Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s7.t11.26

c28.s7.t11.26

These two inscriptions are charts of musical notations composed of individual letters (syllables) engraved on either side of the central inscription (No. **85**). The charts are arranged in a square format, each with five rows and five columns. The chart at left (No. **86**) is made up of the syllables ***ta***, ***tā***, ***tē*** and ***tai***. The chart at right (No. **87**) is made up of the syllables ***kai***, ***ta*** and ***tai***. A remarkable feature of the charts is that the syllables are arranged symmetrically in columns and rows, to read alike from either end, horizontally as well as vertically. It is this feature which has helped in the restoration of missing or damaged syllables in the two charts (especially No. **87** which is more severely damaged).