Indian Palaeography c14.20

c14.20

(2) The second change is noticeable in the style of the medial vowels. The new system is shown in Fig. 8. IV. The medial *ā* is now a slanting vertical. The medial *i* and *ī* assume rounded forms of several ornamental varieties (see also Fig. 10. IV). The medial *u* bends its base in a greater or lesser degree. The second stroke of the medial *ū* is added at an incline to the left of the first stroke. The medial *ṛi* also has a curved form. The strokes of the medial *e*, *ai*, *o*, and *au* bend upward. These changes are generally adopted in this period in North India, but the older system survives in the Deccan inscriptions.