Jinamanjari 1998 04 No 17

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 12

The dirgha of the letter a is shown as seen in Brāmhi medial, and the consonant ya is shown with another vowel i as in the case of (asiri) yia Mankulam (1.1), but it is differently shown in Mankulam (1.2) as ya. Again as regards the characters of the letters used in the script, the vowels a, i, e, u and the consonants ka, cha, ta, na are constant in most of the caves. They have a strong resemblance with Asokan letters, indicating that the Asokan characters in general did not have changes. However, in the case of ra of Mankulam inscriptions (1.2), the typical Asokan wavy vertical line is shown as a short straight line where as in Tiruvatavur (II.2) Asokan character is seen retained in letter r in the word paracu.
The personal as well as the common names we come across in the inscriptions have Tamil feature in the nominative singular. They are shown as Kasapan, Koluvanikan (iron monger) with characteristic an at the end. No Prakrit case endings have been used. In the case of genitive singular for names like tavira (stavira), tavirasa does not find place, instead tavira ke is represented (Alakarmalai X.4).
The context of the inscriptions have similarity with those found in peninsular India. The gifts given to the monastery were mainly by the kings, wealthy merchants, goldsmiths etc. From the inscriptions found on the railings of Amarāvati stūpa we find mention of merchant nigam (guild) - perfumeries, leather workers ctc., as early Ajanta cave inscriptions also do indicate such merchant guild."
Art and Architecture of Madurai Caves
There are two kinds of caves on the hill ranges in and around Madurai: Natural and Excavated caves.
Natural caves are found on the slopes of hills and in the valleys. Geologically, they are formed by the hard rocks abutting each other on the top and widely separated at the base. The soft and central loose portion of the soil separating them wears away due to exfoliation and the natural cave is formed. Around Madurai hills, they are formed in quartzite hills and in volcanic tuffs.
In the field, there is an evidence of human association with the caves, as indicated by the fabricated tools of prehistoric stone, scrapers and hand axes in and around the hill of Vikkiramakalam.
Excavated caves are located on the slopes of the hill containing rocky outcrop and the selected space is subjected to horizontal and