Indian Palaeography c14.s7.8

c14.s7.8

Another definite change is seen in the inscriptions of the Chashṭana group of the Western Kshatrapas (Pl. IX. 5). All their records so far known are from north Gujarat and Kathiawad. The new style that these inscriptions introduce did not develop from the older Western Deccani style, but, as the detailed description will show, borrowed much from Eastern Malwa and from the Kauśāmbī region. It seems that some new cultural elements must have entered Gujarat during the rule of the Chashṭana group of the Western Kshatrapas. The changes are traceable in three distinct features. (i) For the first time in this region special attention is paid to the head-mark. The Junagadh inscription of Rudradāman shows the line head-mark, while a few others have a solid triangular head-mark. The tapering style of the earlier Deccani inscriptions is not found here at all in this period. (ii) Some new shapes of letters are introduced. These remained confined to this region and hardly reached the Deccan. Among them may be mentioned the form of *kha* which gives greater prominence to its triangular base, as opposed to the Deccani *kha* where the upper hook is important. *Ya* with its left arm curled is seen only here. The tailed *ma* and the hooked *ha* are used optionally in the Gadha (Jasadan) inscription of Rudrasena. The hooked type of the subscript *ya* is also employed optionally in this region. There are other forms of the letters which penetrate even to the Deccan. The most important are the forms of *ta* with its rounded appendage and the round-backed *da* with its mouth open to the right. (iii) The third remarkable change is seen in the ornamental forms of the letters. The curves and notches in the verticals and horizontals and the flourishes in the medial vowels are noteworthy. These flourishes seem to be a further development from the earlier practice seen in the Deccani inscriptions. This characteristic is shared equally by the later Śātavāhana inscriptions and it may be that this Gujarat style influenced the ornamental forms of Eastern Malwa. Other Deccani influences are traceable in the use of the medial vowels, the round-backed *da*, the simple *na* and *ṇa* with bent base, and the medial *o* optionally added to the middle of *ma*.