Where the Letter “ஐ” Was Born in Stone – Thirunathar Kundru’s Script Legacy

Icebreaker: Ever wondered where the Tamil letter “ஐ” first appeared in stone?
A sacred hill in Villupuram silently holds that secret, etched in time since the 5th century CE.

Directions/Location: Thirunathar Kundru (Singavaram), 17 km from Gingee, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu

Highlights Not to Miss:

The First-Ever Epigraphic Appearance of “ஐ”
This is the earliest known inscriptional evidence of the Tamil letter “ஐ”, found carved in Vattezhuthu script, dating to the 5th century CE. It’s a landmark in Tamil linguistic heritage, showcasing the script’s evolution from a phonetic to a visual form.
Sallekhana Inscriptions (Tamil-Brahmi, 5th century CE)
Two sites on the hill record the Sallekhana (ritual fasting to death) of Nirgranth Jain monks, inscribed in Tamil-Brahmi, further cementing the antiquity of the site.
24 Thirthankaras Panel
The hillock hosts a unique bas-relief of all 24 Jain Tirthankaras in two rows — an unmatched feature in all of India.

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Architectural Wonder:

The hill features natural rock formations, Jain carvings, ancient caves, and inscriptions that span from Tamil-Brahmi to Vattezhuthu.
A blend of sacred ascetic legacy and linguistic evolution, this site is a rare living museum of Tamil’s journey through time.

🏰 Gingee – The Historic Town of Many Names

Gingee, also known as Senji or Jinji, was once called Singapuri and is referred to in historical records as Simmapurinadu. Famous for its Jain heritage, Gingee and its surrounding regions host numerous ancient Jain monuments.

The town comprises three main areas:

Srikadambur (Srikadampur)
Krishnapuram
Chakrapura

Within Srikadambur, about 2 km from the main town, rises a remarkable hillock — a sacred site that preserves inscriptions, rock-cut reliefs, and Jain legacies dating back over 1,500 years.