Indian Palaeography from about B.C. 350 to about A.D. 1300 c7.s17.t1.1

c7.s17.t1.1

The differences between the eastern and western varieties of the so-called Gupta [47] alphabet appear in the signs for *la*, *ṣa* and *ha*.⁷ In the eastern variety the left limb of *la* (plate IV, 34, I—III, V, VI) is turned sharply downwards; compare the *la* of the Jaugaḍa separate edicts (see above, § 16, C, 35). Further, the base-stroke of *ṣa* (IV, 37, I—III, V, VI) is made round and attached as a loop to the slanting central bar. Finally, the base-stroke of *ha* (IV, 39, I—III, V, VI) is suppressed, and its hook, attached to the vertical, is turned sharply to the left, exactly as in the Jaggayyapeta inscriptions (see above, § 20, C). In the western variety these three letters have the older and fuller forms.