WRITING IN ANCIENT INDIA-#2

WRITING IN ANCIENT TIMES- 

SHAKUNTALA WRITING A LETTER ON BURJA PATRA.

LETTER ADDRESSED TO DUSHYANTA.
RAJARAVIVARMA OIL PAINTING

The documents from the North known as "lekha" and "lipi" were generally written on a type of leaf called "burjapatra" The letters were painted onto the leaf with "maSI" or ink. With such a method a sharp stylus -"elzuththANi' can't be used.
The majority of the Tamil manuscripts have been incised on the palmyra leaf - "tAlipatra" or "Olai" or "Edu". The instrum...ent "nArAcam" was used for punching a round hole at the left end of the palm leaf. A bundle of leaves comprising of a full document or a complete book could be compiled in order, and then tied by a ribbon of rattan thong which is passed into the respective holes.
This compilation is known as "cuvadi" or "poththakam".
"ANi" or "elzuththANi" was the most commonly used word which was used to mean the stylus.
The nArAcam was also a small sharp instrument which was used to pierce the ear-drums of people to make them deaf. This was a form of punishment.

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