Vellaveli Brahmi Inscription
Vellaveli Brahmi Inscription is a rock-cut record on rocks in Thalavai (Vellavely) of Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. The place located 50 km away from Batticaloa through Kaluvanchikudy A4 road. The place is surrounded by rocks and hills. There are about four inscriptions, and 3 out of 4 cannot readable or damaged due to natural impact. Some parts of rocks are carved by human activity, which could have happened in ancient days.[1] The initial finding says that it is dated to approximately 2200 years,[1] and it has mix of both Brahmi and Prakrit.[2]
The inscription
The following letters can be seen in the inscription:[1]
Parumaka Naavika Shamathaya Leno
Translation
The rough translation says “Ship caption Shamathaya, who has the title Parumaka, given this rock”. The word Parumaka literally means lord, and the word Naavika could be a sailboat as per use of Sangam literature’s[3] wording.
References
- வரலாற்று முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்த வெல்லாவெளிப் பிராமிச் சாசனங்கள்
- மட்டக்களப்பு: தொல்லியல், தமிழ் பௌத்தம், தமிழ் மொழியின் தொன்மை
- கண்ணகி 'மாநாய்கன் குலக்கொம்பர்' (சிலப்பதிகாரம், மங்கல வாழ்த்துப் பாடல்)