[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Archaeology, epigraphy and coins](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy) › [Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003) › c4 # Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c4: Preface Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c4 - **Language:** English ### Preface ### [c4.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c4.1) I became interested in the Brāhmī script when I was working in New Delhi during 1958-61 and came into contact with Dr. C. Sivaramamurti at the National Museum. When I returned to Madras in 1961, Prof. K.A. Nilakanta Sastri suggested that I take up the study of the Tamil cave inscriptions which had not been satisfactorily deciphered. He got for me a set of estampages (ink impressions) of the cave inscriptions from the Government Epigraphist, but I found them too illegible to work on. I decided to visit the caves to look at the inscriptions themselves and discovered to my pleasant surprise that they were better preserved than suggested by the faint estampages. My publication of the 'forgotten' Early Cēra inscriptions at Pugalur and Early Pāṇṭiya inscriptions at Mangulam in 1965-66 aroused much scholarly interest. I completed the first spell of fieldwork in 1966 and published the preliminary results of the study in the \*Corpus of the Tamil-Brāhmī Inscriptions 1966\* (1968). The readings were well received and I was encouraged to continue the work. ### [c4.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c4.2) In the years after the publication of the \*Corpus\*, many corrections and improvements to the preliminary readings have been suggested by other scholars working in the field. More cave inscriptions have come to light. The excavation of pottery inscriptions in the Tamil-Brāhmī script from ancient Tamil sites and the discovery of Early Cēra and Pāṇṭiya coins with Tamil-Brāhmī legends have thrown new light on the chronology and evolution of the script. In the meanwhile, the \*Corpus\* had gone out of print and papers published by me in scattered journals had become inaccessible. There has been a demand for a reprint of the \*Corpus\*. However, the accumulation of more material demanded a fresh effort. I undertook a second spell of field work during 1991-96 checking the readings again \*in situ\*, making fresh copies of all the cave inscriptions discovered till then and adding two more inscriptions discovered at Mannarkoil in December 2000. The present definitive edition of the texts to which I have added a general survey of Early Tamil epigraphy, incorporates the new cave inscriptions, besides making several corrections and improvements to the readings and interpretations published earlier in the \*Corpus\*. ### [c4.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c4.3) After I had started on the second field expedition, the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), New Delhi, offered me a National Fellowship for a period of three years from October 1992 for the research project. The grant has been utilised for further field work to complete the project. I am beholden to Prof. M.G.S. Narayanan, Secretary (now Chairman), ICHR, for the honour conferred on me. ### [c4.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c4.4) Portions of the manuscript of this work were read at my request by Profs. E. Annamalai, R. Champakalakshmi and Michael Lockwood, Dr. P.R. Subramanian and Mr. K.V. Ramanathan IAS (retd.). I have benefited from their suggestions though the responsibility for the final shape of the book lies with me. ### [c4.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c4.5) The work has been accepted for publication by Cre-A:, Chennai, known for its selective publication of books of high quality. I am grateful to Mr. S. Ramakrishnan of Cre-A: for the recognition. After the work had been accepted for publication by Cre-A:, I received an offer from Prof. Michael Witzel, Department of Sanskrit and Indian Studies, Harvard University, USA, to have the work published in the Harvard Oriental Series (HOS). I thank him for the honour and I am also grateful to my friend, Mr. N. Ram, Editor, \*Frontline\*, Chennai, who had earlier introduced me to Prof. Witzel. I am especially thankful to Mr. Ramakrishnan for accepting the arrangement for co-publishing the book simultaneously in India and the USA. I understand that this is the first time that a book on a Dravidian language is being included in the prestigious HOS. I am grateful to the President and Fellows of Harvard College and the Editor, HOS, for the recognition accorded to a work on Tamil epigraphy. ### [c4.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c4.6) The two editions are identical. The text and the layout were finalised in Chennai. Mr. S. Ramakrishnan and Dr. Meera Rajagopalan went through the manuscript and offered valuable suggestions on the style and presentation, most of which have been incorporated in the book. ### [c4.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c4.7) The book has been printed by Sudarsan Graphics, Chennai. I cannot find words to thank adequately Mr. N. Subramanian, Sudarsan Graphics, for the care bestowed on the work and for the excellent printing. ### [c4.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c4.8) One of the objectives of the present publication is to provide the fullest possible documentation of the cave inscriptions through carefully executed direct tracings, enlarged photo prints of estampages and a few direct photographs (which have been processed by computer for enhanced clarity). The urgent need for documentation arises from the very real danger of obliteration of the cave inscriptions by tourist vandalism and breaking up of the rocks for export of granite. I hope that this book would help in creating greater awareness on the part of the Central and State Departments of Archaeology and the local citizens to take more vigorous steps to protect and preserve the priceless heritage of the cave inscriptions of Tamil Nadu. ### [c4.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c4.9) As I complete the research project on which I have spent forty years of my life, about half the time when I was still serving as an officer of the Indian Administrative Service, my thoughts turn towards my family. I used to burn the candle at both ends and my family suffered in the process. My wife had to look after the household and bring up the two boys. But she and the boys showed great understanding and were fully supportive of my research work. It is the will of Providence that Gowri, my wife, and our elder son, Vidyasagar, have not been spared to see the fruition of my labours, which would have gladdened their hearts. ### [c4.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c4.10) Chennai 19th February 2003 ### [c4.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c4.11) Iravatham Mahadevan --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c4) · Pramāṇa