Tamil Brahmi Inscription: Perum Pathan Kal

Period: 3rd Century CE
Script: Tamil Brahmi
Language: Tamil
Found in: Krabi Province, Thailand
Material: Stone
Present Location: Khlong Thom Phra Kru Athan Sankarakit Museum, Krabi, Thailand

This very important inscription found in Southeast Asia is displayed to demonstrate the usage of Tamil Brahmi script in Thailand for commercial purposes.

This artifact of 3rd Century CE bears an inscription in Tamil language which may be translated as “the [touch] stone of the great goldsmith”.

Goldsmiths were highly respected in both India and Southeast Asia. ‘Perumpatan’ is derived from the words perum, “great”; patan (pattan), “goldsmith”. In Sanskrit, the title would be mahasuvarnakara.

Replica is by courtesy of Khlong Thom Phra Kru Athan Sankarakit Museum, Krabi, Thailand. Special acknowledgment to Capt. Boonyarit Chaisuwan, Phuket, Thailand.

Yoni Base

Period:10th Century CE
Found in:Yogyakarta, Central Java, Indonesia
Material:Stone
Present Location / Lender: Museum Nasional Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia

According to early Vedic Puranic Hinduism (Brahmanism) the yoni is the symbol of female creative energy.

This Yoni base bears elaborate decoration combining three Naga heads and a turtle, as well as a Garuda, who supports the spout with his hands while standing on three makara heads. All these symbols are connected with the elixir of immortality or Amirta.