Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s6.t17.13

c28.s6.t17.13

**56.5 eḻamakaṉ** (n.) Title of a member of the ancient martial clan of Iḻaiyar or Iḻamakkaḷ. See **49.6** for further comments. The title suggests that the ***eḻamakaṉ*** (LT *iḷamakaṉ*) was probably a 'warrior-attendant' of the *a(n)tai* of Nākavērūr, even though the word order does not make this explicit. We learn from herostone inscriptions (ca. 6-9 cent. A.D.) that the *iḷamakaṉ* rendered military service to the master to whom he was attached and was consequently known as the *cēvakaṉ* '(warrior)-attendant'. It is incorrect to interpret the clan name *iḷamakaṉ* literally as *iḷaiya makaṉ* 'younger son'. (See *Pallava Inscrs.* Nos. 282, 284, 286 & 296, herostones, ca. 7th cent. A.D. See also *Chengam Naṭukaṟkaḷ*). It is interesting that the master and his warrior-attendant joined in making the gift of the stone bed.