On the Origin of the Indian Brahma Alphabet c5.80

c5.80

The state of civilisation, described in the Jātakas, is in various respects primitive, and particularly noteworthy is the prevalence of wood architecture, which on the evidence of the oldest sculptures had almost disappeared in the third century B. C. The Jātakas even describe the palaces of kings as usually constructed of wood. Many other details might be added. But the facts given are sufficient for our purpose. They make it at least probable that the mention of writing as common in daily life is not an addition, made by the Buddhists in later times, but occurred in the old stories which they appropriated. And it ought to be remembered, that in the Puṇṇanadī and Asadisa Jātakas writing is not merely an ornamental accessory, but a most essential point, without which the stories would have no meaning, and that the Asadisa Jātaka is found on the Stūpa of Bharahut.