Tamil script
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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.
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Tamil Alphabets in Various Times
Tamil inscription in Sri Lankan Buddhist Vihara mention its name
as
'sri jagatoppa kandan perumpalli'
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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
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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.
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Archaic Tamil Inscriptions
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Pallava / Mutharaiyar
Inscription in verse on a pillar, Tamil Script, Mutharaiyar chiefs,
8th Century, Sendalai, Thanjavur Dist.
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Pandya
Rock cut cave temple inscription in Tamil Script,
9th Century, Maranjadaiyan, Tirukkokarnam, Pudukkottai District
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Chola
Inscription In Tamil Script, Parantaka Chola 929CE,
Gangaikondacholapuram,
Perambalur District
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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
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Medieval Tamil Inscriptions
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Chola
Inscription In Tamil Script, Vikkirama Chola, 1121CE, Sendalai, Thanjavur
District
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Pandya
Inscription In Tamil Script, Pandya,
13th Century, Pillamangalam,
Sivaganga District
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Later Tamil Inscriptions
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16th Century Inscription in Later Tamil script,
Murugamangalam, Tiruvannamalai District
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Labels of Nayak Paintings in Later Tamil script - Alakarkoil,
Madurai District, 17th Century
19th century Tamil Script on Palm leaves
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