Indian Palaeography c15.s3.t1.27

c15.s3.t1.27

(ii) Pl. XI. 9. This group includes the inscriptions, dated between the (Śaka) years 517 and 535 and up to the (Harsha) year 59. Roughly speaking, the inscriptions belong to the first half of the seventh century A.D. During this period of the rule of Harshavardhana in the Middle Ganges Valley new trends from that region reached Nepal. But no sudden changes were made. This group really represents the transitional stage leading on to the next (iii). In this period the only change in the initial vowels is seen in the form of *e*, which from this time onwards has a flat top—a practice in line with that of the Middle Ganges Valley. In the medial vowels the hooked form of *ā*, as seen in some cases before, is now dropped. The system known in Bengal at this time is now followed. *Ja* optionally has the new form, in which the upper right arm is merged with the head-mark and the two lower ones are bent down. *Ṭa* has a tick at the right end of the flat top. *Ḍa* has a rounded back and a bent leg. The base of the open-mouthed *ṇa* now slopes to the right, while the two outer arms are extended farther. In both *tha* and *dha* the left-hand curve is optionally wavy. *Na* is still of the looped type. *Pa* and *ma* have an acute angle, while *bha* has now a triangular foot-mark at the left limb. The tripartite form of *ya* has both a curl and a loop at the left arm. *Ra* has the foot-mark. The hooked types of *la* and *ha* now develop a round-based form, and optionally are also of the new forms from the Middle Ganges Valley, having a firm base and two verticals with a hook. *Sa* has a triangular loop at the left, and in rare cases opens its mouth. *Va* is optionally of the rounded type but also of the triangular form. The cerebral *sha* is still not used. The palatal *śa* is of the old type.