Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s2.t18.30

c28.s2.t18.30

| **ILL.** | Tracing: Fig. 8.41. Estampage: Pl. 41. |
| **Locus** | Above the stone bed at right in the cave; badly damaged. |
| **No. of lines** | 5 |
| **Size** | 34 x 28 cm. |
| **Date** | ca. 4th century A.D. |
| **Publ.** | *ARE* B. 282/1961-62. *IAR* 1961-62:p. 81. IM:74/1966. |
| | *HTS* 19.3 (pp. 63, 90-91); RN:18.2 (pp. 75-79); TVM:(p. 290). |
| | T.V. Mahalingam 1962:pp. 125-132. T.N. Ramachandran 1962. |
| | K.G. Krishnan 1973-74b:pp. 91-93 (with Pl.). |
| **Notes** | |
| 1. | Another musical notation as in No. *86*, but with different syllables (*kai*, *ta* and *tai*). These two compositions are referred to in No. *85*. Only 15 letters in this inscription have survived wholly or partially; the others are restored taking advantage of the symmetry of the composition. |
| 2. | RN and Krishnan agree on the reading and restoration of all the syllables of the composition. (In L. 2: letter 2, *ti* seems to be a misprint for *tai* in Krishnan.) However, I read *kai* where they read *tai* (L. 2: letters 2 & 4; L. 3: letter 3; L. 4: letters 2 & 4). On rechecking *in situ* I find that *kai* is seen clearly in the middle of L. 3 and less clearly as the 2nd letter in L. 4. I have restored [*kai*\*] for the other three syllables to preserve the symmetry. |