Indian Palaeography c14.s10.t2.2

c14.s10.t2.2

The Susunia inscription (Pl. XI. 1) shows a monumental style. The engraving is of a high quality. The angular features are conspicuous in the formation of the letters. The cursive forms, which copy the Kauśāmbī style, include the looped *na*, the open-mouthed *ṇa* with a loop at the left, the tailed *ma*, the hooked *ha*, and the looped *sa*. The subscript *ya* is of the hooked variety. *Ra* is a straight vertical. The right arm of the letters such as *ta*, *ga*, and *śa* is longer than the left arm. The head-mark is characterized by a solid triangle. The medial vowel marks generally follow the older eastern style, but the Kushāṇa *ā* and *e* are optionally used. In the case of *ṇā* a hooked mark is added to the lower right of the letter. The medial *i* also shows a curled head. The form of *sha* in the conjunct *ṣṭa* is not very different from the looped *sa*. This form is also found in the Allahabad inscription. In Bengal in the fifth century *sha* is replaced by *sa* (Pl. XI*b*. 2). It seems that a confusion arose between *sha* and *sa* at this time. On the whole it is surprising to find an inscription in the Kauśāmbī style in Bengal in the middle of the fourth century a.d., to which period King Chandravarman is generally assigned. Palaeographically the Susunia inscription does not seem older than the close of the fourth century a.d. But an earlier intrusion from Kauśāmbī is not unlikely.