Early South Indian Palaeography c12.97

c12.97

The problem is further complicated by the mention of the names of the wives and sons of such persons. The incident relating to the lady referred to as *Kīrantai maṉaivi* (the wife of Kīrantai) is significant.²⁹ The term *Kīrantai maṉaivi* would mean 'the wife of *Kīrantai*' *i.e.*, the wife of the father of *Kīraṉ*. This is a circuitous way of referring to a person. She could be easily referred to as the mother of *Kīraṉ*.