Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s3.t6: XXXVIII. Tirunatharkunru
Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s3.t6
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XXXVIII. Tirunatharkunru
c28.s3.t6.1
**116. A.** L. 1 **ai¹ m² pa t te ḻa ṇa** L. 2 **ca ṇa n no r̄ r̄a** L. 3 **ca n ti ra na n ti ā** L. 4 **ci ri ka ru³ ni cī ti kai**
c28.s3.t6.2
**B.** L. 1 **aimpattēḻ=aṇa-** L. 2 **caṉaṉ⁴=nōr̄r̄a⁵** L. 3 **cantirananti ā-** L. 4 **cirikaru⁶ nicītikai⁷**
c28.s3.t6.3
L. 1 **ஐம்பத்தேழன** L. 2 **சனந் நோற்ற** L. 3 **சந்திரநந்தி ஆ** L. 4 **சரிகரு நிசீதிகை**
c28.s3.t6.4
The seat of penance of Cantirananti Ācirikaru who observed the fast (unto death) for fifty-seven (days).⁸
c28.s3.t6.5
| **ILL.** | Tracing: Fig. 8.51. Estampage: Pl. 50. |
| **Locus** | On the bare summit of the hill known as Tirunātarkunṟu near Gingee (Senji) town; well-preserved. See section 1.8.2 (i) and Fig. 1.16. |
| **No. of lines** | 4 |
| **Length** | L.1:35 cm.; L.2:34 cm.; L.3 & L.4:35 cm. each. |
| **Date** | ca. 6th century A.D. |
| **Publ.** | *ARE* 239/1904. *SII.* XVII:No. 262 (with Pl.); *TAS.* I 1908 (1988 reprint): p. 339 (with eye copy). IM: 76/1966; TVM: (pp. 300-301, Pl. 29). |
c28.s3.t6.6
Notes
c28.s3.t6.7
1. The earliest known occurrence of the initial vowel *ai* in Vaṭṭeḻuttu. See section 5.10: *ai*.
c28.s3.t6.8
2. A *puḷḷi* over one of the basic consonants was first noticed by me in 1991-92. Further search *in situ* by our team in 1995 has revealed that all the six basic consonants of this inscription are marked by the *puḷḷi*.
c28.s3.t6.9
3. The medial *-u* stroke of the letter *ru* was located *in situ* by our team in 1995.
c28.s3.t6.10
4. *aṇa-caṇa(m)* 'the penance of ceremonial fast unto death'.
c28.s3.t6.11
5. Sandhi of *aimpattēḻ(u)* + *aṇa-caṇa(m)* + *nōr̄r̄a*.
c28.s3.t6.12
6. Cf. LT *āciriyar*.
c28.s3.t6.13
7. *nicītikai*: 'seat of penance'. See n.12, No. *115*. See Commentary on Nos. *115* & *116* for interpretation of the Jaina technical terms. See also section 4.9.7.
c28.s3.t6.14
8. The context requires supply of the word 'days' here.
c28.s3.t6.16
[Figure: Figure 8.52. **XXXIX. PILLAIYARPATTI** Inscription No. *117* Tracing. Scale: one-fourth.]