Nainativu Tamil Slab Inscription of Parakramabahu I
The Nainativu inscription of King Parakramabahu I, records his authority and provides insights into 12th-century Sri Lanka's commerce & administration
Nainativu Tamil Slab Inscription of Parakramabahu I
A Tamil slab inscription containing an edict by King Parakramabahu I ( 1123-1186 A.D. ) of Polonnaruwa has been discovered from the island of Nainativu (present Nagadeepa/Nagadipa) in Jaffna District, Sri Lanka (Sinhala: පරාක්රමබාහු රජුගේ නයිනතිවු දෙමළ පුවරු ලිපිය; Tamil: நயினாதீவு கல்வெட்டு) . The epigraph is considered an important archaeological heritage found from the Jaffna Peninsula as it reveals the commercial activities that existed in the time of King Parakramabahu I (Dias et al., 2016; Indrapala, 1963). Discovery
The slab was found at the entrance of the famous Hindu shrine, Nagapooshani Amman Temple on Nainativu Island (Indrapala, 1963). At the time of its discovery, a portion of the slab had been broken off and built into the wall of the Hindu temple (Indrapala, 1963).
Presently, the inscription is placed in the museum of Nagapooshani Amman temple. Inscription
The inscription has been engraved on both sides of a stone slab about 4 ft. tall and 2 ft. 5 inches wide. The obverse…
