Indian Palaeography c15.s2.20

c15.s2.20

Marked evolution is noticeable in the consonants. *Ka* retains the old form with the curved middle bar in *kra*, *kṛi*, and sometimes in conjuncts, but is usually seen in the new form with the curve on the left of the vertical growing into a triangular loop and the right curve developing a downward tick, which in due course lengthens into a bent vertical. We shall henceforward use two terms, the looped *ka* for the first and the *kuṭila ka* for the second. The flat-topped *kha* prominently shows the triangular foot-mark at the left limb, and the right limb has the hollow triangle on the inside of the letter. Sometimes the angles of this triangle are rounded. In the spurious Gaya plate this triangle is at the outer side of the right limb and here it opens its mouth, as in the inscriptions of the Pālas of Bengal.² *Ga* has both flat and round tops, the latter gradually merging with the *kuṭila* form of the right limb. In *gha* the acute-angled side is lowered and the curved side slightly raised. *Cha* is still of the beaked type, but is drawn in an ornamental style. *Ja* merges the uppermost arm with the head-mark, the middle arm is curved downwards, and the lowest bends into a hook, the whole giving a new look to the form. *Jha* still maintains the old form, with only this difference, that the middle bar slopes down to make an acute angle with the right limb. There is no change in *ṭa* and *ṭha*, but *ḍa* reduces considerably the length of its lower leg and its back is slightly rounded. The base of *ṇa* is slanted and the outer arms prolonged, but the two inner uprights come closer, and in conjuncts such as *ṇḍa* they actually merge together and form a tooth in the cursive type. In *tha* and *dha* the left curve slopes down beautifully to meet the bent vertical at the narrow end. Henceforward these will be called the bulged forms. The mid-bar of *tha* gradually shifts upwards. The double-curved *da* now has a tick at the tip of its lower curve. The head-form of *na*, as seen before, is now well established, but the right vertical now shows *kuṭila* features. *Pa* rounds its left corner and lowers its right vertical to meet at an acute angle with the base. Only in the inscriptions of Harshavardhana is its ornamental form to be seen. It is from this time onwards that the separate sign for *ba* is dropped and only *va* is used for both the consonants. The triangular foot-mark in the left limb of *bha* now grows in importance, displacing the left limb itself, but the right is further lengthened. In the Deobarnark inscription the triangle is open. The tail of *ma* disappears and a loop develops at this point, while the base slopes down to meet the right vertical at an acute angle. *Ya* is of the bipartite form with the right vertical bent, but the Bodhgaya inscription of Mahānāman still optionally has the left loop in the tripartite form. *Ra* develops a tail at the foot-mark. The base of *la* curves upwards, with its left hook developing a beautiful inner bend. The rounded *va* with the right vertical forming a tail is also seen here. The flat-topped *śa* takes on a new form in the inscriptions of the later Guptas. Here the top of the left limb curls into a loop and is then finally joined with the right limb. *Sha* follows the form of *pa* with an additional mid-line. *Sa* with the triangular loop, as seen before, is adopted here. Only as an optional usage is the type with the left hook seen in the Bodhgaya inscription and the spurious Gaya plate. In the inscriptions of the later Guptas this triangle opens. The base of *ha* curves and dips its angle at the right. In the late inscriptions a tail develops at this point, while the hook on the right falls in a graceful bend.