s2.t16.17

**B.** **opaṉapa² vira-a³**

c28.s2.t16.18

² *oppaṉappa* (*oppaṉ*=*appa*). Cf. LT *oppu* 'beauty'; *-apa-* (*-appa-*) from *appaṉ*, honorific suffix (masc.).

c28.s2.t16.19

³ Read *vīra-a*. The genitive suffix *-a* is added after elision of the PNG suffix *-aṉ*.

c28.s2.t16.20

ஒபனப விரஅ

c28.s2.t16.21

(The writing⁴) of Oppaṉappa Vīra(ṉ).

c28.s2.t16.22

⁴ From the context, as no votive objects are associated with the inscription in this cave.

c28.s2.t16.23

c28.s2.t16.25

Figure 8.38. EDAKAL-A 2 Inscription No. *80*

c28.s2.t16.26

EDAKAL - A (எடக்கல் - அ) - 2

c28.s2.t16.27

80. A. ka ṭu ma mi¹ pu² ta ce ra $³

c28.s2.t16.28

B. *kaṭummiputa⁴ cēra⁵*

c28.s2.t16.29

கடும்மிபுத சேர

c28.s2.t16.30

Kaṭumiputta, the Cēra.

c28.s2.t16.31

c28.s2.t16.32

Notes

c28.s2.t16.33

1. The *-i* medial stroke is added to the left limb of the letter.
2. The tall vertical line seen between the 4th and 5th letters is apparently part of the earlier rock carvings which fill the walls of this cave.
3. A symbol, probably the palm tree, insignia of the Cēra dynasty. See section 5.18.
4. A hybrid Tamil-Prakrit expression. Cf. LT *kaṭumān*. Cf. *satiyaputō* (No. **59**). See Commentary for discussion.
5. The earliest inscriptional occurrence of the dynastic name *cēra*. See section 4.3.3.

c28.s2.t16.34

EDAKAL - A (எடகல் - அ) - 3

c28.s2.t16.35

**81.** **A.** **ko pū ti vi ra**

c28.s2.t16.36

**B.** ***kō pūti*¹ *vira*²**

c28.s2.t16.37

கோ பூதி விர

c28.s2.t16.38

Pūti Vīra, the chieftain.

c28.s2.t16.39

c28.s2.t16.40

EDAKAL - A (எடக்கல் - அ) - 4

c28.s2.t16.41

82. **A.** **ko [v]ā¹ tā ṉa²**

c28.s2.t16.42

**B.** *kō-[v]=ātāṉ³*

c28.s2.t16.43

கோ [வ]ாதான்

c28.s2.t16.44

Ātaṉ, the king.

c28.s2.t16.45

| **ILL.** | Estampage: Pl. 37 (Nos. *81-82*, right segment). |
| **Locus** | The fourth inscription on the north rock wall of the cave. A deep slanting cleft forms a natural dividing line between Nos. *81 & 82*. This inscription has also been obliterated by modern graffiti scribbled over it on the soft rock. Edited from the estampage by E. Hultzsch published in Fawcett 1901. |
| **No. of lines** | 1 |
| **Length** | See scale in Fawcett 1901. |
| **Date** | ca. 3rd century A.D. |
| **Publ.** | *ARE* 123[B]/1897. *SII.* VI:No. 77[B]. |
| | F. Fawcett 1901:Estampage No. 4 (right); Pl. VI, Fig. 1 (right). |
| | I. Mahadevan and S. Swaminathan 1998: pp. 20-29. I. Mahadevan 1999: pp. 1-19 (with Pl.). |
| **Notes** | |
| 1. | The second letter is engraved over the earlier rock carvings. |
| 2. | The last letter is engraved at a higher register to avoid the earlier rock carving seen just below. |
| 3. | Read *-ātaṉ*. Cf. *kō ātaṉ* (Nos. *61 & 62*). See section 4.3.3. It is possible that the orthography is archaic. See n.6, No. **52**. |

c28.s2.t16.46

[Figure: Figure 8.39. XXVII. NEKANURPATTI

c28.s2.t16.47

Tracing. Scale: one-fifth.]

Linked texts (1)

Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy

Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s2: Late Tamil-Brāhmī Inscriptions (60-89)

Contents

Late Tamil-Brāhmī Inscriptions (60-89)

XIX. Anaimalai

Pugalur - 2

Pugalur - 3

Pugalur - 4

Pugalur - 5

Pugalur - 6

Pugalur - 7

Pugalur - 8

Pugalur - 9

Pugalur - 10

Pugalur - 11

Pugalur - 12

XXI. Mamandur

XXIII. Tondur