தமிழ்நாடு வரலாறு - Tamilnadu History Updates & Discussions

[Mad 4 Madras]

Originally Posted by Anniyan

ASI was right in denying the permission to install the statue of imaginary figure of Rajaraja Chola and the politicians name in the pedestral.

For that matter, all Gods and Goddess' statues are duly imaginary.

[Mad 4 Madras]

Tamil Brahmi Script



Development of the Tamil Brahmi Script into
Vattezhuthu and Tamil Script

[Mad 4 Madras]

Recent Survey on Indian Epigraphy (1996) place inscriptions of Tamil Nadu at the top of the list. The categories of language, alphabet and number of inscriptions on both stone and copper plates also indicate Tamil Nadu as the first among Indian States. From this survey it can easily be understood that Tamil Nadu has the bulk of inscriptions found in India. It has been estimated with a fair degree of accuracy that the inscriptions written in Tamil occupy the first position in volume, amounting nearly to 20,000, followed by those in Kannada (10,600), Sanskrit (7,500) and Telugu (4,500). Inscriptions in Tamil language are noticed from the third century BCE onwards.
(Source: Journal of the Epigraphical Society of India Volume 19 : 1993)

[Mad 4 Madras]

Tamil Brahmi Inscription at Tiruvadavur-Madurai


Natural Cavern With Tamil-Brahmi Inscription, Mamandur, Kanchipuram District


Anaimalai, Madurai District


Rouletted ware (Indian imitation) with inscription, Alagankulam, Ramanathapuram District.
Camutaha


Natural Cavern With Tamil-Brahmi Inscription, Kudumiyanmalai, Pudukkottai District


Tamil-Brahmi Rock Bed Inscription, 2nd Century CE. Arunattarmalai, Pugalur Near Karur
Line 1 Korrantai (I*) lava (n)
Line 2 munru


2nd Century CE Tamil-Brahmi Inscription, Anaimalai, Madurai District
Line 1 - Iva kunratu uraiyul patantan eri aritan
Line 2 - Attuvayi aratta kayipan


Rock-cavern inscription in Tamil-Brahmi Script, 1st Century BCE, Jambai, Tiruvannamalai District
Satiyaputo atiyan netuman anci itta pali


Tamil-Brahmi Rock Bed Inscription, 1st century BCE Sittannavasal, Pudukkottai District
Eruminatu kumul-ur piranta kavuti-i tenku-cirupocil ilayar ceyta atit-anam


Personal Name in Tamil-Brahmi, 1st Century BCE, Silver Ring From Karur
Peravatan


Black and Red Pottery with Tamil-Brahmi Letters, 1st century CE Teriruveli,
Ramanathapuram District
Nedunki[li]

[Mad 4 Madras]

Office of the Epigraphy wing - Ooty

[Mad 4 Madras]

Tamil Brahmi script was prevalent in Tamil Nadu from 3rd century BCE onwards and continued with variations upto 4th century of Common Era. During this time, the practice of writing Sanskrit letters in Tamil Nadu, commonly known as Grantha script was popularised by the Pallavas. This continued for nearly two centuries i.e. from 4th – 6th century. The Tamil script evolved from the Grantha script around 7th century CE.

Inscriptions in the Tamil script are found from the beginning of the seventh century CE. Inscriptions in this script are found only in the northern portion of Tamil Nadu upto the beginning of the eleventh century CE. In the extreme south i.e. the Pandya country, Vattezhuthu was in use. But with the occupation of the Pandya country by the Cholas after conquest in the closing years of the tenth century CE the Tamil script came to be used there also. Thereafter, it has been in use throughout Tamil Nadu.
We have inscriptions in Tamil script in some parts of Karnataka State and Nellore District in the Andhra State. Occasionally , we find Tamil inscriptions even at Visakhapattinam of the Andhra State and at Puri in the Orissa State; it is also noticed overseas in countries like China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand.


Tamil Alphabets in Various Times



Tamil inscription in Sri Lankan Buddhist Vihara mention its name as
'sri jagatoppa kandan perumpalli'



Bilingual (Tamil & Chinese) inscription in China dated Saka era 1203 (1281 CE) Mentions the erection of deity Thirukkaniccuramudaiyar by one Sambandapperumal for the well being of Chinese emperor Cekacaikan Parman

[Mad 4 Madras]

If we look into the forms of the earliest available Tamil script; it is possible to conclude that they also developed similarly in that part of country itself in consonance with the evolution of the Grantha. The evolution of the Tamil script may be classified roughly into three stages: the archaic, the medieval and the latter varieties.

Archaic Tamil Inscriptions

Pallava / Mutharaiyar
Inscription in verse on a pillar, Tamil Script, Mutharaiyar chiefs, 8th Century, Sendalai, Thanjavur Dist.



Pandya
Rock cut cave temple inscription in Tamil Script, 9th Century, Maranjadaiyan, Tirukkokarnam, Pudukkottai District


Chola
Inscription In Tamil Script, Parantaka Chola 929CE, Gangaikondacholapuram, Perambalur District


Inscription on Temple Base In Tamil Script, Early Chola 10th Century CE, Kodumbalur, Pudukkottai District


Village Assembly Election (Kudavolai) Inscription In Tamil Script, Parantakachola 921 CE, Uttaramerur, Kanchipuram District


Medieval Tamil Inscriptions

Chola
Inscription In Tamil Script, Vikkirama Chola, 1121CE, Sendalai, Thanjavur District


Pandya
Inscription In Tamil Script, Pandya, 13th Century, Pillamangalam, Sivaganga District


Later Tamil Inscriptions

16th Century Inscription in Later Tamil script, Murugamangalam, Tiruvannamalai District


Labels of Nayak Paintings in Later Tamil script - Alakarkoil, Madurai District, 17th Century


19th century Tamil Script on Palm leaves

[Marathaman]

Originally Posted by Mad 4 Madras

For that matter, all Gods and Goddess' statues are duly imaginary.

Except that Rajaraja was a real person

[Anniyan]

Originally Posted by Mad 4 Madras

For that matter, all Gods and Goddess' statues are duly imaginary.

ASI havent allowed any God statues to be installed inside the premises.

[Mad 4 Madras]

It has dozens already in place and not required something new

[Mad 4 Madras]

Originally Posted by Marathaman

Except that Rajaraja was a real person

Who knows, may be Shiva, Rama, Krishna, Kali etc..etc..were all real persons some yugas back like Jesus, Buddha...

[Marathaman]

^Sure, why not.

[Arul Murugan]

Oldest literature work of Tamil is claimed to be Tholkappiyam dating to 300B.C

If Tholkappiyam was written in 300 B.C did they use these Tamil brahmi scripts?

Originally Posted by Mad 4 Madras

Tamil Brahmi Script



Development of the Tamil Brahmi Script into
Vattezhuthu and Tamil Script

[Arul Murugan]

Originally Posted by Anniyan

ASI was right in denying the permission to install the statue of imaginary figure of Rajaraja Chola and the politicians name in the pedestral.

This is also an imaginary figure of rasa rasan?

[ashwa]

rajaraja and rasa rasan are the same?

[Anniyan]

Originally Posted by Arul Murugan

This is also an imaginary figure of rasa rasan?

No, this is probably rajarajan's figure.

But this mural wasnt found when MK tried to install rajarajan's statue inside the temple premises.

[Arasu]

Originally Posted by ashwa

rajaraja and rasa rasan are the same?

They are the same. In proper Tamil some letters that are found in Sanskrit are not there. To represent these sounds, new letters were added. But, in many places especially in villages more so in the southern/western districts of TN, they don't pronounce 'ja' but replace it with 'sa'.

So they are the same or synonymous.

[Arasu]

Originally Posted by Arul Murugan

Oldest literature work of Tamil is claimed to be Tholkappiyam dating to 300B.C

If Tholkappiyam was written in 300 B.C did they use these Tamil brahmi scripts?

There was a script at the time. Tholkappiam has a chapter on Ezhuthu (Letters). Linguists are able to use the information and make some conclusions on the dating of Tholkappiam from those chapters. Iravadham has made references to it in his work on Early Indian Epigraphy.

I am not well versed with the particulars.

[Mad 4 Madras]

It can't be said that Tolkappiyam is the oldest Tamil literature. It is the oldest literature available till date. Many would have been lost. We cannot come to conclusion that Tolkappiyam used Tamil Brahmi scripts and it is the oldest bcoz many stone inscriptions has been found using Tamil Brahmi Scripts which predates Tolkappiyam date (300CE). Tolkappiyam, what has been found was on palm leaves as manuscripts which are later inventions to store and save data.

In my opinion, a language's first literary book need not necessarily be a grammar book. I seriously doubt that Tolkappiyam belonged to first sangam literature, even so, what was before sangam literature? What is the reason to create such sangams?

[ChennaiIndian]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...icle555682.ece

Coins and currencies of various countries belonging to different periods of time are on display at the All-India level eleventh Coins Expo 2010, an exhibition, organised by the Chola Mandala Numismatics Society at Sangeetha Mahal in Thanjavur.

The exhibition was inaugurated by M.S.Shanmugham, District Collector. M.Durairasu, Founder and President of the society aid the society has been organising such exhibitions every year with the aim of creating awareness among students and people about our ancient culture, history, archaeology, science and technology which is reflected in such coins and currencies.

“Thanjavur Big Temple has completed 1000 years of its construction and the temple's millennium is celebrated this year by the Government. The image of the temple was found in a one thousand rupees note released by our Union Government in 1954 . The Brigadeeswara temple was built by King Raja Raja-I (985-1012 A.D.). UNESCO has declared the temple as a world heritage monument”, Mr. Durairasu said.

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