Indian Palaeography from about B.C. 350 to about A.D. 1300 c7.s17.t2.19

c7.s17.t2.19

(15) The signs for the medial vowels agree in many particulars with those of the Kuṣana period. But the open semicircle for *ā* in *ṭā* (17, II), which is found also in *ṇā*, is an innovation. Further, the medial *i*, for instance, of *khi* (8, III, VI, IX), is drawn further to the left than in the earlier inscriptions. In some inscriptions like Mathurā, new series, Nos. 38, 39, the medial *ī* consists merely of a curve, going to the right, though the form with two horns (as in *dī*, 24, I), and a looped one (as in *bhī*, 30, IV), are more common. Medial *u* is mostly represented by the still used curve, which in *ru* (33, III, VI) appears abnormally at the end of *ra*; but in *gu* (8, II, VI), *tu*, *bhu* (30, I) and *śu* (36, III) the vowel rises upwards. For medial *ū* there are, besides an old form in *gū* (9, IV), other combinations in *bhū* (30, II, VI) and *ṭṭū* (42, II) and a later very common, cursive form in *dhū* (25, II, VI). One of the Mātrās of *ai* and *o* is often placed vertically, as in *gai*, 32, III; in *go*, 9, III; and in *ṇo*, 21, III.