Indian Palaeography c15.s2.16.3

c15.s2.16.3

The new development made in this hooked *ya* is in drawing the right limb, which now becomes straight and meets the base at an acute angle. *Ra* shows prominently the foot-mark in the form of a triangle. The hooked forms of *la* and *ha* known in the Gupta period are no longer followed. The western forms with a firm base-line are used. In the inscriptions of the Kanauj Maukharis the base of *la* slants upward, while the hook of *ha* is pulled down. In these inscriptions the old form of *sa* with a hook at the left is used optionally, but usually the looped *sa* is found, with the only change that the loop tends now to become triangular. Again the triangular form of *va* shows a development in the inscriptions of the Kanauj Maukharis. This triangle optionally turns into a round form but keeps the right arm straight. This will be henceforward called the rounded *va*. *Śa* generally has a flat top with a triangular foot-mark at the left limb. At Amauna the round-top form is seen and here the mid-line stops half-way. On the whole the forms clearly show that the Magadha Maukharis were earlier in date than the Kanauj Maukharis. Another point which is clear is the introduction of the new forms from the Malwa region, and it is not unlikely that these Maukharis originally came from Malwa, where they are known earlier from the Yūpa inscriptions.¹ (*d*) The last quarter of the sixth and the seventh century A.D. (Pl. X. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11). No.