Among 100 earliest extant Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions, 95% are Jain records,which are found mostly in cave surface & rock shelters.These caves where once abode of Jain monks
The Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions are the
Most ancient of the extant written records of Old Tamil.
Thread.
Inscriptions in Tamil Brahmi at Perumalmalai in Tamil Nadu.
The inscription are dated to 3rd century BCE or older, this is amongst the oldest decipherable writings anywhere in India
The inscriptions say "Kavai" and "Saialan (from) Vindai (village has donated these jain caves)"
Samanar Caves. Madurai.
Located 11 kilometers from Madurai
It was here that hundreds of Jain monks undertook ‘sallekena’ or ‘fast unto death’. The incident is mentioned in 2000-year-old Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions and Vatteluttu writings which were recovered by Archaeologists.
2,200-year-old Tamil-Brahmi inscription at Samanamalai , tamilnadu
It is engraved on a boulder in which a drip-ledge has been cut and beds excavated on the rock floor for Jaina monks to rest.
"Mangulam inscription" often regarded as one of the oldest tamil-brahmi inscription, 3rd century BCE , madurai .
The record mentions the name of great pandyan king "Nedunjcheliyan" who made stone beds for Jain monks.
Ancient Tamil brahmi inscription ,Thiruparankundram, Madurai (3rd century BCE)
The inscription begins with "ilakutumpikan" who is a house holder from SriLanka donated the Jain beds for monks
The oldest mention of Tamil name for the srilankan island "ilam" is also found here.
Jambai inscription(1st century BCE)
It reads "ஸதியபுதோ அதியந் நெடுமாந் அஞ்சி ஈத்த பாளி" (Abode given by Satyaputra Athiyan Nedumaan Anchi).
The inscription clears the doubt about the identity of the Satyaputras, a dynasty of rulers,mentioned in Asoka's inscription in girnar
Arachalur Musical InscriptionThere are three 2nd-4th CE Jain inscriptions in Arachalur. It is also the earliest incsription which talks about music in Tamilnadu.
It predates other inscriptions that have evidences to achievements of ancient Tamils in the field of music & dance.
1400 years old seeyamangalam Tamil-Brahmi Inscription.
According to inscription ( mentioned as Dravida Sangam ), it was under stood that, Nandi Sanga Jain monks lived here. A monk called Vajra nandi, a disciple of Gunaviradevar built steps to this cave.
There are 100s more such Tamil brahmi insscription
By issuing Tamil Brahmi inscriptions, Jaina monks in the ancient Tamil country contributed extensively to our understanding of the socio-cultural history of the Tamil land , as well as developments of Old Tamil as a language.
The cave inscriptions r votive, recording the gift of cave-shelters or rockbeds to the monks residing therein
The inscriptions record the names of the donors or the monks or sometimes the stone-masons who executed the work. Indeed the most important source of early Tamil history
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