On the Origin of the Indian Brahma Alphabet c5.128

c5.128

initial *ṛ* and *ṝ* are expressed by a *ra* with the signs for medial *ṛ* and *ṝ*, (2) medial *ṛ* is a modification of *ra*, produced either by a twist of the *ra*-stroke to the left with or without a curve to the right at the end, or by the addition of a curl at the end of the *ra*-stroke, (3) medial *ṝ* is invariably expressed by the double medial *ṛ* of the period. Thus we find for *vṛ* in the Northern inscriptions of the first and second centuries A. D. [Figure:] or [Figure:] and in the fourth century and later [Figure:], while the inscriptions and even the modern alphabets of the Southern type offer [Figure:]. The northern initial *Ṛ*, which appears first in the Bower MSS.,¹ is [Figure:] *i. e.* *ra* with the curve of the medial *ṛ* attached, and [33] the southern forms of the letter, the oldest example of which occurs in a Kādamba grant of the fourth or fifth century,² appear to be modifications of the northern sign. These facts indicate that the signs for medial *ṛ* and *ṝ* were developed first and that those for the initials came into use somewhat later. As will be shown below, the process is exactly the reverse of that followed in the cases of the other vowels, where the medial signs are identical with, or modifications of, the initial ones. It is evident that the formation first of initial and next of medial vowels is the natural method, when an alphabet without vowel-signs is turned into one with vowels. Hence the palaeographic facts, too, show that the signs for *ṛ* and *ṝ* were not framed at the same time with those for *i*, *ī*, *u*, *ū*, *e*, *ai*, *o*, *au*, and that in all probability they are later inventions.