Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s6.t1.23

c28.s6.t1.23

**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).