Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s6.t1: I. Mangulam

Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s6.t1

Language: English

I. Mangulam

c28.s6.t1.1

The three longer inscriptions at this site have near-identical openings which may be studied together comparatively for a better understanding of their archaic orthography.

(n.) < *gaṇi* (Pkt.) < *gaṇin* (Skt.), title of the head of the order of Jaina monks known as the *gaṇa*. See section 4.9.3 (i) on the significance of the occurrence of this term in the cave inscriptions.

c28.s6.t1.3

The term *gaṇi* occurs frequently in Jaina Pkt. inscriptions (e.g.) *gaṇi aryya-buddha-śiri* (G. Bühler 1892, *EI.* I: pp. 371-397, No. xix); *gaṇi nandi* (G. Bühler 1894a, *EI.* II: pp. 195-212, No. xxiii). See also *gaṇin* 'Jaina ecclesiastic' (Lüders List: Index).

c28.s6.t1.4

The monastic tradition of *gaṇa* and *gaṇi* continued in the Tamil country even in later times. Cf. (inscr.) *gaṇī vajranandī* of the *nandi-saṃgha* (*Pallava Inscrs.* No. 17: Paḷḷaṉkōvil Plates, Skt. passage, ca. 6th cent. A.D. The date of the original grant is cited in this Commentary for linguistic studies even though the Plates appear to be a later copy as judged from palaeography. See section 5.20.2.). Cf. *kaṇi cēkkara-maru-poṟcūṟiyaṉ*, a Jaina teacher (*SII.* I: No. 66, Cōḻa, 11th cent. A.D.).

c28.s6.t1.5

The paragogic suffix **-y (1.1 & 2.1)** or **-i (3.1)** is added optionally after nouns ending in *-i* or *-ai*. The practice continued in later times also. Cf. (inscr.) *kuratti-y* 'nun', *aṟuṭṭuṇai-y* 'a personal name' (*SII.* V: Nos. 320 & 352 respectively, Pāṇṭiya, ca. 9th cent. A.D.). The paragogic suffix *-y* is also found in some of the palm-leaf manuscripts of *Puṟanāṉūṟu* (U.Ve. Swaminathaiyar, 6th edn., p. 18). See section 7.8.1.

c28.s6.t1.6

N. of the senior Jaina monk, variously written. The name may be normalised as Nanta-siri Kuvaṉ. He was the recipient of the gift of the hermitages recorded in these three inscriptions. The largest stone bed, centrally situated and raised higher than the rest in the upper middle cave at this site, might have been his seat. Nanta-siri appears to be the monastic name assumed by the monk when he was ordained, and Kuvaṉ, his earlier given name or possibly the clan name, which indicates his Tamil origin.

c28.s6.t1.7

Bare stems from *nantaṉ*/*nataṉ* (N.) with elision of the PNG suffix **-aṉ** before adding the honorific suffix *-siri*.

c28.s6.t1.8

Cf. *naṁda* (Pkt.) < *nanda* (Skt.) lit., 'happiness'; occurs here as a personal name. Cf. (Pkt. inscr.) *naṁda* (Lüders List: No. 289); *nada* (with the nasal *ṁ* dropped) (ibid. No. 1032); *nada* (Sinh. Pkt., Paranavitana 1970: Nos. 681 and 1105).

c28.s6.t1.9

Cf. LT *nantaṉ* 'a personal name' (*Aka.* 251:5). Cf. **nataṉ** (**48.4**) and **iḷanataṉ** (**17.1**).

c28.s6.t1.10

In **nanta-a-** (**1.2.a**), the attributive suffix **-a** appears to be superfluous when compared with **nanta-** (**2.2.a**) and **nata-** (**3.2.a**).

c28.s6.t1.11

1.2.b siri-y-i 2.2.b siri-y 3.2.b siri-y

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(n.) < *siri* (Pkt.) < *śrī* (Skt.) 'auspiciousness', an honorific affixed to proper names. While it is generally prefixed as an attribute, it may also be suffixed as a substantive as in this case.

c28.s6.t1.13

Cf. (Pkt. inscr.) *naṁda-sirī* (fem.); *caṁda-siri*, *nāga-siri*, *mūla-siri* (all masc.) (Lüders List: Nos. 1127, 1202-03); *khāravēla-siri* (ibid. No. 1345). Cf. also *śiri* (Sinh. Pkt.) in *śiriguta* 'a personal name'; (Paranavitana 1970: No. 529).

c28.s6.t1.14

In later Tamil inscriptions *siri* is sometimes written as *ciri*. Cf. *ciri kaṅkaraicaru* (*Pallava Inscrs.* No. 291, ca. 7th cent. A.D.); *ciri vicaiya-k-kurattiyār* (*SII.* V: No. 322, Pāṇṭiya, ca. 9th cent. A.D.).

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The paragogic suffix **-y-i** (**1.2.b**) is a variant of **-y**.

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1.2.c kuv-aṇkē 2.2.c ku-aṇ 3.2.c kuva[ṇ*]

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(N.) The personal or clan name which may be normalised as Kuvaṇ is not attested elsewhere, but may probably be compared with *kuvāvaṉ*, N. of a chieftain (K. V. Subrahmanya Aiyer 1915-16, *EI.* XIII: p. 139, ca. 8th cent. A.D.; *Pallava Inscrs.* No. 106, 9th cent. A.D.).

c28.s6.t1.18

Cf. LT *kuvavu* 'greatness' (*Cūṭā.* 8:10; *TL* cites Te. *kuvva* under this entry).

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The PNG suffix **-aṇ** is added in free form in two variants of the word (**1.2.c** & **2.2.c**). Such 'analytical' writing is a characteristic feature of the Early Ta. Br. inscriptions and does not represent 'alphabetic' writing with separation of consonants and vowels. See section 6.18 on 'analytical' writing.

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**-kē** (**1.2.c**) is the dative suffix-*ku* with the addition of the emphatic particle *-ē*.

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Sandhi: *ku* + *ē* > *kē*.

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Cf. (inscr.) *nallaṉ-kiḻāṇē* (Pulankurichi Inscrs. II. 11, ca. 5th cent. A.D., *Āvaṇam*, 1: pp. 57-69); *vajranandi-k-kuravar-k-kē* (*Pallava Inscrs.* No. 17, ca. 6th cent. A.D.).

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**1.3** ***dhammam*** **2.3** ***dhamam*** (n.) < *dhaṁma*, *dhama* (Pkt.) < *dharma* (Skt.). Cf. (Pāli inscr.) *dhaṁmaṁ*, *dhamaṁ* (Asoka, *CII*. I:Gir. IV.9, XIII. 10); (Pkt. inscr.) *dhaṁma*, *dhama* (Lüders List: Index); (Pkt. inscr.) *dē dhamō...* 'religious gift given by ...' (inscribed pottery from Arikamedu, ca. 1st cent. A.D., I. Mahadevan 1973:No. V). The meaning of the term in the present context is 'religious gift, charity, endowment'. Cf. LT *tarumam* 'virtuous conduct' (*Tivā*.1520); '*aṟam*' (*Cūṭā*. 8:39); *tarumamum takkārkkē* 'charity to the deserving' (*Nālaṭi*. 250). The term occurs in this sense frequently in later Tamil inscriptions. Cf. *dharma* 'meritorious gift, charity' (*SII*. I: Index).

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**1.4** ***ittā-a*** **2.4** ***ītā*** (intj.) 'lo, behold, look here!', ultimately derived from *iḥtu* 'this', the proximate demonstrative pronoun (D. 410). Cf. LT *itā* (*Cīvaka*. 1232), *ītā* (*Pari*. 8:60).

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The form ***ittā-a*** (**1.4**) appears to be a case of vowel-elongation (*uyir aḷapeṭai*) to emphasise the sense of wonder already expressed by the interjection.

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Cf. LT *ēe ōo eṉa viḷi ēṟpikka* 'as she called out 'hey' and 'oh'!' (*Pari*. 19:61 cited in V.S. Rajam 1992: pp. 258, 263).

c28.s6.t1.27

***ītā*** (**2.4**) may be read as *itā* also, as the character *ī* was also employed to write *i* in the Early Ta. Br. inscriptions; e.g., ***iḷañcaṭikaṉ*** (**2.7**). See section 6.14. However, the reading ***ītā*** is more likely here as shown by the contrast with ***ittā-(1.4)***. The variant *ītā* is also probably more ancient than *itā* (T. Murugarathanam 1994:pp. 15-20).

c28.s6.t1.28

**1.5** ***neṭuñcaliyaṉ*** **2.5** ***neṭiñcaliyaṉ*** (N.) The name may be normalised as Neṭuñceḻiyaṉ. He was most probably the reigning king of the Pāṇṭiya dynasty. See section 4.2.1 for the identification.

c28.s6.t1.29

**1.5.a** ***neṭu(m)-*** **2.5.a** ***neṭi(m)-*** (adj.) 'senior'. Cf. *neṭumai* 'greatness' (D. 3738). The attribute is prefixed to distinguish the senior members of a family (father or elder brother) from the junior members with the same name. See section 4.18.4.

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Cf. LT *neṭuñcēralātaṉ* 'N. of a Cēra king' (*Patiṟ*. 20:5); *neṭumai* (lit.) 'length' (*Tivā*. 1374; *Cūṭā*. 8:13).

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Cf. (inscr.) *teṉṉavar kō neṭumāṟaṉ* (*SII*. XIV: No. 44, Pāṇṭiya, ca. 9th cent. A.D.).

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The variant ***neṭi-*** (**2.5.a**) may be compared with LT *neṭiya-*, *neṭityōṉ* (*TL*).

c28.s6.t1.33

Sandhi:*-m* > *-ñ-* before *-c*.

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**1.5.b & 2.5.b** ***caliyaṉ*** (N.) Cf. LT *ceḻiyaṉ*, one of the generic names of the Pāṇṭiya dynasty (*Aka*. 36:13; *Puṟa*. 76:9; *Tivā*. 182; *Piṅkala*. 750; *Cūṭā*. 2:20). The name is also attested in inscriptions (*Pāṇṭiyar Ceppēṭukaḷ*: No. 1, ca. 8th cent. A.D.). Cf. *ceḻi* 'to prosper (as kingdom, family, country)' (D. 2789).

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**1.6 *paṇa-aṉ*** (n.) Cf. *paṇavaṉ* 'servant' (*TL*) from *paṇ* 'service, work, employment' (D. 3884). The expression may be interpreted in this context as 'officer, high functionary' as he served under the king. The PNG suffix **-aṉ** is added in free form.

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**1.7 *kaṭal-aṉ vaḻutti-y*** N. of the donor. He was probably a Pāṇṭiya prince or vassal. The name may be normalised as Kaṭalaṉ Vaḻuti.

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**a. *kaṭal-aṉ* (*kaṭalaṉ*)** (N.) Cf. LT *kaṭalaṉ*, the chieftain of Viḷaṅkil (*Aka.* 81:13). The name was also borne by one of the Caṅkam poets (author, *Aka.* 72, etc.). This is an appellative noun derived from *kaṭal* 'sea' (D. 1118) with the addition of the PNG suffix *-aṉ* in free form. Kaṭalar are described as the people of the *neytal* (maritime) tract (*Tivā.* 300; *Piṅkala.* 600; *Cūṭā.* 2:72).

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The name **kaṭāla-aṇa (*kaṭalaṉ*)** occurs in the Ta. Br. legend on a local coin from Sri Lanka (see No. 4, Table 1.6).

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**b. *vaḻutti-y*** Read *vaḻuti*- (N.) One of the generic Pāṇṭiya names (*Aka.* 93: 9; *Puṟa.* 3:13; *Tivā.* 182; *Piṅkala.* 750; *Cūṭā.* 2:20).

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Cf. *peruvāḻuti (peruvaḻuti)*, Ta.Br. legend on an Early Pāṇṭiya coin (Nos. 1 & 2, Table 1.6).

c28.s6.t1.41

Cf. (inscr.) *vaḻuti* (*SII.* XIV: No. 93, Pāṇṭiya, ca. 10th cent. A.D.).

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Cf. *vāḻ* 'to flourish, be happy', *vaḻuttu* 'to bless, praise' (D. 5372). The doubling of consonants *-tt-* is superfluous here. Cf. ***mattirai* (for *matirai*) (38.1)**.

c28.s6.t1.43

*-y* is the paragogic suffix.

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**1.8 *koṭṭupitta-a*** (v.) 'which was caused to be carved'; adjectival past participle, causative, from *koṭṭu* 'to hammer' (D. 2063).

c28.s6.t1.45

**Analysis:** *koṭṭu* (stem) + *pi* (causative suffix) + *tt* (past tense marker) + *a* (participial suffix) + *a* (additional participial suffix in free form which appears to be superfluous). Cf. ***nanta-a-*** **(1.2.a)** for another superfluous suffix in this inscription.

c28.s6.t1.46

In the present context where stone beds and drip ledges were hammered and chiselled into shape from live rock in natural caves, the verb *koṭṭu* is best translated 'to carve'. The usage is attested in later Tamil inscriptions also. Cf. *paṭimam koṭṭuvittāṉ* 'he caused the image to be carved' (*Pallava Inscrs.* No. 85, 8th cent. A.D.). The word has been borrowed by IA from Dr. Cf. *koṭṭēti* 'to pound', *silā-koṭṭakō* 'stonecutter, mason' (Pāli).

c28.s6.t1.47

Cf. LT *koṭṭal* 'to beat' (*Tivā.* addition after 1770; *Cūṭā.* 9:30).

c28.s6.t1.48

**1.9 *paḷi-iy*** (*paḷḷi-* ) (n.) Cf. *paḷḷi* 'hermitage, temple, especially of Buddhists and Jains, sleeping place, school' (D. 4018). The original meaning 'sleeping place' (*Aka.* 93:14, *Puṟa.* 33:20; *Tivā.* 979) was later extended to 'hermitage' (*Tivā.* 951; *Piṅkala.* 703; *Cūṭā.* 5:56). See section 4.9.8(i).

c28.s6.t1.49

Cf. LT *mātavar paḷḷi* 'the hermitage of the great ascetic' (*Maṇi.* 18:8); *paḷḷi* 'place of monks, a Jaina temple' (*Piṅkala.* 3800).

c28.s6.t1.50

Cf. (inscr.) *tāpata-p-paḷḷi* 'hermitage of (Jaina) ascetics' (Pulankurichi *Inscrs.* II. 5, ca. 5th cent. A.D.); *paḷḷi-c-cantam* 'gift of land to a Jaina hermitage (*Pallava Inscrs.* No. 17, ca. 6th cent. A.D.); *i-p-paḷḷi uṭaiyārai nīkki* 'excluding those belonging to this hermitage' (ibid. No. 74, ca. 8th cent. A.D.).

c28.s6.t1.51

The consonant *ḷ* occurs without doubling. However, there is no doubt that long consonants existed in the inscriptional language during this period as proved by pairs like *paḷi-* and *paḷḷi* (**89.4** & **88.1**) in adjacent inscriptions. See section 6.17.

c28.s6.t1.52

**pā ḷi** may not be equated with *pāḷi* 'hermitage' (D. 4112) though the meaning is the same, as there is no other instance of the sounds *l* and *ḷ* falling together in the Ta. Br. inscriptions.

c28.s6.t1.53

*-iy* is a variant of the paragogic suffix *-y*. Cf. ***kāviti-iy*** (**3.5**) and ***nelveḷi-iy*** (**7.1**).

c28.s6.t1.54

**2.1-2.5** See under **1.1-1.5** respectively.

c28.s6.t1.55

**2.6 *sālakaṉ*** (n.) 'sister-in-law's husband' < *sālaka* (Pāli) 'brother-in-law' < *syālaka* (Skt.) 'wife's brother' (MW).

c28.s6.t1.56

Cf. LT *cakalaṉ* 'wife's sister's husband' (*Piṅkala.* 899; *Cūṭā.* 2:77), *cālakaṉ* 'sister-in-law's husband' (*TL*). The intended meaning here is 'sister-in-law's husband' as otherwise the donor would have described himself more directly and simply as the 'father-in-law' of ***neṭiñcaḷiyaṉ***.

c28.s6.t1.57

**2.7 *iḷañcaṭikaṉ*** (N.) lit., Caṭikaṉ, the junior. He is the son of ***caṭikaṉ*** (**2.9**).

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**a. *iḷa(m)-*** (adj.) 'junior'. Cf. *iḷa*, *iḷam* 'young' (D. 513). See section 4.18.4.

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Cf. LT *iḷamperuñceṉṉi* 'N. of a Cōḻa king' (*Aka.* 375:11); *iḷamai* 'youth' (*Tivā.* 1510; *Piṅkala.* 1948; *Cūṭā.* 8:27).

c28.s6.t1.60

Cf. (inscr.) *(i)ḷaṅ-kūṟṟaṉ* 'a personal name' (Pulankurichi *Inscrs.* I. 20, ca. 5th cent. A.D.); *iḷa(m)paḍuvaṉār* 'a personal name' (*Pallava Inscrs.* No. 92, 8th cent. A.D.).

c28.s6.t1.61

Sandhi:*-m-* > *-ñ-* before *-c-*.

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**b. *caṭikaṉ*** See **2.9**.

c28.s6.t1.63

**2.8** ***tantai-y*** (n.) 'father' (D. 3067). ***-y*** is the paragogic suffix.

c28.s6.t1.64

Cf. LT *niṉ tantai tāy vāḻiyar* 'may your father and mother live (long)!' (*Puṟa.* 137:14-15); *tantai* 'father' (*Tivā.* 310; *Piṅkala.* 907; *Cūṭā.* 2:75).

c28.s6.t1.65

**2.9** ***caṭikaṉ*** N. of the donor. He is the father of Iḷañcaṭikaṉ through whom he claims kinship with Neṭiñcaḻiyaṉ. The name is not attested elsewhere, but may probably be compared with Caṭaiyaṉ, a generic name of the Pāṇṭiyas occurring in inscriptions from the early medieval period (*SII.* XIV: Index). It is noteworthy that ***caṭikaṉ*** commences with *ca-* not permissible in LT (*Tol. Eḻu.* 62). Cf. **cam- (101.1.a, 105.1.a)**. See section 7.6.2.1(ii).

c28.s6.t1.66

**2.10** ***cē-iya*** (v.) 'which was made'; adjectival past participle from *cē* (LT *cey*) 'to make' (D. 1957).

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**Analysis:** *cē* (stem) + *i* (past tense marker) + *y* (glide) + *a* (participial suffix). Cf. ***cēvit-ōṉ*** **(18.3)**, ***cēy-a*** **(31.2)** and ***cētavar*** **(35.3)** for other similar forms. The form ***cē-iya*** is not attested elsewhere; but the verb occurs as *cē* in early medieval inscriptions.

c28.s6.t1.68

Cf. (inscr.) *cēta* (*ceyta*) (*Pallava Inscrs.* No. 268, ca. 9th cent. A.D.); *cēvittāṉ* (*ceyvittāṉ*) (*SII.* V: No. 406, Pāṇṭiya, ca. 9th cent. A.D.). See A. Velu Pillai 1976: pp. 5 and 143 for more examples from inscriptions of 6-9 cent. A.D. Cf. Te. *cēyu* 'to do', *cēta* 'doing' (D. 1957).

c28.s6.t1.69

**2.11** ***paḷi-y*** (*paḷḷi-*) (n.) 'hermitage'. ***-y*** is the paragogic suffix. See **1.9** for comments.

c28.s6.t1.70

**3.1 & 3.2** See under **1.1 & 1.2** respectively.

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**3.3** ***veḷ-aṟai-y*** (*veḷḷaṟai-*) (P.) Written as two independent words ***veḷ*** and ***aṟai***, followed by the paragogic suffix ***-y***. Cf. Tiru-veḷḷaṟai, a village in Tiruchirapalli District (*SII.* XIV:No. 12, Pāṇṭiya, 9th cent. A.D.). However, the place mentioned in the inscription may more plausibly be identified as the modern village of Veḷḷari-ppaṭṭi to the south of this hill (V. Vedachalam, personal communication). See Table 4.3.

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**a.** ***veḷ-*** (adj.) 'white' (D. 5496a).

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Cf. LT *veṇmai* 'white' (*Tivā.* 1389; *Piṅkala.* 1930; *Cūṭā.* 8:20); *veḷḷai* 'white' (*Tivā.* 2249; *Piṅkala.* 4098; *Cūṭā.* 11:265).

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**b.** ***aṟai*** (n.) 'rock' (D. 321).

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Cf. LT *aṟai* 'rock' (*Tivā.* 863; *Piṅkala.* 499; *Cūṭā.* 5:14).

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**3.4** ***nikamatu*** (*nikamattu*) (n. obl.) 'of the merchant guild'. See section 4.16.1.

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Cf. LT *nikamam* 'a caravan of merchants' (*TL*); *niyamattu* 'of the market place'. (*Patiṟ.* 15:19, 30:12); *niyamam* 'market' (*Tivā.* 2200); 'town, street' (*Piṅkala.*

c28.s6.t1.78

3727); *nikamam* 'town of *marutam* region' (*Cūṭā.* 5:40); 'main street' (ibid. 5:47). Cf. **nikamatōr** (**6.2**).

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Cf. *nigama* (Skt.) 'a caravan or company of merchants, market place' (MW); *nigama* (Pāli) 'market town'.

c28.s6.t1.80

Cf. (Pkt. inscr.) *nigama* 'town' (*Bhārhut Inscrs.* No. A5).

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*-tu* (*-ttu*) is the suffix of the oblique case.

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3.5 *kāviti-iy

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(n.) *kāviti* is an ancient title bestowed by the Pāṇṭiya kings on the Vēḷāḷar (*Tol. Poruḷ.* 30, comm., Nacc.), ministers (*Matu.* 497-99; *Tivā.* 188; *Piṅkala.* 842), palace officials (*Cilap.* 22:9) and Vaiśyas including women (*Peruṅ.* 2.3:144-45). In the present inscription, the title is borne by an official (see **3.6** below) who is also a member of the merchant guild of Veḷḷaṟai. Cf. also ***kāviti kōn*** 'chief *kāviti*' (**52.2**). See section 4.6.9.

c28.s6.t1.84

*- iy* is a variant of the paragogic suffix *-y*.

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Cf. (inscr.) *śrī kaviti* 'a title' (Pallava, ca. 7th cent. A.D., Michael Lockwood 1993: p. 163); *peruṅkāviti* id. (*Pallava Inscrs.* No. 119, 9th cent. A.D.); *kāvati* 'revenue officer' (*SII.* XIV: Nos. 16 & 27, Pāṇṭiya, ca. 8-9 cent. A.D.); *kāvati* 'a title' (Line 9, Copper Plate of Rājaśekhara, ca. 8-9 cent. A.D.; *kāvati-y-ār* id., Line 619, Tiruvalla Plates, ca. 9-10 cent. A.D. *TAS* II-III, reprint 1992); *kāviti* 'part of personal names' (*SII.* XIV: Nos. 79, 82, 83; 10th cent. A.D.).

c28.s6.t1.86

The expression *kāviti* seems to be derived ultimately from *gṛhapati* (Skt.) 'householder' > *gahapati* (Pkt.); cf. *gapati*/*gapiti* (Sinh. Pkt.) 'title borne by merchants and others' (Paranavitana 1970: Intr. pp. lxxxviii-lxxxix). The term *gahapati* occurs in Prakrit inscriptions as a title with the same meaning. It is likely that *kāviti* had a somewhat similar significance in early times in the Tamil country also. In still later times, the term *kāviti* came to mean an 'accountant' as in medieval Tamil inscriptions.

c28.s6.t1.87

Cf. LT *kāvitiyar* 'kaṇakkar (accountants)' (*Cūṭā.* 2:22).

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Cf. (inscr.) *kāvitimai ceyya . . . cempiyaṉ peruṅkāvitikku* 'To Cempiyaṉ Peruṅkāviti to do duty as an accountant' (*SII.* II: No. 66, Cōḻa, 11th cent. A.D.).

c28.s6.t1.89

3.6 *kāḷitika-

c28.s6.t1.90

Read *kāḷatika-*. From *kāḷ-atikaṉ* (n.) 'superintendent of pearls'. The error is probably due to the spoken form with accent on the first syllable. See section 4.6.7.

c28.s6.t1.91

a. ***kāḷ*** (n.) 'pearl' (*TL*). Cf. *kāḻ* 'seed, stone, nut, kernel' (D. 1493) giving the clue to the etymology of the word.

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Cf. LT *parūu-k-kāḻ-āram* 'garland of heavy pearls' (*Matu.* 681; *Cilap.* 4:41).

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**b. *itika*-** Read *atika-*. Attribute from *atikaṉ* (n.) 'superintendent, chief'. Cf. *atikaṉ* 'superior person' (*TL*); *adhika* (Pkt.) 'superintendent'; *adhyaksha* (Skt.) id.

c28.s6.t1.94

Cf. LT *atikaṉ*, N. of several chieftains (*Aka.* 162:18; *Kuṟun.* 393:4); *atikar* 'great personages' (*Cūṭā.* 12:99). Cf. ***kaṇatikaṉ*** 'chief of scribes' (**40.1**) for a similar designation. See section 4.6.6.

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**3.7 antai asutaṉ** N. of the donor.

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**a. *antai*** (n.) An honorific added as a term of respect to the name of a senior or elder person in the family or a person of rank or eminence in the village. In the Ta. Br. inscriptions, *antai* occurs either as a prefix as in this case or as a suffix; in the latter case, it is added either in free form as in ***kuvira-antai*** (**31.1**) or in bound form as in ***korṟantai*** (**67.1**). The honorific has survived in later times only as a bound suffix. See **66.2** for conclusive evidence on the meaning of *anṟai*. See section 3.2.2 (v) on the linguistic significance of the term.

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Cf. (inscr.) *antai-y cāmpāṉ* 'a personal name' (Kodumanal, Ta. Br. inscription on pottery; K. Rajan 1997:Fig. 11).

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Perhaps one of the last known occurrences of *antai* as an independent word is found in an early medieval inscription, *ivvūr antai iḻaiyār pavaṇanti* 'Iḻaiyār Pavaṇanti, the *antai* of this village' (M.D. Sampath 1968: pp. 157-162, 8th cent. A.D. The reading was checked again from the estampage by Sampath at my request).

c28.s6.t1.99

**b. *asutaṉ*** (*assutaṉ*) (N.) Cf. *assuta* (Pāli), *assuda* (AMg.) < *aśruta* (Skt.), lit., 'unheard'. The expression is attested as a personal name in Skt. (*MW*).

c28.s6.t1.100

**3.8 piṇa-u** (n.) 'cave' (?). Not attested elsewhere in this sense; but cf. *piḷavu* 'cleft, crevice' (D. 4194). This particular cave is in fact hardly more than a cleft in the rock. The proposed interpretation is tentative.

c28.s6.t1.101

**-*u*** is the derivational suffix added directly to the stem.

c28.s6.t1.102

**3.9 koṭupitōṉ** (*koṭuppittōṉ*) (v.) 'he who caused to be given'; past participial noun, causative, 3rd person masculine singular, from *koṭu* 'to give to 3rd person' (D. 2053).

c28.s6.t1.103

**Analysis**: *koṭu* (stem) + *pi* (causative suffix) + *t* (past tense marker) + *ōṉ* (PNG suffix). The consonants *-p-* and *-t-* are not doubled. The use of the participial noun rather than the finite verb is a characteristic feature of the Ta. Br. inscriptions. See section 7.30.

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Cf. LT *koṭuttal* 'to give' (*Piṅkala.* 3107; *Cūṭā.* 11:202).

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The Corpus provides examples of both *koṭṭu* 'to carve' and *koṭu* 'to give', which may be distinguished from the context and the differing grammatical forms (see Inscriptional Glossary in Appendix I).

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**4.1 kaṇi-y** (n.) 'title of the Jaina monk'. See **1.1**.

c28.s6.t1.107

**4.2 natti-y** N. of the senior Jaina monk. *-y* is the paragogic suffix.

c28.s6.t1.108

Cf. (Pkt. inscr.) *naṁdi*, *nadi* (Lüders List:Nos. 463-466 and 284 respectively) < *nandin* (Skt.). Note the omission of the nasal *ṁ* and doubling of the following consonant. Cf. ***natti*** (**69.3**). See also ***-nanti*** (**116.4.b**) and ***-ṇanti*** (**115.3.b**) occurring as part of the personal names of Jaina monks.

c28.s6.t1.109

**4.3 koṭiy-avaṉ** (*koṭṭi-*) (v.) 'he who carved (engraved)'; past participial noun, 3rd person masculine singular, from *koṭṭu* 'to hammer'.

c28.s6.t1.110

**Analysis:** *koṭu* (*koṭṭu*) (stem) + *i* (past tense marker) + *y* (glide) + *avaṉ* (PNG suffix in free form). The consonant *ṭ* is not doubled. Cf. ***koṭi-ōr*** (*koṭṭi-ōr*) (**6.3**) and ***koṭal-*** (*koṭṭal-*) (**12.2**).

c28.s6.t1.111

It appears from the context that this short inscription refers to the engraving by the monk of the longer main inscription (No. *1*) in this cave. Cf. (Te. inscr.) *koṭṭali* ... *koṭṭe* 'the stonecutter engraved (the inscription)' (K.A. Nilakanta Sastri and M. Venkataramayya 1947-48, *EI*. XXVII: pp. 240-242, Inscription J, ca. 8th cent. A.D., cited in K. Mahadeva Sastri 1969:No. 24.)

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Cf. LT *taṉ nāmam mēruviṉum kōṭṭiṉāṉē* 'he engraved his name even on Mt. Mēru', (*Villi*. *Pāyiram*:19).

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**5.1 cantaritaṉ** N. of the donor, which may also be read as *cantāritaṉ*.

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**a. *canta-*** Attribute from Cantaṉ (N.) Cf. *cantam* 'beauty' (D. 2328). Cantaṉ was one of the legendary liberal patrons (*Piṅkala*. 756; *Cūṭā*. 2:23).

c28.s6.t1.115

Alternatively, the name may also be derived from *caṁda* (Pkt.) < *candra* (Skt.) 'moon; also a personal name'. Cf. (Pkt. inscr.) *caṁda*, *caṁda-siri* 'personal names' (Lüders List:Nos. 1156, 1202-04 respectively). Cf. ***cantaṉ*** (**29.1.c**, **43.2.b**, **47.1.b**).

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