144 



DESCRIPTIVE REM AUKS ON 



APPENDIX. 



Dr. BURNELL ON THE INSCRIPTIONS. 



The following appears to be the substance of Dr. Burn ell's 

 evidence regarding the inscriptions at the Seven Pagodas as 

 published in his S. I. Paleography (2nd Edition, 1878), so far as 

 I can make it out : — 



Page 37. " . . . . the original work is to be attributed to Jains 

 of about the fifth century, and the alphabet of the inscriptions 

 corresponds with this date." 



Page 38. "The inscriptions are not dated ; the earlier ones 

 (which consist of a few words in explanation of the figures on 

 the so-called rathas) are in a character very near to the Verigi 

 (PI. I, c. fourth century A.D.) and early Cgra ( 1 Cera, P. II, 467 

 A.D.), but distinguished from them by a few important varia- 

 tions," showing an approach to the Grantha form. " These and 

 two Pallava inscriptions " (one of which is dated about 467 A.D., 

 page 34) " represent the earlier stage of development," p. 38. 



But the explanatory labels over the figures on the ratha are 

 not all of one date, one of them on the eastern face and third 

 storey being in the character of the Kamarajaor Ganesa temple 

 inscription put about 700 A.D. (p. 39). Again, quoting from 

 p. 38, " A still further development in the direction of the Grantha 

 forms is to be found in the inscription on a monolith, now used 

 as a Ganesa temple ; and also again in a still more developed 

 form at Saluvahkuppam. 



" There can be no doubt that these inscriptions must be put at 

 about 700 A.D." 



The inscriptions here referred to are those of Kamaraja No. 

 24, and of Atiranacanda Pallava No. 58. 



" The first four lines of the Ganesa temple inscription (No^ 

 24) describe Siva in a way that was only possible after Saiikara's 



