Indian Palaeography c12.s4: The Initial Vowels in Aśokan Brāhmī

Indian Palaeography c12.s4

Language: English

The Initial Vowels in Aśokan Brāhmī

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Only six initial vowels were used in Aśokan Brāhmī. Of these, three are basic: *a*, *i*, and *u*; while three others, *ā*, *e*, and *o*, are secondary forms.

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*The letters a and ā.* Bühler distinguishes 'eight most important' forms merely from the external shape. From the point of view of technical formation they fall under three broad heads:

(i) In this series the vertical is drawn first and the two curves to the left of the vertical subsequently. The varieties originate as the two curves come closer to each other and finally their one arm merges with the other (Fig. 4. I). This series is found in most of the columns, but is rare at Girnar.

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(ii) In this series the curves on the left are replaced by straight lines which make an acute angle. They are drawn first and then the vertical is made. Sometimes the vertical is bent to touch the apex of the angle, or a short bar is drawn to join the apex with the vertical (Fig. 4. II). The first two examples are seen in the Mysore inscriptions (Pl. IVa), the third in the Girnar R.E., Sopara R.E., and Erragudi, Rajula Mandagiri, and Gujarra M.R.I.s. The last can be seen in the Dhauli and Jaugad R.E.s, and Kosam P.E., Girnar R.E., and Mysore inscriptions.

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(iii) In the third series the vertical is drawn first and then one of the left strokes is brought to the middle of the vertical either straight or cursively, and from this meeting-point another stroke goes out either straight or cursively (Fig. 4. III). These forms are distributed fairly evenly in most of the columns, but are rare at Girnar.

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The long *ā* is generally formed by adding a horizontal bar to the right of the vertical where the left strokes meet. But in the Girnar R.E., Gujarra M.R.I., and Erragudi and Rajula Mandagiri M.R.I.s the horizontal bar is added to the top or near the top of the vertical.

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FIG. 4

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*The letters i and e.* The letter *i* consists of three dots placed trianglewise, and when these dots are joined by lines they form *e*. In most cases the apex is on the right; sometimes it is on the left, as in the Girnar R.Es.; sometimes it is at the top, as at Maski, but very rarely at the bottom, as in the Sopara R.E. and Sarnath M.P.I. *E* is never seen with its apex downward. The horseshoe form of *e*, which Bühler finds in the Kalasi R.E., is unjustifiable. Three triangular points are the main thing in the formation of *i* and *e*, and they cannot result in a horseshoe form. At best the lines joining these points might be slightly curved, and very rarely this is noticeable. It is not shown in the plates illustrated.

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*The letters u and o.* *U* is formed with two straight lines meeting generally at a right angle, and very rarely at an acute angle, the angle opening on the right. The vertical line is usually longer than the horizontal, suggesting that the former was drawn first. *O* is formed by adding a horizontal bar to the top left of *u*, but the whole letter is made in one action starting from the top left end, and consequently in *o* the middle vertical line is inclined (Fig. 4. IV). In the Dhauli and Jaugad R.E.s the letter *o* is formed in the reverse fashion, as shown in the same figure.