On the Origin of the Indian Brahma Alphabet c6.8

c6.8

It is not difficult to see, that the first seven varieties have been caused by two conflicting tendencies, a liking for angles and a liking for curves, which are observable also in [35] the divergent forms of other Brāhma letters. Nos 1—3 are purely angular. The first and the second differ only thereby, that in the one the obtuse angle touches the vertical line, and that in the other it has been first made separate and then connected by a short crossbar.¹ In the third form the right hand stroke is slightly bent in the middle and the whole letter resembles a Greek Χι. Nos 6 and 7 show on the left, instead of the straight sides of the angle, two well developed curves, and in No 6 they are united in the middle, while in No 7 they do not touch. Nos 4—5 appear to be mixed forms, as the former has on the left a curve below with a straight stroke slanting towards the left, while in the latter the curve stands above and the straight stroke below. This apparent mixture may be due to an incomplete change of the older, angular form. But the two varieties may also be explained as cursive developments from No 6, the writer not caring to make the more elaborate curve twice. No 8, finally, is a purely cursive development from No 6, a straight stroke being substituted for the notched line on the left.