Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.s8.t9.7

c28.s8.t9.7

The observation that "(this) is not a foundation inscription, but merely the name of some person" (K.R. Srinivasan 1985: p. 7) was apparently made before the decipherment of the inscription. The expression *peruntacaṉ* (*peruntaccaṉ*) 'master mason' and the location of the carefully engraved inscription on a smooth pilaster inside the cave-temple indicate that the person referred to in the inscription excavated the shrine or at least made substantial improvements to it at a later date. See the discussion below on the significance of the palaeography of the inscription in reassessing the date and authorship of the cave temple.