Jain Journal 1989 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 17

14
The other caves found at Pugalur also bear lithic records in Brahmi characters and they mention names of Jaina adherents who endowed stone beds. Kiran, Korran and Ori who were the sons of Pitantai of Nalliyur, Veniatan, Korrantai Ilavan, Ilankiran and Atti, a gold merchant from Karur find place in these records as donors of stone beds.31 The scriptal vestiges found in Pugalur are of a much developed variety and hence palaeographically ascribed to the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D.
About seven miles from Arunattar hill is the village of Ardhanaripalaiyam wherein are found five beds chiselled out of rock on a boulder. However, no Brahmi inscriptions are available.
JAIN JOURNAL
COIMBATORE DISTRICT
17. Araccalur: Lying on the Erode-Kangayam road, Araccalur is adjacent to a low lying hill called Nagamalai which possesses a natural cavern at a height of about 60' from the surrounding area. In this cavern are found stone beds with inscriptions.
One of the inscriptions reveal that these seven beds were caused to be cut by Tevan Cattan, a lapidarist. The remaining two inscriptions seem to have some connection with musical notes. One is a symmetrical bandha of five letters in each line, made up of three aksaras ta, ti, te. The other is also a symmetrical bandha of five letters in each line, made up of three akşaras ki, ta, ti.32 Perhaps, these two records may be considered the earliest musical inscriptions of Tamilnadu, while later ones are found in places like Kudumiyanmalai and Tirumayyam in Pudukkottai district.
NORTH ARCOT DISTRICT
18. Mamandur: Seven miles from Conjeevaram is Mamandur. About a furlong to the north of the Hindu rock-cut caves, half way up the hillock is a natural cavern formed by one boulder reclining over another, thus providing shelter beneath. A thin and shallow dripline cut into the overhanging rock provides shelter for habitation. A Brahmi inscription is found engraved on the brow of the boulder.
31 ARE, 346/1927-28.
32 Ibid., 281, 282/1961-62.