Indian Palaeography from about B.C. 350 to about A.D. 1300 c6.s1.14

c6.s1.14

While these myths tend to show that the Hindus had forgotten the origin of their alphabet in early times, — perhaps already about B. C. 300, but certainly before the beginning of our era, — there are some other portions of their traditions which possess a greater and a positive value. The two Jaina Sūtras referred to above, contain a list of 18 separate alphabets; and the Lalitavistara¹¹ enumerates 64 scripts which are said to have existed in the time of Buddha. Several among the names of the two lists agree, and there are in particular four which, as may have been already recognised, have a claim to be considered authentic and historical.