Indian Palaeography from about B.C. 350 to about A.D. 1300 c7.s6.t2: B. — Medial vowels and Anusvāra
Indian Palaeography from about B.C. 350 to about A.D. 1300 c7.s6.t2
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B. — Medial vowels and Anusvāra
c7.s6.t2.1
(1) The *i*-stroke goes regularly across the left side of the horizontal strokes of the consonants (6, III; 7, III; 15, II, III; &c.); in letters with two horizontal or slanting top-strokes, it passes through both (14, III; 16, III; 38, III, VI; &c.), likewise through both the top-strokes of *ṇa* (19, X). In *I* (2, I), *di* (22, II), and *ni*, it stands just below the head, and in *yi* (30, II) it hangs in the left side.
c7.s6.t2.2
(2) The *e*-stroke corresponds in form and position to the upper half of the *i*-stroke (4, I; 6, IV; 12, II; 19, III; &c.); in *E* (4, II) it may also stand straight above the head of *A*.
c7.s6.t2.3
(3) The *o*-stroke mostly corresponds in its position to the lower half of the *i*-stroke (5, I; 12, IV; 14, IV; &c.), but it stands further to the right in the angle, formed by the upper part of the letters, in *go*, *gho* (9, II) and *so* (36, IV).
c7.s6.t2.4
(4) The *u*-stroke stands regularly at the left lower end of the consonant (3, I; 8, III; 10, IV; 12, III; &c.), but a little higher up if the foot of the consonant is curved to the left (*U*, 3, II), or to the right (*du*, 22, IV), or has a hook on the right (*pru*, 25, V; *hu*, 37, IV). In *mu* it stands to the left of the top of *ma* (see *mru*, 29, V).
c7.s6.t2.5
(5) The Anusvāra has the full form of *ma* (see above, § 9, B, 4) only occasionally in *maṁ* (29, IV). More commonly it is represented cursively by a straight stroke as in *maṁ* (38, XI), or by two hooks at the sides of *ma* as in *maṁ* (38, X). In combination with other consonants ending in a single slanting or vertical line, the Anusvāra is marked by an angle, opening upwards, which the foot of the consonant bisects (8, IV; 11, IV; 17, V; 19, V; &c.), or, rarely in Shāhbāzgarhī, oftener in Mansehra, by a straight line, a substitute for the curve of *ma*, as in *thaṁ* (21, V). If the foot of the consonant has some other appendage, the Anusvāra is attached higher up to the vertical, as in *ñaṁ* (14, V); *ḍaṁ* (18, V); *vraṁ* (33, V); *haṁ* (37, V). The angular Anusvāra is always divided in *yaṁ* (30, V) and in *śaṁ*, and the one half is added to the right end of the *mātṛkā*, and the other to the left. This may also be done in *kaṁ* and in *bhaṁ* (28, IV).