Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s2.t16.45

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**. |