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lofts Engraved on these pillow lofts are Brahmi inscriptions. The first cavern was dedicated to the revered saint Senkasyapan of Yarrur and the beds therein were caused to be cut by the Prince Ilankatunko, the son of Perunkatunkon who was the son of the king Atancellirumporai, on becoming heir apparent.30
It is of great interest to note that the inscription found on the first cave mentions the names of three members of the Irumporai family of the early Cera dynasty, referred to in Patirruppattu (Ten Idylls), one of the Sangam classics. It deserves special mention that though the Irumporai kings were not followers of the Jaina faith, the young prince Ilankatunko when anointed as the yuvaraja, dedicated the palli to the Jaina monk Senkasyapan.
The other caves founded 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.
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 akṣaras ta, ti, te.
30 I. Mahadevan, Op. cit., Pugalur, Nos. 1 and 2. ARE, 346/1927-28.
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