The correct answer is: A) Vazhappally inscription
The Vazhappally inscription is a stone inscription found in the Vazhappally village in the Thrissur district of Kerala, India. It is dated to the 9th century CE and is written in the Vatteluttu script. The inscription is considered to be the earliest example of proto-Malayalam, the precursor to the modern Malayalam language.
The inscription is a record of a land grant made by a local ruler to a Brahmin temple. The inscription is written in a mixture of Sanskrit and proto-Malayalam. The proto-Malayalam words in the inscription are written in the Vatteluttu script.
The Vazhappally inscription is an important document in the history of the Malayalam language. It is the earliest known example of the language and provides valuable insights into its development.
The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:
- Option B, Edakal cave inscriptions, are a group of inscriptions found in the Edakal caves in the Wayanad district of Kerala. The inscriptions are dated to the 3rd century BCE and are written in the Brahmi script. The inscriptions are in Sanskrit.
- Option C, Jewish Copper Plate, is a copper plate inscription found in the town of Chendamangalam in the Ernakulam district of Kerala. The inscription is dated to the 10th century CE and is written in the Hebrew script. The inscription is in Hebrew.
- Option D, Halmidi inscription, is a stone inscription found in the Halmidi village in the Hassan district of Karnataka. The inscription is dated to the 5th century CE and is written in the Kannada script. The inscription is in Kannada.