Tamil Brahmi inscriptions and other archaeological finds

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The Tale of a broken pot
Iravatham Mahadevan and S. Rajagopal


Today I am a broken pot stored away in a museum. But, about eighteen hundred years ago, I was a shining new kalayam. My proud owner was a toddy-tapper named Naakan. He lived in a small hamlet at the edge of the forest (near present-day Andipatti in Theni district of Tamil Nadu).

Naakan was too poor to own land; but he earned his living by taking on lease some coconut and palmyra trees, tapping and selling the toddy.

There were several toddy-tappers in the hamlet. They would climb the trees early in the morning, make deep cuts on the crown of the trees with their sharp bill-hooks, and tie their pots beneath to collect the sap (juice) that oozed from the cuttings.

The pots, when full, would be taken down and stored for a few days to allow fermenting of the sap into toddy, for which there was a good market.

Etched belongings


Poor he might have been, but Naakan was literate. In order to identify his kalayam and its contents, he scratched this message on it with his sharp iron tool:

naakan uRal ‘Naakan’s (pot with) toddy-sap’

The Tamil word ooRal (from ooRu ‘to ooze’) meaning ‘freshly tapped toddy’ is spelt here with the short vowel u probably due to oversight or reflecting the colloquial usage.

Determining age


Archaeologists who dug me out of the earth near Andipatti a couple of years ago, have determined from examining the fabric of my body, that I was made in about the third century A.D. Epigraphists (who study old inscriptions) have identified the writing on my shoulder as in Old Tamil written in the Tamil-Brahmi script of the same period.

And that is not all. The two-word inscription carries an important message, namely, how widespread literacy must have been in the ancient Tamil country, if a poor toddy-tapper, living in a remote hamlet far away from urban and commercial centres, could write down his name and what he was doing with the pottery he owned.

That is the reason why I am preserved in the museum and not discarded like other broken pottery!

Iravatham Mahadevan is a well-known researcher of the Indus and Brahmi scripts. Dr. S. Rajagopal is a senior archaeologist specialising in Old Tamil inscriptions, who retired from the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology.

[podalangai]

Older threads on this topic:
http://forumhub.mayyam.com/hub/viewtopic.php?t=2853
http://forumhub.mayyam.com/hub/viewtopic.php?t=6470
http://forumhub.mayyam.com/hub/viewtopic.php?t=6806
http://forumhub.mayyam.com/hub/viewtopic.php?t=10211

(Might the moderators be able to merge them into a single thread?)

[Badri]

This thread has been created by merging 5 other threads discussing the Tamizh script and its evolution, historical evidence etc.

Kindly make use of this thread for all discussions on the subject.

[P_R]

SIGNIFICANT FIND: Jaina beds found in a cavern near Vadagal in Gingee taluk of Villupuram district.


CHENNAI: Over the last three months, two rock art sites, two caverns with Jaina beds, and dolmens have been discovered within a radius of 25 km on the hillocks behind the Gingee fort in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district.

Members of the team that found the sites, said the discovery of Jaina beds confirmed the earlier view that present-day Villupuram district was once a prominent centre of Jainism. The presence of the rock art sites and dolmens showed that the area had been under continuous human occupation for 3,000 years, they added.

On June 1, K.T. Gandhirajan, an explorer who specialises in art history, T. Ramesh, a researcher in archaeology, and others found a big cavern with Jaina beds and rock art on a hillock called Pancha Pandavar Kal, near Vadagal village in Gingee taluk.

The hillock, located 15 km behind the Gingee fort, forms part of a chain of hills in the area. The team found a series of Jaina beds on the floor of the cavern and pre-historic paintings on the boulder surface opposite the beds.

“The beds are of primitive nature. They are not evolved. They are about 2,000 years old,” said Mr. Gandhirajan.

Raised “pillows” had been hewn out of the rock-floor at one end of the beds. Channels were cut to drain out rainwater from the beds or the floor was scooped out to collect rainwater.

The rock art consists of a painting of a deer done in white kaolin with outlines in red ochre.

“This is really rare,” Mr. Gandhirajan said. While this figure of a deer is about 3 feet by 3 feet in size, there are tiny drawings of deer and lizard (udu mbu in Tamil) on the adjacent rock surface, as if to contra-distinguish their size. He estimated that the paintings might belong to circa 1000 B.C.

“These paintings were done by pre-historic men — by hunter-gatherers who used to live in this cavern. Much later, the Jain monks occupied them,” Mr. Gandhirajan said.

Earlier finds


Three months earlier, the team found about a dozen port-holed dolmens on a hill near Devadanampettai, on the way to Tirukovilur, about 15 km from the Gingee fort. While most of the dolmens were found disturbed, a few were intact.

About 2 km away, the team discovered a small rock art site, with drawings in white kaolin of marching men or men with raised hands.

About 25 days ago, Mr. Ramesh and Mr. Gandhirajan found 11 Jaina beds on a hill near Kanchiyur village, 28 km from Gingee.

According to T. Arun Raj, Deputy Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, Chennai Circle, Jaina beds had been discovered recently at Thirunarungkondai near Ulundurpet, Paraiyanpattu and Melkudalur. There are remains of the structural Jaina temples at Tirunarungkondai, Melsithamur and Thondur near Tindivanam and Melmalayanur near Tiruvannamalai. All these places are in Villupuram district.

On the hill at Sirukadambur, there is a bas-relief of 24 Jaina tirthankaras. “Adjacent to this, we have an inscription about a Jaina monk who went on a fast-unto-death. This inscription belongs to the transitional period from Tamil-Brahmi to Vattezuthu,” he said.

There are rock art sites in the district at Sethavarai and Kizhvalavu.

“In addition to these relics of Jainism, we have now discovered these Jaina beds in two places. All this show that the present-day Villupuram district was a prominent centre of Jainism,” Mr. Arun Raj said.

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Inscriptions found near ThiruveLLarai temple

Tamil inscriptions found near Tiruvellarai temple



T.S. Subramanian

CHENNAI: Three inscriptions of different periods, including one belonging to a merchant guild, have been discovered close to an ancient Vishnu temple at Tiruvellarai near Tiruchi.

The inscription in Tamil, datable to the 10th-11th century A.D., has several symbols, associated with such trade guilds, engraved on it. A team, comprising D. Dayalan, Superintending Archaeologist, Temple Survey Project, southern region, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and A. Anil Kumar, Assistant Archaeologist, made the discovery. The inscription about the merchant guild is engraved on a granite slab, found half-buried in a field south-west of the Pundarikatchar temple. It has 21 lines in Tamil, with a few Sanskrit words.

Dr. Dayalan said this inscription referred to an “ambalam” (a temple or mantapa) of Chettiyars of Tiruvellarai and mentioned a trade guild called “ainuttruvar,” which meant 500 members. It was common to make transactions or build edifices in the name of “ainuttruvar,” and the Chettiyars, a trading community, could have formed the “ainuttruvar.”

This inscription also has the engraving of two bags, called “pasumpai” and considered sacred by merchant communities. The other symbols are a sword, billhook, bow and arrow, coiled whip, elephant goad and lance. The inscription refers to a person called “tirukayyilattu ainutruvan” as the protector of charity and has a verse that says that “the feet of the persons who patronise or protect charity shall be on my head.”

Some of the merchant guilds referred to in the inscriptions in south India are “ainnutruvar,” “Manigramam,” “Nanadesi,” “Padinen-bhumi,” “Anjuvannam” and “Ayyavole.”

The “ainnutruvar” overarched all the substantial traders’ guilds in a particular locality, and also covered a wider area and various communities, including artisans, said Dr. Dayalan. An inscription of about 1,000 A.D., found at Bedkihal in Belgaum district, Karnataka, referred to “Aynurbaru” (500 great men). Merchant guild inscriptions with symbols such as conch, axe and lamp have been found at Melnangvaram in Karur district; Idaimalaipattipudur, Kaliampatti, Nagainallur and Singalatakanallur, all in Tiruchi district; and Pozhichalur in Kanchipuram district. These guilds had warriors to protect them.

The ASI team found several label inscriptions in Pallava grantha, belonging to the 7th-8th century A.D., on a hillock on the rear of the temple. These labels are the names of devotees such as (ka) pra mi na sa and (aa) vi ri ta.

On the same hillock, Dr. Dayalan, Mr. Anil Kumar and others discovered a big inscription, running to several metres in size. It is in Tamil and belongs to the Vijayanagara period. Preliminary study indicates that it refers to a “bhattar” (temple Brahmin) of a village called Manavala Chaturvedi Mangalam and an officer named Mummudi Chola Thevar.

V. Vedachalam, retired Senior Epigraphist, Tamil Nadu Department of Archaeology, who has researched on Tiruvellarai and its temple, called these discoveries “important additions to Tiruvellarai’s history.”

Dr. Vedachalam, who has authored a book titled ‘Tiruvellarai,’ which was published by the Department in 1977, said that while Tiruvellarai was 1,500 years old, the Pundarikatchar temple had its origin during the reign of the Pallava king, Nandivaram II, in the 7th-8th century A.D. The temple saw continuous construction by the Chola, the later Pandya, the Hoysala and the Vijayanagara kings.

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Megalithic Burial Site found near Chennai

2000-yr-old found in Chennai backyard
17 Sep 2008, 0319 hrs IST, Jaya Menon,TNN

CHENNAI: A sprawling 35-acre stretch, flanked by a lake and a little hillock, in Siruthavur, 50 km from Chennai, is soaked in history. The Archaeological Survey of India has discovered a megalithic burial site here that dates back to over 2,000 years ago.

The site has more than 300 burial spots that could provide a rare peek into the period. Since the ASI began its excavation in July, the area has thrown up a treasure trove of sarcophaguses, or stone coffins, carnelian beads, iron implements and pieces of bones, all traces of an ancient civilisation that once thrived in the region.

“After more than four decades, the ASI has uncovered a megalithic burial site here. North Tamil Nadu, particularly Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Thirukazhukundram and Sriperumbudur, are known to have such sites. About 80% of the 162 ASI sites in the state are megalithic. But protecting the sites has proved a big challenge,” said Sathyabhama Badhreenath, ASI superintending archaeologist, Chennai region, while on a tour of the site.

While Siruthavur was put under ASI cover as a national protected site way back in the 1940s, there has been consistent erosion of the site due to the activities of squatters, who have been using the stone circles as fire stoves, and illegal sand miners. “We are trying to create awareness among the locals. But there should be a more concerted effort on the part of authorities to preserve the site,” pointed out Sathyabhama. Meanwhile, marauding trucks have been scooping out pieces of history only to be mixed in lime and mortar or garden soil in homes.

The ASI team which finally got to work in Siruthavur in Kancheepuram district has so far exposed eight burial pits.

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http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/25/stor...2561370900.htm

Two Chola period inscriptions found

They record the gift of land to the principal deity of Alavanthisvaram

TIRUCHI: Two 12th century Chola inscriptions have been found at Alavanthisvaram, an ancient temple at Pazhaiya Jayamkondam, 10 km from Mahadhanapuram, off the Tiruchi-Karur Highway.

They were discovered recently by researchers of the Dr.M.Rajamanikkar Centre for Historical Research during a field study. M. Nalini, Reader in History, Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College, led the team.

According to R. Kalaikkovan, Director, Dr. M. Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research, the two fragmentary later Chola period inscriptions, engraved on the basement of the maha mandapa of the temple, records the gift of a piece of land (referred to as Thirunamathu Kaani) to the principal deity of the temple. The produce from the land was to be used for the regular worship at the temple and for giving the deity the sacred bath.

Two other 19th century inscriptions were also found at the temple. One of them, engraved on the southern wall of the Chandesvara shrine in the northern part of the temple, identifies the builder of the shrine as Madhyappa Gnaniyar. The other, engraved on the front pillars of a small mandapa in front of the southern niche of the main vimana that houses the deity Dakshinamurthy, notes that the mandapa was built with the help of two philanthropists, Karuthanagaperumal and Iruvan. Dr. Kalaikkovan said some rare sculptures were also found. A slab panel of the ‘saptamathrika’ appears a very early one. Though mutilated, the sharp features of all the seven deities were well preserved.

The temple tank appears unique in having exquisitely carved Nandhi figures at the four entrances. Some of the Nandhis have additional carvings in their lower portions. One of them depicts Lord Krishna taking away the clothes of maidens and hiding himself in a ‘kuruntha’ tree. Another carving below the Nandhi on the northern side depicts a man seated and enjoying a smoke through a long pipe. Such depictions as extensions of the Nandi sculptures are very rare.

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http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/13/stor...1360961200.htm

Pandya period Nandi, ‘lingam’ found

They were unearthed at Thalavaipatti near Thuvarankurichi

TIRUCHI: A Pandya-period Nandhi sculpture, dating back to the 13th century AD, and a huge ‘lingam’ have been found in coconut groves at Thalavaipatti, a remote village near Thuvarankurichi, off the Tiruchi-Madurai National Highway.

The sculptures were unearthed by research scholars of Dr.M.Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research, Tiruchi, during a field study, led by M. Nalini, Reader in History, Seethalakshmi Ramaswami College. The sculptures could be the remnants of a Siva temple that had been in existence in the region during the later Pandya period, the scholars said.

The study was conducted after K. Arumugam and R.M. Sethuraman, members of the renovation committee of the Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple at Thuvarankurichi found a stone slab with inscriptions on the temple land at Thalavaipatti and alerted the centre.

When the research team visited the village, they were informed about some buried sculptures in the surrounding groves. A hunt led to the unearthing of the Nandhi in a nearby private grove. The sculpture was dug out with the help of the locals.

The Nandhi sports a flat belt studded with pearls around its neck, with a bell attached to its bottom. The Nandhi, in its seated posture, closely resembles the one found at the Meenakshi Sundrareswarar temple at Thuvarankurichi, said R. Kalaikkovan, Director, Dr.Rajamanikkanar Centre for Historical Research.

The sculpture depicts a thick-folded cloth over the hump, which covers the sides of the Nandhi’s body. One of the two horns is found broken, and the other is smaller in size. The research team’s forays also led to the discovery of the ‘lingam,’ found deeply buried in an adjoining grove. The ‘lingam’ is yet to be dug out fully.

The nine-line inscription on the slab found by the temple committee members refers to the place as Puchayapuram and has the engravings of a bow, an umbrella and a ‘kamandalam,’ (sacred pot) on all the four sides. The inscription refers to a platoon stationed at Mannukurichi, which came under Marunkur Nadu. It says Miraimidan Manikkan alias Muzhuthumalla Thevan and a pond were given protection (‘asrayam’) by Muzhuthumallar and Malai Thakartha Kandar.

The people of Thalavaipatti want to construct a shrine near the groves to install the Nandhi and the ‘lingam.’ A survey of the surrounding villages may yield further historical information, Dr. Kalaikkovan said.

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http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/20/stor...2057012200.htm

Temple inscriptions point to early Chola inroads into Pallava region

T.S. Subramanian

Lithic records at 1,200-year-old temple tell the story of dynastic transition

CHENNAI: Six important inscriptions have come to light in a 1,200-year-old Siva temple in Tamil Nadu. One each belongs to Aditya Chola I and Vijayanagara king Krishnadevaraya and three belong to Rajendra Chola I. The sixth one is from the late Vijayanagara period. The Kailasanatha temple is situated at Uttaramerur in Kanchipuram district.

Ongoing restoration work on this dilapidated temple has yielded a relief with the sculptures of Tamil Saivite saints Sundarar, Tirugnana Sambandar and Appar.

T. Satyamurthy, former Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India, and a founder of the REACH Foundation, said the inscriptions in Tamil were revealed when the plinth of the front mantapa, which had collapsed, was being removed. The Kailasanatha temple built by the Pallava king Dantivarman is in ruins and REACH Foundation is restoring and conserving it with permission from the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Tamil Nadu.

Dr. Satyamurthy termed the discovery of Aditya Chola I’s inscription in the Pallava region as “rare” although similar inscriptions have been found at Tirukazhugukunram, Takkolam and a few other places. The discovery of the inscriptions belonging to both Aditya Chola I and Rajendra Chola I in the temple built by an earlier Pallava king showed that the Chola kings had later established total supremacy in the heart of the Pallava kingdom.

The inscription of Aditya Chola I (871-907 A.D.) talks about the donation of nine “kalanju” (weight or coin) of gold by a woman called Adithan to keep a lamp perpetually alight in the Brahmesvara Mahadeva temple at Uttaramerur. The village “thotta variam” (garden committee) gave an undertaking that it would use the interest accruing from the gold to provide one measure of oil daily to light the lamp “as long as the sun and the moon shine.”

D. Dayalan, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Temple Survey Project (southern region), termed the Aditya Chola I inscription as “interesting,” for it “clearly indicated” that it was meant to establish the authority of the Cholas in the Pallava territory that has been referred to as “Thondaimandalam.”

It was Aditya Chola I who vanquished Pallava ruler Aparajithavarman and expanded his sovereignty to Pallava territory. The Tiruvalangadu plates, the Tillaisthanam records and inscriptions at Kanyakumari attest to the fact that Aditya Chola I overthrew Aparajithavarman and extended his sway to “Thondaimandalam,” said Dr. Dayalan. After annexing the region, he made donations to many temples built by the Pallavas.

The “Brahmesvara Mahadevar” temple mentioned in the inscription must be this Kailasanatha temple, argued Dr. Dayalan.

An inscription in the Vaikuntha Perumal temple at Uttramerur referred to “Brahmesvaragriha,” situated northeast of Uttaramerur. Since this Kailasanatha temple is situated to the northeast of Uttramerur, it must be the Brahmesvara Mahadevar temple.

The three inscriptions of Rajendra Chola I (1014-1043 A.D.) referred to donations made to the temple. All the three refer to Uttaramerur as “Rajendra Chola Chaturvedimangalam” – he renamed Uttaramerur after himself.

Krishnadevaraya’s inscription (early 16th century) mentioned the existence of an ‘Isanasivacharya Mutt.” This inscription was important, said S. Rajavel, Senior Epigraphist, ASI, because this mutt was established by Rajendra Chola I himself to honour his teacher called Isana Sivacharya, a Saiva scholar. The tradition seemed to have continued during the Vijayanagara period.

The restoration work revealed a measuring scale, with sub-divisions, engraved on the temple wall and named after a chieftain, “Virupparayan.”

The restoration work had reached a critical stage, according to Dr. Satyamurthy. The architectural members of the front mantapa of the Vijayanagara period, which had collapsed, had been collected; it would be re-built. While the sanctum sanctorum was built of granite, the vimana was made of bricks and mortar. The vimana had developed a 3-foot crack due to vegetation, which had dislocated the sanctum’s slabs.

As a trial measure, six slabs have been stitched together using stainless steel rods, with the help of Professor M.S. Mathews of the Civil Engineering Department of Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.

[P_R]

Iravatham Mahadevan has been awarded the Padmashri