Etakada Tamil Inscription

The Etakada Tamil Pillar Inscription Atakada is one of the Tamil Inscriptions in Sri Lanka . Discovery The pillar containing the inscription was discovered at the entrance to the modern Buddhist Viharaya at Etakada in the Kadawath Korale in Anuradhapura District (Veluppillai, 1971). However, as per the content of the inscription, the pillar must have been originally sited on the premises of a Siva temple (Veluppillai, 1971). Content The text of the inscription was published in the fourth volume of the South Indian Inscriptions under the number and name; 1411: Pillar slab at Etakada in Kalpe Korale (Sastri, 1923). The inscription begins by mentioning the 28th prosperous year but does not contain the name of any ruler in the preserved portion of the pillar (Veluppillai, 1971). Uttama Cola Isvaram, the name of the Hindu temple that is mentioned in the record suggests that it was a Siva temple related to the South Indian Chola ruler Uttama (971-985 A.D.) who preceded King Rajaraja the Great [(985…