Indian Palaeography c15.s2.25

c15.s2.25

(*e*) Eighth century a.d. (Pl. X. 12). The typical example is the Nalanda stone inscription of Yaśovarman, which marks an advance towards the evolution of proto-Nāgarī. The change is observable in the tails seen in *a*, *i*, *e*, *kha*, *cha*, *ja*, *tha*, *da*, *dha*, *pa*, *ra*, *la*, *va*, *sha*, and *ha*. The medial vowels have become almost standardized, with the exception of *ā* and *o*, which still optionally retain the old forms. In them the blending of the Kushāṇa and the eastern styles is now complete. Easily recognizable Nāgarī forms are *ka*, *kha*, *ga*, *cha*, *ja*, *da*, *na*, *pa*, *la*, *va*, and *sha*, with the only differences that here the head-marks maintain the triangular form and that the right limbs are bent. An important development is seen in *tha*, which makes a definite inner loop at the top of its bulged body and thus disposes of the mid-line. The main difference between this style of writing and the Nāgarī is that this inscription keeps up the taste for ornament, while Nāgarī prefers straight lines, and this style is first seen in Central India.³