I need some information and references about following statements,
. All Tamil palm leaf literature works had same Tamil letters shape from the earliest well known palm leaf literature (Tholkappiam) to last well known palm leaf literature (Chittrilzakkiyagal).
. Tamil letters shape will get differ in each inscriptions based on its period.
Kindly provide me if anybody knows online links to view Tamil palm leaf literature works or which museum I can find different period of Tamil palm leaf literature works. Which is the oldest inscription / portray contains Tamil letters and which museum I can find it out. Please provide me any research reports related to this subject to clarify my doubts.
With expecting your valuable reply, Sakthi Saravanan. D +91 9886569692
First of all, we should know how to distinguish a language from its script. For convenience let us call the script as lipi.
Lipi is used to express a language in written form.
The antiquity of tamil as a language goes back to pre christian era - but its lipi has not remained consistent. It has undergone major changes.
* The earliest form of lipi used for tamil is called Tamil brahmi or thamizhi. Lot of controversies surrounding it
* Then came vattezhuttu
* Then came something that is pretty close to the present day lipi. This starts somewhat from chola era. I don't think there is any peculiar name for this lipi.
present day tamil lipi
* Palm leaf is a different beast. Even though tamil was written as usual in palm leaf there will be no mei ezhuthus due to the limitation of the medium - if you poke a hole the leaf splits!