Indian Palaeography from about B.C. 350 to about A.D. 1300 c8.s3.t1.20

c8.s3.t1.20

(6) The medial vowels: — (*a*) *ū* in *pū* (27, XIII), a cursive substitute for the *ū* of *yū* (32, VI), *cū* (13, IV), &c.; (*b*) the subscript *ṛ* of *kṛ* (8, XII, XVII; 41, XIV), somewhat resembling a northern *ṛ* (which latter actually occurs once on the seal figured in IA. 6, 24, in *Mṛgeśa*), but probably independently derived from a not uncommon *ṛ* in the shape of an unconnected semicircle before *ka*; (*c*) the exceedingly rare *ḷ* of *kḷ* (42, XIV), which, differing from the northern subscript *ḷ* (plate VI, 35, XVII), but agreeing with the northern initial sign of the Cambridge MS., consists merely of a cursive *la*; (*d*) the Mātrā of *e* (in *ṇe*, 21, XII), of *ai* (in *vai*, 13, XII; and *vai*, 35, XIII), and of *o* and *au* (in *thau*, 23, XII), which, except in connection with *le* (see *le*, 34, XII, and *lo*, 34, XIII, XVII), frequently stands at the foot of the consonant; (*e*) the *au* (in *pau*, 27, XII, XIV), the right-hand portion of which invariably and in all southern alphabets consists of a hook, formed by a cursive combination of the second Mātrā with the *ā*-stroke (compare *yau*, plate III, 31, VI).