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Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s7.t2: XX. Pugalur

Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s7.t2

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XX. Pugalur

c28.s7.t2.1

**61 & 62** The two longer inscriptions at this site are near-identical and may be studied together.

c28.s7.t2.2

**61.1 mutā** (adj.) 'senior, elder'. Title of the resident Jaina monk. Cf. *mutu* 'old', *mutiyavaṉ* 'elder, senior'; *mū-* 'older, senior'; *mūtu* 'oldness, elderliness' (D. 4954).

c28.s7.t2.3

62.1 mūtā

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Cf. LT *mūtāḷar* 'old men' (*Puṟa.* 52:14); *mūtaṟi peṇṭir* 'women well-versed in ancient lore' (*Peruṅ.* 1.42:90); *mutumai* 'oldness' (*Tivā.*1500; *Piṅkala.* 1949-50); *mūtu* 'oldness' (*Tivā.*1500, variant reading); *mūtāṭkaḷ* 'ancestors' (*TL*).

c28.s7.t2.5

Cf. (inscr.) *mūtta araṭṭanēmi paṭārar* 'N. and title of a senior Jaina monk' (*SII.* V: No. 398, Pāṇṭiya, ca. 9th cent. a.d.).

c28.s7.t2.6

The present inscriptional forms appear to be formed from the adjectival bases *mutu* / *mūtu* with the addition of the adjectival suffix *-ā*. See also **23.1**, **65.1** & **66.1** for the occurrence of *-ā* as a genitive suffix. These two suffixes are not attested in LT. The corresponding LT forms are *mutiya*/*mūtta* respectively. (See **66.1** for discussion; see also section 7.27.4).

c28.s7.t2.7

**61.2 amaṇṇaṉ** (n.) 'Jaina monk', from *amaṇ* + *aṉ* (PNG suffix) with consequent doubling of *ṉ*, the stem-final consonant, not required in LT. The corresponding LT form is *amaṇaṉ*. See **24.1**, **63.4.b** and section 7.15.3 for further discussion. **62.2 (a)maṇṇaṉ**

c28.s7.t2.8

Sandhi: *mūtā* + *amaṇṇaṉ* > *mūtāmaṇṇaṉ*.

c28.s7.t2.9

**61.3 yāṟṟūr** (P.) It may be identified as modern Āttūr near Karur. See Table 4.3.

c28.s7.t2.10

**a. yāṟṟu** oblique form of *yāṟu* (n.) 'river' (D. 5159).

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Cf. LT *yāṟu* 'river' (*Piṅkala.* 550).

c28.s7.t2.12

**b. ūr** (n.) 'village'. See **19.2**.

c28.s7.t2.13

**62.3 yāṟṟu** See **61.3** above. The expression *yāṟṟu* may be regarded in this context as an abbreviation of *yāṟṟūr*.

c28.s7.t2.14

**61.4** & **62.4 ceṅkāyapaṉ** N. of the resident senior Jaina monk. His name is also engraved on a stone bed, presumably his seat, inside the cave (**63.2**).

c28.s7.t2.15

**a. ce(m)-** (adj.) 'good, straight'. Attribute of the name of the monk. Sandhi: *-m* > *-ṅ-* before *-k*. See **22.1.a** for further comments.

c28.s7.t2.16

**b. kāyapaṉ** Personal name of the monk. See **14.1.b** for further comments.

c28.s7.t2.17

**61.5** & **62.5 uṟai-y** (n.) 'abode (of ascetics)'. *-y* is the paragogic suffix. See **9.3**.

c28.s7.t2.18

**61.6** & **62.6 kō** (n.) 'king' (D. 2177).

c28.s7.t2.19

Cf. LT *em kō vāḻiya kuṭumi* 'Long live Kuṭumi, our King!' (*Puṟa.* 9:8); *kō* 'king' (*Tivā.* 178; *Piṅkala.* 3440; *Cūṭā.* 2:12).

c28.s7.t2.20

Cf. (inscr.) *kō-c-cēntaṉ-kūṟṟaṟku* 'of King Cēntaṉ Kūṟṟaṉ' (Pulankurichi Inscrs. II. 1, ca. 5th cent. a.d.); *kō vicaiya simhavarmmaṟku* 'of the victorious King Simhavarman (*Pallava Inscrs.* No. 17, ca. 6th cent. a.d.); *kō māṟaṉ-cēntaṉ* 'King Māṟaṉ Cēntaṉ' (*ARE* 358/1959 -60, Pāṇṭiya, 7th cent. a.d.).

c28.s7.t2.21

When suffixed, *-kō* has the meaning 'prince' as in [***i\****]***ḷaṅkō*** (**61.12** & **62.12**) and ***iḷaṅkaṭuṅkō*** (**61.11** & **62.11**). See also **88.4** where [***kō-\****] means 'chief'.

c28.s7.t2.22

**61.7 ātaṉ cel-l=irumpoṟai** **62.7 ā [ta*ṉ* ce*] l-l=irumpuṟai** N. of the king. The Irumboṟai branch of the Cēra dynasty ruled from Karuvūr (Karur). See section 4.3.1 for identification of the Irumboṟais mentioned in the inscriptions. The literary evidence is summarised below.

c28.s7.t2.23

Cf. LT *cēramāṉ kaṭuṅkō vāḻi-y-ātaṉ* (*Puṟa.* 8:colophon); *celva-k-kaṭuṅkō vāḻi-y-ātaṉ* (ibid. 387:30); *cēramāṉ cikkarpaḷḷi-t- tuñciya celva-k-kaṭuṅkō vāḻi-y-ātaṉ* (ibid. 387:colophon); *celva-k-kaṭuṅkō vāḻi-y-ātaṉ* (*Patiṟ.* Patikam 7); *celva-k-kaṭuṅkō* (ibid. Patikam 8); *celva-k-kō* (*Patiṟ.* 63:16); *vāḻi āta!* (ibid. 63:21); *celva-k-kōmāṉ* (ibid. 67:23); *celli-k-kōmāṉ* (*Aka.* 216:12).

c28.s7.t2.24

**a. ātaṉ** Personal name of the king. See also **kō-v=ātaṉ (-ātaṉ)** 'King Ātaṉ' (**82.1-2**). The name Ātaṉ was also borne by commoners (**70.2.b & 74.2.a.**).

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**b. cel** Apparently another personal name of the king; *cel* also occurs in the personal name of another Cēra king, Palyāṉai Cel Keḻu Kuṭṭuvaṉ (hero of the Third Decade, *Patiṟ.*). **cel** may be regarded as a personal name derived from *cel* 'thunderbolt' (*Patiṟ.* 52:10; 58:4). Cf. *cel* 'thunder' (*Tivā.* 147; *Piṅkala.* 60; *Cūṭā.* 1:92). It is also possible that *cel* is the stem of *cel-v-am*, 'wealth, prosperity' (D. 2786) from which *celva-*, the name of the king attested in LT may be derived. Alternatively, *cel* may be a scribal error for *cēral*, the letter *ra* being omitted by oversight. (Unfortunately, **No. 62** is damaged here and hence this supposition cannot be confirmed.)

c28.s7.t2.26

Sandhi: the stem-final consonant *l* is doubled in **cel-l=irumpoṟai/puṟai.**

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***irumpoṟai (irumpuṟai*** in **62.7)** A generic name of the branch of the Cēra dynasty which ruled from Karur (*Patiṟ.* 85, comm.; 86, comm.; 89:9; *Patikams* 8 and 9).

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The literal meaning of ***irumpoṟai*** is 'the great sustainer'. Cf. LT *irumpoṟai* (neuter noun) 'great forbearance' (*Kampa.* 5.14.29). The homonymy with *irumpoṟai* 'dark boulder' is mere coincidence. See also **poṟai** below.

c28.s7.t2.29

The variant ***irumpuṟai*** (**62.7**) occurs also on the coins of the dynasty found at Karur. See **No. 8, Table 1.6** and **Fig. 1.22 C.**

c28.s7.t2.30

**c. irum-** (adj.) 'great'. Cf. *irumai* 'greatness' (D. 481). Cf. LT *irumpaṟai* 'the large drum' (*Puṟa.* 263:2); *irumai* 'greatness' (*Tivā.* 1363; *Piṅkala.* 2225; *Cūṭā.* 8:10).

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**d. poṟai (puṟai** in **62.7).** A generic name of the Cēra dynasty (of both branches).

c28.s7.t2.32

Cf. LT *poṟaiyaṉ* 'Cēra king' (*Aka.* 60:7; *Naṟṟ.* 8:9; *Tivā.* 180; *Piṅkala.* 745). The expression means lit., 'bearer' or 'sustainer' from *poṟu* 'to bear, sustain' (D. 4565); *poṟuttal* 'to bear' (*Tivā.* 1614); *poṟaiyāḷaṉ* 'Dharmaputra, lit., one with forbearance' (*Piṅkala.* 739); *poṟaiyaṉ* 'Dharmaputra' (*Cūṭā.* 2:14);

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*pavattukku ellām tāṉ oru poṟaiyaṉ āki* 'being the One Sustainer of all beings' (*Kōṉēri. Upatēca.*: *Civapuṇṇiya.* 344; *poṟaiyaṉ* is explained here as *cumaiyāḷ*, lit., 'load-bearer'.)

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The variant *puṟai* occurs on the copper coins of the dynasty (See No. 7, Table 1.6 and Fig. 1.22B). See also Bh. Krishnamurti 1958a for the alternation of *u*/*o* in South Dravidian.

c28.s7.t2.35

***makaṉ*** (n.) 'son'

c28.s7.t2.36

***peruṅkaṭuṅkōṉ*** N. of the senior prince and son of King Ātaṉ Cel Irumporai. As he is not given the royal title *kō*, it can be inferred that he was still a prince when these inscriptions were engraved, although he was old enough to have had a son. The literary evidence indicates that he assumed the royal name Peruñceral Irumporai when he ascended the throne. He became famous as the victor of the battle of Takaṭūr and is the hero of the Eighth Decade of *Patiṟṟuppattu*. (*Puṟa.* 5:colophon, 50:colophon; *Patiṟ.* 78:9; *Patikam* 8).

c28.s7.t2.37

**a. *peru(m)-*** (adj.) 'great' (D. 4411). Sandhi: *-m* > *-ṅ-* before *-k*.

c28.s7.t2.38

Cf. LT *peruñ-cēral irumpoṟai* (see citations above); *perumai* 'greatness' (*Tivā.* 1368; *Piṅkala.* 2225; *Cūṭā.* 8:10).

c28.s7.t2.39

Cf. (inscr.) *peruṉ-tiṇai* 'title of a high office' (Pulankurichi Inscrs. II.11, ca. 5th cent. A.D.); *mutukuṭumi-p-peruvaluti* 'N. of a Pāṇṭiya king' (*Pāṇṭiyar Ceppēṭukaḷ*: No. 1, Line 32, 8th cent. A.D.).

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**b. *kaṭu(m)-*** (adj.) 'ferocious'. Cf. *kaṭumai* 'ferocity' (D. 1135); an attribute prefixed to names and titles of kings and chieftains.

c28.s7.t2.41

Sandhi: *-m* > *-ṅ-* before *-k*.

c28.s7.t2.42

Cf. LT *māntaraṉ poṟaiyaṉ kaṭuṅkō* 'N. of a Cēra king' (*Aka.* 142:4-5); *kaṭumān*, title of several kings and chieftains (e.g., *Puṟa.* 43:11; *Aka.* 134:13); *kaṭumai* 'ferocity, severity' (*Tivā.* 1446; *Piṅkala.* 1865; *Cūṭā.* 8:60).

c28.s7.t2.43

The epithet *kaṭu(m)-* was translated as *ugra-* (Skt.) in the name Ukkira Peruvaluti, the Pāṇṭiya king in whose court *Akanāṉūṟu* was compiled. *Cūṭā.* (8:60) lists *ukkiram* (< *ugra*) as synonym of *kaṭumai*.

c28.s7.t2.44

Cf. (inscr.) *kaṭuṅkōṉ*, N. of a Pāṇṭiya king (*Pāṇṭiyar Ceppēṭukaḷ*: No. 1, Line 45, 8th cent. A.D.). See especially the present inscriptions (Nos. *61* & *62*) for the frequent occurrence of *kaṭu(m)-* with the names of the Irumporai princes. See also ***kaṭummi-*** (**80.1.a**).

c28.s7.t2.45

**c. *kōṉ*** (n.) 'king, great man'; here the term occurs as part of the personal name of the prince.

c28.s7.t2.46

**61.10 & 62.10 *makaṉ*** (n.) 'son'. Note the repetition of the word *makaṉ*, thus avoiding the term 'grandson' normally found in similar genealogical narrations in Pkt. and Skt. Copper Plates.

c28.s7.t2.47

Cf. LT *ayaṉ makaṉ makaṉ makaṉ* 'son's son's son of Ayaṉ' (*Kampa.* 5.10.48).

c28.s7.t2.48

**61.11 [*i\**]***ḷaṅkaṭuṅkō*** N. of the grandson of King Ātaṉ Cel Irumporai and son of the senior prince Peruṅkaṭuṅkōṉ. The names Kaṭuṅkō and Kaṭuṅkōṉ, with or without the attributes *perum-* (senior) or *iḷam-* (junior), were apparently borne by alternate generations of the Irumporai dynasty as indicated in these inscriptions. When Iḷaṅkaṭuṅkō ascended the throne in his turn, he assumed the royal title Iḷañcēral Irumporai. He is the hero of the Ninth Decade of *Patiṟṟuppattu* (*Patiṟ.* 85:comm.; *Patikam* 9).

c28.s7.t2.49

Sandhi: *-m* > *-ṅ-* before *-k.*

c28.s7.t2.50

**a. *iḷa(m)-*** **See 2.7.a.**

c28.s7.t2.51

**b. *kaṭu(m)-*** **See 61.9.b.**

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**c. *kō* See 61.6.**

c28.s7.t2.53

**62.11 *kaṭuṅkōṉ* [*i\**]***ḷaṅkaṭuṅkō*** (N.) Longer variant of the name indicating that [I*]ḷaṅkaṭuṅkō is the son of Kaṭuṅkōṉ alias Peruṅkaṭuṅkōṉ. See **61.11** for further comments.

c28.s7.t2.54

**a. *kaṭu(m)-*** **See 61.9.b.**

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**b. *kōṉ* See 61.9.c.**

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**c. *iḷa(m)-* See 2.7.a.**

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**d. *kaṭu(m)-* See 61.9.b.**

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**e. *kō* See 61.6.**

c28.s7.t2.59

**61.12 & 62.12 [*i\**]***ḷaṅkō*** (n.) 'prince, heir apparent'.

c28.s7.t2.60

It is on the occasion of the investiture of Kaṭuṅkōṉ Iḷaṅkaṭuṅkō as *iḷaṅkō* (heir apparent) that the cave shelter was made and gifted to Ceṅkāyapaṉ, the senior Jaina monk. Cf. Iḷaṅkō Aṭikaḷ, N. of the Cēra prince (the younger brother of Cēraṉ Ceṅkuṭṭuvaṉ) who renounced any claim to the throne of his father and became a Jaina monk; he is considered to be the author of *Cilappatikāram* according to tradition (*Cilap.* *Patikam* 1-2, comm.).

c28.s7.t2.61

Cf. LT *iḷaṅkō vēntaṉ* 'king's younger brother' (*Cilap.* 16:193); *iḷaṅkō* 'king's son, prince' (*Maṇi.* 4:125).

c28.s7.t2.62

Cf. (inscr.) *iḷaṅkō-p-paruvattu* 'when (he was) the heir apparent' (*SII.* II: No. 58, Cōḻa, 11th cent. A.D.).

c28.s7.t2.63

**a. *iḷa(m)-* See 2.7.a.**

c28.s7.t2.64

**b. *kō* See 61.6.**

c28.s7.t2.65

**61.13 & 62.13** **āka** (v.) 'when (he) became, having become'; infinitive of cause (in absolute construction) from *āku* 'to be, happen, come into existence' (D. 333).

c28.s7.t2.66

**Analysis:** *āku* (stem) + *a* (suffix of the infinitive). Cf. **ēva (76.2)**.

c28.s7.t2.67

Cf. LT *neñcu kaḷaṉ āka* '(your) heart being (my) place' (*Kuṟun.* 36:3); *iṉiya uḷa-v-āka* 'when there are sweet (words)'! (*Kuṟaḷ.* 100).

c28.s7.t2.68

Cf. (inscr.) *tiru-v-irācciyañ-cellā niṉṟatu patiṉēḻ-āka* 'when (the king) had reigned for seventeen (years)' (*ARE* 358/1959-60, Pāṇḍiya, 7th cent. A.D.).

c28.s7.t2.69

**61.14 aṟutta** (v.) 'which was carved'; adjectival past participle from *aṟu* 'to cut' (D. 315).

c28.s7.t2.70

**Analysis:** *aṟu* (stem) + *tt* (past tense marker) + *a* (participial suffix).

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Cf. LT *kuṟavar aṟiyātu aṟutta ciṟiyilai-c-cāntam* 'the small-leaved sandalwood tree unwittingly cut by the Kuṟavar' (*Naṟṟ.* 64:4-5); *aṟuttal* 'to cut, carve' (*Tivā.* 1645; *Piṅkala.* 2145; *Cūṭā.* 11:172).

c28.s7.t2.72

Cf. (inscr.) *ikkālkaḷil* . . . *kuraṅk(u)-aṟuttum* 'cutting the feeder channels from the main canals (for irrigation)' (*Pallava Inscrs.* No. 77, Line 118, 8th cent. A.D.).

c28.s7.t2.73

**62.14 aṟupita** (*aṟuppitta*) (v.) 'which was caused to be carved'; adjectival past participle from *aṟu* 'to cut'.

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**Analysis:** *aṟu* (stem) + *pi* (causative suffix) + *t* (past tense marker) + *a* (participial suffix). The consonants *-p-* and *-t-* are not doubled.

c28.s7.t2.75

Note that **aṟutta (61.14)** and the causative form **aṟupita** (*aṟuppitta*) **(62.14)** are employed in the same context.

c28.s7.t2.76

**61.15 & 62.15** **kal** (n.) 'stone'. The term refers to the rock shelter carved into an abode (of ascetics). See **14.3.a** for further comments.

c28.s7.t2.77

**63.1 yāṟṟūr** (P.) See **61.3**.

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**63.2 ceṅkāyapaṉ** (N.) See **61.4**.

c28.s7.t2.79

**63.3 [*t*]āvaṇ-ūr** (*tāvaṇūr*) (P.) Native place of the donor.

c28.s7.t2.80

**a. tāvaṇ** Probably a personal name. Cf. *tāvu* 'might, strength' (*Tivā.* 1402).

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**b. ūr** (n.) 'village'. See **19.2**.

c28.s7.t2.82

**63.4 piṉ-aṉ kuṟṟaṉ** N. of the donor.

c28.s7.t2.83

**a. piṉ-aṉ** (*piṉṉaṉ*) lit., 'younger brother' < *piṉ* 'afterwards, subsequent, younger brother' (D. 4205), but occurring here as a personal name.

c28.s7.t2.84

Cf. LT *piṉṉaṉai naṭpoṭu maṟṟavar kāṇum* 'the younger brother was looked at with affection by the other' (*Iraku. Avatāra.* 13); *piṉṉavaṉ* 'younger brother' (*Piṅkala.* 911); *piṉ, piṉṉōṉ* id. (*Cūṭā.* 2:77).

c28.s7.t2.85

The PNG suffix *-aṉ* is added in free form and the stem-final *-ṉ* in *piṉ* is not doubled. The *oṟṟu* *-p-* occurs in ***tāvaṉ-ūr-p-piṉ-aṉ***. See also ***tiṭi-k-kāttāṉ*** (**58. 1-2**).

c28.s7.t2.86

**b.** ***kuṟṟaṉ*** Part of the personal name of the donor; lit., 'the short one' from *kuṟu* 'short' (D. 1851). Cf. Ta. *kuṟiyōṉ* 'person of short stature'; (Ma.) *kuṟu* 'little'; (Te.) *kuṟṟa* 'boy, child' (ibid.).

c28.s7.t2.87

Note that in this segment of the name, ***kuṟṟaṉ*** (*kuṟu* + *aṉ*) occurs with elision of the stem-final *-u* and doubling of the consonant *ṟ*.

c28.s7.t2.88

An exceptional doubling of the word-final consonant *ṉ* occurs in the phrase ***kuṟṟaṉṉ aṟupitta***. The doubling (***-ṉṉ-***) is due to the implicit sandhi with the succeeding word *aṟupitta* commencing with a vowel. However, the final ***ṉ*** is written separately and not combined with the following vowel. See also ***amaṇṇaṉ*** (**61.2 & 62.2**), ***kaṭummi*** (**80.1.a**) and ***tuṟukayyuḷḷāru*** (**114.1-2**). A stem-final consonant (other than *r* and *ḻ*) is doubled in LT only if the stem is monosyllabic with a short vowel. Hence the doubling of stem-final consonant in these cases is exceptional.

c28.s7.t2.89

Cf. (inscr.) *-avaru tamaraiyum-m=avaru kuṭikaḷaiyum* 'his attendants and his tenants' (Pulankurichi Inscrs. I.16-17, ca. 5th cent. A.D.).

c28.s7.t2.90

The following examples are from later Tamil inscriptions (6-8 cent. A.D.):

c28.s7.t2.91

*kāttāṉṉ=aṭi*; *māṟaṉṉ=eyiṉaṉ*; *muttaraiyaṉṉ=āyiṉa*; *teṉṉavaṉṉ=iḷaṅkō* (cited in A.Velu Pillai 1976:pp. 35-36). See also section 7.15.3.

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**63.5** ***aṟupitta*** (*aṟuppitta*) (v.) 'which was caused to be carved'. See **62.14**.

c28.s7.t2.93

**63.6** ***atiṭṭāṉam*** (n.) 'seat'. See **49.8**.

c28.s7.t2.94

**64.1** ***atiṭṭāṉṉam*** Read *atiṭṭāṉam* (n.) 'seat'. Only one word has survived in this fragmentary inscription. See **49.8** for further comments.

c28.s7.t2.95

***65 & 66*** These two inscriptions have near-identical texts which may be studied together:

c28.s7.t2.96

**65.1** ***nali-[y]-ūr-ā*** (*nalliyūr-ā*) 'of Nalliyūr' (P.) in genitive case.

c28.s7.t2.97

**66.1** ***nalli-[y]-ūr-ā*** id.

c28.s7.t2.98

**65.1.a** ***nali-y-*** **66.1.a** ***nalli-y-***

c28.s7.t2.99

Part of the place name. Cf. *nal* (adj.) 'good' (D. 3610).

c28.s7.t2.100

Cf. (inscr.) *nallimaṅkalam* 'a place name' (*SII.* XIV:No. 12A, Pāṇṭiya, ca. 8-9 cent. A.D.).

c28.s7.t2.101

The consonant *-l-* is doubled in one case but not in the other, proving that long consonants existed in the language and the avoidance of doubled consonants in writing is only an orthographic feature, influenced by Pkt. inscriptional orthography. Cf. *koṟi* / *koṟṟi* (65.4.b & 66.4.b). See section 6.17.

c28.s7.t2.102

*-y-* may be regarded either as the paragogic suffix or glide in these cases.

c28.s7.t2.103

65.1.b & 66.1.b **ūr-ā** (n. in genitive case) 'of the village'. See 19.2 for further comments.

c28.s7.t2.104

The genitive suffix *-ā* is written separately. The suffix (in 23.1 also) is not attested in LT. However, *-ā* occurs as the genitive suffix in Old Kannada inscriptions, especially after place names and is regarded as earlier than *-a*, the more common genitive suffix in Kannada (A.N. Narasimhia 1941:pp. 147-151; G. S. Gai 1946:pp. 54-58). (e.g.) (Ka. inscr.) *inaṅgūr-ā*, *navilūr-ā*, *vāgūr-ā*, *vēgūr-ā*, (Narasimhia); *kaḍatūr-ā*, *kaḍambūr-ā*, *puttūr-ā* (Gai). See also *mutā* and *mūtā* (61.1 & 62.1) where *-ā* appears to be an adjectival suffix not attested in LT. See section 7.27.4.

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65.2 **piṭaṉ** (*piṭṭaṉ*). N. of the father of the donor. The consonant *-ṭ-* is not doubled.

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66.2 **piṭantai** (*piṭṭantai*); same as *piṭaṉ* (*piṭṭaṉ*); construed as *piṭaṉ* (name) + *antai* (honorific). The consonant *-ṭ-* is not doubled and the PNG suffix*-aṉ* is elided in sandhi.

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Piṭṭaṉ was the celebrated Cēra army commander who served under Peruñcēral Irumporai (*Aka*. 77 & 143; *Puṟa*. 170 & 172. See M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy 1968: pp. 122-124 for discussion on Piṭṭaṉ and his son, Piṭṭaṅ-koṟṟaṉ). Cf. also *koṟṟantai* (67.1). See section 4.5.2.

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**a. piṭa(ṉ)** (*piṭṭaṉ*) (N.) See 65.2.

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**b. (a)ntai** (n.) 'an honorific'. See 3.7.a and 29.1.b for discussion.

c28.s7.t2.110

The present pair of inscriptions with the following near-identical openings proves conclusively that *pi(ṭ)taṉ* and *pi(ṭ)tantai* are variants of the same name and the latter cannot be interpreted as *piṭṭaṉ tantai* 'father of Piṭṭaṉ':

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*nalli-[y]-ūr-ā piṭaṉ kuṟummakaḷ kīraṉ koṟi* (No. 65).

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*nalli-[y]-ūr-ā piṭantai makaḷ kīraṉ koṟṟi* (No. 66).

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This conclusion is reinforced by further evidence as follows:

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(i) *piṭantai makaḷ* (No. 66), if translated as 'Piṭṭaṉ's father's daughter' makes no sense.

c28.s7.t2.115

(ii) *antai* occurs as a prefix to personal names in the Ta. Br. inscriptions, as in *antai ariyti* (No. 25), where the translation 'father of Ariyti' would not be permitted by the syntax.

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(iii) A folk ballad (*Nīli Yaṭcakāṇam*) enumerates members of a family as follows:

c28.s7.t2.117

*kottantai nākantai kuppantai kaṇṇantai*
*cittantai vāḻvantai ceyyantai* (*Nīli*. 87.4)

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Surely not all members of the family would be named after their sons! (What were they called before they had sons?) The ballad also refers to *nākantai pēraṉ* 'grandson of Nākantai' (ibid. 43), *kottantai pēra*(ṟ)* grandson of Kottantai' (ibid. 88) and *nākantai ceṭṭiyār kumāraṉ-āṉa tericaṇa ceṭṭiyār* 'Tericaṇa Ceṭṭiyār, son of Nākantai Ceṭṭiyār' (ibid. 43, prose passage). In these contexts, *-antai* cannot possibly mean 'father of'.

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In the light of the evidence briefly summarised above, it has become necessary to re-examine the relevant grammatical sūtras (*Tol. Eḻu*. 347, comm., Nacc.; *Naṉṉ*. 238, comm., Mayilai.) and reinterpret them to be consistent with actual usage. See also section 3.2.2(v).

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**65.3 kuṟummakaḷ** Cf. LT *kuṟumakaḷ* (n.) 'daughter'.

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Sandhi: *kuṟu* + *makaḷ* > *kuṟummakaḷ* with exceptional doubling of the stem-initial consonant *m*. Alternatively, this may be construed as two words, *kuṟum makaḷ* 'young daughter'.

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**a. *kuṟum*-** (adj.) 'little (young)'. Cf. *kuṟu* 'short' (Ta.), 'little' (Ma.) (D. 1851).

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Cf. LT *kuṟumakaḷ* 'little (young) daughter' (*Naṟṟ*. 61:5, 66:11); *kuṟumai* 'shortness' (*Cūṭā*. 11:291); *kuṟumakkaḷ* 'little (young) children' (ibid. 2:81);

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**b. *makaḷ*** (n.) 'daughter' (D. 4616).

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Cf. LT *makaḷ* 'daughter' (*Tivā*. 277; *Piṅkala*. 921; *Cūṭā*. 2:81).

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**66.3 makaḷ** (n.) 'daughter'.

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The parallel passages show that *kuṟummakaḷ* and *makaḷ* have the same meaning 'daughter' here.

c28.s7.t2.128

**65.4 kīraṉ koṟi** **66.4 kīraṉ koṟṟi** N. of the donor of the cave shelter and stone bed. As she is referred to as the daughter of Piṭṭaṉ / Piṭṭantai, the composite name cannot be interpreted as 'Koṟṟi, the daughter of Kīraṉ'. See **65.4.b**.

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**a. *kīraṉ*** A personal name. More than 20 poets of the Caṅkam Age have Kīraṉ as part of their names (M.A. Dorai Rangaswamy 1968: pp. 53-62; *Caṅka kāla pulavarkaḷ*: Index). Cf. also *kīrantai* (*Cilap*. 23:42).

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Cf. (inscr.) *kīraṉ-kāri* 'a personal name' (Pulankurichi Inscrs. II.11, ca. 5th cent. A.D.).

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**65.4.b *koṟi* (*koṟṟi*)** **66.4.b *koṟṟi***

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(N. fem.) The consonant *-ṟ-* is doubled in one case but not in the other. Cf. **65.1.a** and **66.1.a**. See **1.9** for discussion.

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Cf. LT *peruṅkāṭṭu-k-kor̲r̲i* 'the goddess Kor̲r̲i of the great forest' (*Kali.* 89:8); *kor̲r̲i* 'Kāṭukāḷ (goddess of the forest)' (*Tivā.* 17; *Piṅkala.* 3438; *Cūṭā.* 11:281). The name is derived from *kor̲r̲am* 'victory, sovereignty' (D. 2169).

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Cf. (inscr.) *nakkaṉ-kor̲r̲i* (*SII.* XIV: No. 3, Pāṇṭiya, 8th cent. A.D.); *caṭaiyaṉ-kor̲r̲i*, *kuṭiyaṉ-kor̲r̲i* (*SII.* V: Nos. 324 & 342 respectively, Pāṇṭiya, ca. 9th cent. A.D.) 'personal names (fem.)'.

c28.s7.t2.135

The absence of the sandhi *ṉ* + *k* >-ṅk- in the composite name as prescribed in Tol. *Eḻu.* 350 may be significant, as Kor̲r̲i is not the daughter of Kīraṉ. Cf. inscriptional names cited above. Cf. also *mōnalaṉ-cāttaṉ* (**121.2**).

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**65.5 ceyipita** (*ceyipitta*) (v.) 'which was caused to be made'; adjectival past participle, causative, from *ceyi* (LT *cey*) 'to make'.

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**Analysis:** *ceyi* (stem) + *pi* (causative suffix) + *t* (past tense marker) + *a* (participial suffix). The consonant -*t*- is not doubled. See **ceyivitta** (**83.5**) and **ceypita** (**89.3**). Cf. LT *ceyvitta*.

c28.s7.t2.138

**65.6 paḷi** (*paḷḷi*) (n.) 'hermitage'. See **1.9** for comments.

c28.s7.t2.139

**66.5 atiṭāṉam** (*atiṭṭāṉam*) (n.) 'seat'. The consonant -ṭ- is not doubled. See **49.8** for discussion.

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Note that in these two closely parallel inscriptions (Nos. *65* & *66*), **paḷi** (*paḷḷi*) stands for the 'hermitage' and **atiṭāṉam** (*atiṭṭāṉam*) for a 'seat (stone bed)'. The inscriptions also indicate that Kīraṉ Kor̲r̲i is the donor and not the occupant of the stone bed.

c28.s7.t2.141

**67.1 kor̲r̲antai** [**i\***]**ḷava**[**ṉ**] N. of the donor. The first part of the name is construed as *kor̲r̲aṉ* + *antai* (honorific) with the elision of the PNG suffix *-aṉ* in sandhi. Cf. **piṭaṉ**/**piṭantai** (**65.2** & **66.2**). The composite name probably indicates that Iḷavaṉ is the son of Kor̲r̲antai. It is just possible that Kor̲r̲antai of this inscription (No. **67**) is the son of Piṭṭaṉ/Piṭṭantai and brother of Kīraṉ Kor̲r̲i, the donor of the adjacent cave shelter (Nos. **65** & **66**). See also section 4.5.2.

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**a. kor̲r̲a-** From *kor̲r̲aṉ*, a personal name, derived from *kor̲r̲am* 'victory, sovereignty' (*TL*); *kor̲r̲avaṉ* 'king, victor' (D. 2169). Cf. **kor̲r̲i** (**66.4.b**).

c28.s7.t2.143

Cf. LT *araneṟi muṭar̲r̲e araciṉ kor̲r̲am* 'the king's sovereignty arises from righteous conduct' (*Pur̲a.* 55:10); *kaivaḷ īkai-k-kaṭumān kor̲r̲a* 'Kaṭumān Kor̲r̲aṉ, the liberal patron' (*Pur̲a.* 168:17; this poem is by Karuvūr Kantappiḷḷai Cāttaṉār on Piṭṭaṉ-kor̲r̲aṉ); *kor̲r̲avaṉ* 'king' (*Tivā.* 178; *Cūṭā.* 2:12).

c28.s7.t2.144

Cf. (inscr.) *śrī kō mār̲aṉ-cēntaṉ kor̲r̲am-ur̲r̲i* 'When King Mār̲aṉ Cēntaṉ attained kingship' (*ARE* 358/1959-60, Pāṇṭiya, 7th cent. A.D.); *kor̲r̲aṉ-kuṭiyaṉ* 'a personal name' (*SII.* V: No. 342, Pāṇṭiya, ca. 9th cent. A.D.).

c28.s7.t2.145

**b. (a)ntai** (n.) 'an honorific'. See **3.7.a** and **66.2.b**.

c28.s7.t2.146

**c. [*i*\*]ḷava[ṉ]** A personal name, derived from *iḷa* 'young' (D. 513). See also **46.3.a.**

c28.s7.t2.147

**67.2 muṉṟu** (n.) 'forecourt, front yard'.

c28.s7.t2.148

The spacious and level rock floor outside the cave is probably referred to here. It is possible that the donor made improvements to it.

c28.s7.t2.149

The expression *muṉṟu* is not attested elsewhere; but cf. *muṉ* 'in front', *muṉṟ-il* 'space, front of a house'; *muṉṉu* 'to precede', *muntu* 'to come in front' (D. 5020a). The evidence indicates that *muṉṟil* is derived from *muṉṟu* + *il* though traditional grammarians derive *muṉṟil* from *il-muṉ* (*Tol. Eḻu.* 355; *Naṉṉ.* 238, comm., Mayilai.)

c28.s7.t2.150

Cf. LT *paṉai micai aṉṟil cēkkum muṉṟil* 'the front yard where the *aṉṟil* bird rests on a palm tree' (*Aka.* 360:16-17); *muṉṟil* 'courtyard' (*Tivā.* 964; *Piṅkala.* 673; *Cūṭā.* 5:52).

c28.s7.t2.151

**68.1 atiṭṭāṉam** (n.) 'seat'. Only one word has survived in this fragmentary inscription. See **49.8** for further comments.

c28.s7.t2.152

**69.1 karu-ūr** (P.) same as Karuvūr (identified as modern Karur), the ancient Cēra capital. See section 4.20.4 (iii). The place name is written in the inscription as two words without the glide *-v-* in between.

c28.s7.t2.153

Cf. LT *vañci* (*Puṟa.* 11:6, 32:2, 39:17); the old commentary on the poems identifies the city as *karuvūr. vañci* is identified as *karuvūr* (*Cilap.* 25:148, comm.). *karuvūr* is identified as *vañci* (*Tivā.* 944; *Piṅkala.* 465; *Cūṭā.* 5:41).

c28.s7.t2.154

Cf. (inscr.) *veṅkālanāṭṭu karuvūr āṉa vañci māṉ nakarattu* 'of Vañci, the grand city which is Karuvūr' (*ARE* 335/1927-28, Cōḻa, 13th cent. A.D.).

c28.s7.t2.155

**a. karu** (n.) The exact meaning in the present context is uncertain. The translation of *karu-ūr* into *garbha-purī* (Skt.) is probably based on folk etymology.

c28.s7.t2.156

**b. ūr** (n.) 'village, town, city'. See **19.2.**

c28.s7.t2.157

**69.2 poṉ-vāṇikaṉ** 'gold merchant'.

c28.s7.t2.158

The presence of a gold merchant among the donors indicates the prosperity of Karur in this period and also the support extended by the affluent merchant communities to the Jaina religion. The gold traders could also boast of having produced outstanding poets. Cf. Uṟaiyūr Iḷam-poṉvāṇikaṉār (author, *Puṟa.* 264); Kāvirippūm-paṭṭiṉattu-p-poṉvāṇikaṉār makaṉār Nappūtaṉār (author, *Mullai.*).

c28.s7.t2.159

**a. poṉ** (n.) 'gold'.

c28.s7.t2.160

**b. vāṇikaṉ** (n.) 'trader'. See **39.1.b.**

c28.s7.t2.161

**69.3** ***natti*** N. of the gold merchant.

c28.s7.t2.162

Cf. ***natti-y***, N. of a senior Jaina monk (**4.2**).

c28.s7.t2.163

**69.4** ***atiṭṭāṉam*** (n.) 'seat'. See **49.8**.

c28.s7.t2.164

**70.1** ***eṇṇai-vāṇṇikaṉ*** (n.) 'oil merchant'.

c28.s7.t2.165

***eṇṇai*** 'oil'. Cf. LT *eṇṇey* (*eḷ* + *ney*) 'gingily oil' (D. 854).

c28.s7.t2.166

Cf. LT *pāṟu mayir-k-kuṭumi -y- eṇṇey nīvi* 'applying gingily oil to the hair tuft which is spread out' (*Puṟa.* 279:9).

c28.s7.t2.167

Cf. (inscr.) *eṇṇai uri* '(one) *uri* (a measure) of gingily oil' (*SII.* XIV: Nos. 6 & 7, Pāṇṭiya, ca. 8-9 cent. A.D.); *ivv-eṇṇai uḷḷiṭṭu* 'including this (quantity of) gingily oil' (*Pallava Inscrs.* No. 126, ca. 9th cent. A.D.). In medieval inscriptions the form *eṇṇai* is more frequent.

c28.s7.t2.168

**a. *eṇ-*** (*eḷ*) (n.) 'gingily, *sesamum indicum*' (D. 854); *eḷ*, *eṇ* id. (*Tivā.* 781; *Piṅkala.* 2970; *Cūṭā.* 4:42).

c28.s7.t2.169

**b. *-(n)ai*** (LT *ney*) (n.) 'oil' (D. 3746).

c28.s7.t2.170

**c. *vāṇṇikaṉ*** Read *vāṇikaṉ* (n.) 'trader'. See **39.1.b** for further comments.

c28.s7.t2.171

**70.2** ***veni ātaṉ*** N. of the oil merchant.

c28.s7.t2.172

**a. *veni*** Read *veṇi* (*veṇṇi*). The consonant *n* is a scribal error for *ṇ* and is not doubled. See ***ven-*** (***veṇ-***) (**20.3**) for further comments.

c28.s7.t2.173

Cf. Ta. *veṉṟi*, Ma. *venni* 'victory' (D. 5493). The term occurs here as part of the personal name of the donor.

c28.s7.t2.174

Cf. LT *veṉṟōn* 'victor' as synonym of *ciṉaṉ* (< Skt. *jina*) 'victor (over senses)'; title of Mahāvīra (Jaina.) (*Cūṭā.* 1:1); *veṉṟi ellām veṉṟu* 'having won all the victories' (*Puṟa.* 6:25). *vēl aṉṟu veṉṟi taruvatu* 'it is not the spear that brings victory' (*Kuṟaḷ.* 546).

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Cf. (inscr.) *veṉṟi mata-t-tamiḻ-atiyaraiyaṉ* 'a personal name' (*Pallava Inscrs.* No. 268, ca. 9th cent. A.D.).

c28.s7.t2.176

**b. *ātaṉ*** 'a personal name'. See **61.7.a**.

c28.s7.t2.177

**70.3** ***atiṭṭāṉam*** (n.) 'seat'. See **49.8**.

c28.s7.t2.178

**71** This inscription, originally in five lines, is almost completely obliterated.

c28.s7.t2.179

**72.1** ***ṇākaṉ*** N. of the father of the donor.

c28.s7.t2.180

Cf. LT *nākaṉ*. See **48.2** for further comments.

c28.s7.t2.181

The initial *n* has become *ṇ* due to Pkt. influence. Cf. *ṇāga* (Pkt.) < *nāga* (Skt.).

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Cf. (inscr.) *ṇākkaiyār* 'a personal name (fem.)' in a herostone inscription, ca. 7th cent. A.D. (*Chengam naṭukaṟkaḷ*: No. 35/1968). Cf. ***vaccaṇanti*** (**115.3**).

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**72.3 *peruṅkīraṉ*** (N.) of the donor.

c28.s7.t2.184

**a. *peru(m)-*** (adj.) 'elder'. See **61.9.a**.

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**b. *kīraṉ*** 'a personal name'. See **65.4.a**.

Linked texts (12)