Ah, Pondicherry Inscriptions—now that's a fascinating area of study, blending epigraphy, colonial and ancient history, and the cultural layers of South India.
Pondicherry, now called Puducherry, has a rich and layered past, reflected in inscriptions from various periods and rulers. These inscriptions—on temple walls, copper plates, stones, and sometimes even French records—are important for understanding:
Tamil – Dominant in Chola, Pandya, and local dynastic inscriptions.
Sanskrit – Often used for religious grants, sometimes mixed with Tamil (bilingual records).
Grantha script – Used to write Sanskrit in Tamil-speaking areas.
French – In colonial-era plaques or records.
Sangam period – Though limited in Pondicherry itself, some inscriptions nearby show early Tamil polity.
Pallava period (4th–9th century) – Inscriptions linked to Mahabalipuram region also touch the Pondicherry area.
Chola period (9th–13th century) – Temple grants, land donations, taxation, etc.
Vijayanagara period (14th–17th century) – Inscriptions related to temples like those in Villianur or Bahour.
French Colonial Era (1674–1954) – Though technically outside classical "epigraphy," plaques and decrees from this time are sometimes studied similarly.
Thiruvandarkoil
Bahour
Villianur
Arikamedu – Though better known for archaeology, some inscribed materials have been found here too.
South Indian Inscriptions (ASI series) includes references to Pondicherry-area temples.
Epigraphia Indica – Has entries related to the region.
Local studies by scholars from French Institute of Pondicherry (IFP) often include analysis of inscriptions and manuscripts.
Iravatham Mahadevan, though more famous for Indus script and Tamil-Brahmi, has also contributed to understanding regional epigraphy.
Land ownership and administration
Religious and temple practices
Language evolution and script usage
Political power and regional control
Social structure and caste references
Your cart is currently empty.
