Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s7.t12.10

c28.s7.t12.10

Not all the *ghaṭikās* were restricted to Brahman membership or engaged in Vedic studies. Thus, for example, the *ghaṭikā* at Poyyāmoḻimaṅkalam had as one of its members (*kaṭikaiyār*) a renowned Tamil scholar referred to as *muttamiḻ ācāriyar āṉa tamiḻ karaikaṇṭa cāttaṉār* 'Cāttaṉ of unbounded Tamil learning and teacher of the three branches of Tamil (i.e., *iyal, icai* and *nāṭakam*)' (*SII.* XXVI: No. 319, fragmentary, from Tirukkacciyūr). This *kaṭikai* was obviously an institution devoted to Tamil studies.