Indian Palaeography c14.s10.t2.3

c14.s10.t2.3

The Kauśāmbī style of the fourth century a.d. can be best studied in the Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudra Gupta (Pl. X. 1). The writing in this inscription shows a further development from the Kauśāmbī style of the second to third century a.d. The tapering style of the earlier Kauśāmbī inscriptions is no longer found. The head-formation has a definite line-mark, which in some cases appears to be notched. The medial vowels keep up the eastern style in some cases but copy the Kushāṇa system in others. The medial *ā* bends its horizontal tip and in the case of *ṇā* it is attached to the lower right side. The medial *i* lengthens its hook so as to carry its end right below the head-mark. This is observable especially in *ri* and *ti*. The medial *ī* has its right arm longer than its left. The medial *u* is always crooked. The medials *e*, *ai*, *o*, and *au* are in the Kushāṇa style: the medial *e* has a single slant to the left, *ai* has two, the medial *o* has one on either side, and *au* has a third vertical mark added in the middle of the *o*-mark. In the case of *mā* the hook is attached to the right arm, and in the case of *ṭā* it is turned upward. An upper slant added to the sign of *ṭā* makes it *ṭo*. In *gu*, *bhu*, *tu*, &c., the hook of *u* is turned upward. The initial *a* has only the angular form with its lower left stroke drawn at an angle. The initial *i* has two dots one above the other and a vertical on the right. The initial *u* rounds its angle. *Ka* has its horizontal bent. The triangular base of *kha* is prominent. Its upper hook, which now has a line-mark at the foot, is found in curved and flat varieties. The right arms of *ga*, *ta*, *bha*, and *śa* are prolonged—a practice seen henceforward in all the North Indian inscriptions. *Ga* has both round and flat tops. The left limbs of *kha*, *ga*, and *śa* have foot-marks. *Gha* has either its left arm or its base curved. *Ja* has all its three arms slanted downwards, while the lowest sometimes bends still farther. *Ḍa* maintains the stepped form, but prolongs the lower vertical. *Na* has developed a loop in the openmouthed type, and *tha* has optionally a line in place of the centre dot. *Da* is of the round-backed type, but *dha* has almost an oblong form. *Na* is of the looped variety. Notches are seen in the sides of *pa*, *pha*, *ba*, and *sha*. *Bha* is of the angular variety with its right arm farther extended, as already noticed. *Ma* is of the tailed variety. *Ya* has a loop at the left arm, and in combination it is of the hooked variety. *Ra* is a straight vertical. *La* and *ha* are of the hooked type and *sa* of the looped variety. The mid-line of *sha* is either horizontal or sharply bent down to the base, producing a form very close to *sa*. Among the compounds may be noted the form of *ṅa* in combination with *ha*. Finally it must be remarked that the long verticals do not show curves in this style of writing.