Faithful Copying in Tamil Manuscripts: A Philological Remark

In: Petit, Jérôme ; Pinault, Georges-Jean (Hrsgg.): Praśasti. Studies in Indology Presented to Nalini Balbir by Colleagues, Students and Friends. Halle an der Saale, Universitätsverlag Halle-Wittenberg 2025, pp. 87-99 (Studia Indologica Universitatis Halensis ; 29) . ISBN 978-3-86977-292-9

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Abstract

The Tamil expression 'eḻutiṉa naṉmaikku', preceded by a text’s title or a word meaning ‘manuscript’, can be found in paratexts from Tamil manuscripts containing religious, belletristic and grammatical texts. Its meaning is at first elusive, probably also due to its seldom occurrence. However, when compared to its attestations in other sources – different text genres and media –, we come to better appreciate its semantic range, which entails matters of faithfulness and authenticity of writing in general and copying in particular. Furthermore, its attestations may also open a window on the identity of the scribes who employed such an expression in manuscripts.