Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s6.t13.42

c28.s6.t13.42

**49.8 atiṭ-aṇam** Read *atiṭ-āṇam* (*atiṭṭānam*) (n.) 'seat'. Cf. *adhiṭṭhāna* (Pāli) 'fixed permanent abode' (*PED*), 'resting place' (*DPL*); < *adhiṣṭhāna* (Skt.) 'abode, seat' (*MW*). The expression corresponds to LT *irukkai*. Cf. (Pāli inscr.) *adhisṭāna* 'establishment' (Asoka, *CII.* I:Gir. V.4). Cf. (Pkt. inscr.) *adhiṭhāna* 'capital city' (Amaravati, C.Sivaramamurti 1977 reprint:No. 102). The term occurs in the Ta. Br. inscriptions in the sense of 'stone beds' carved on the floor of the caves, generally provided with raised pillow-lofts at the head side for the use of resident Jaina monks. See **No. 63** which mentions the cutting (carving) of the **atiṭṭāṉam** and **No. 76** which refers to **atiṭāṉam 3** ('three stone beds') in the cave. The pause between *ṭ* and-*a* (read *-ā*) seems to be an archaic orthographic convention in lieu of doubling the consonant. Cf. **ataṭ-aṇam** (**atiṭṭāṇam**) (**50.3**). See section 6.19.1. **Early contacts with Karnataka** The most remarkable feature of the inscription is the evidence it provides for the interaction of the Jainas from Karnataka with their co-religionists in the Tamil country at such an early date. This inscription also attests to the influence of Old Kannada on Old Tamil in this early period. See section 3.2.4 for discussion.