Indian Palaeography c15.s3.t1.28

c15.s3.t1.28

(iii) Pl. XI. 10, 11. No. 10 includes the inscriptions dated between the (Harsha) years 60 and 95, and no. 11 those between the years 103 and 159. It is from this period (i.e. the later half of the seventh century A.D.) that the forms associated with the *kuṭila* character in the Middle Ganges Valley influence the style of writing in Nepal. But here the local forms were not altogether given up. They survived to the end of this period. Changes are noticeable in the initial vowels. The form of the curved *a* connects it with Bengal, where the lower curve at the left limb is extended farther. The form of *u*, as seen in no. 11, with a rounded vertical and upturned base, preserves an old type and is peculiar to Nepal. Similarly, the old form of *e* with its base on the right is a very late survival. The medial vowels optionally preserve the old style, but the new tendency is also seen in the addition of a vertical on the right for the medial *ā* and the prolongation of the curves in the medials *i* and *ī* to the bottom of the letters. *Ka* develops an additional right limb attached to its cross-bar, and in no. 11 has the triangular loop at the left. In the eighth century a.d. *kha*, *ga*, *bha*, and *śa* have triangular foot-marks at their left limbs, and their right limbs are slightly bent. At this time the triangle of *bha* and *sa* opens its mouth. *Gha* develops the acute-angled form farther. *Ja* is of the old three-armed form, and also the new form with its two bent arms. *Ṭa* prolongs its right tick farther down and *ḍa* farther rounds its back. The base of *ṇa* slopes and the outer right arm is bent, but no cursive form is used even in a conjunct such as *ṇḍa*. *Da* develops a tail at the end of the lower curve. Both *tha* and *dha* keep up the local forms, with a wavy curve attached to the right vertical, and also are of the new bulged forms. *Na* preserves the looped type, but in the eighth century a.d. we find the form with a head on the left joined by a bar to the right vertical. Both *pa* and *pha* are found in *kuṭila* forms, but in the eighth century a.d. *pha* turns its loop outwards, as was also the case in Bengal. *Ya* is of the tripartite form with a curl at the left arm, but the looped variety comes to an end in the seventh century a.d., and the bipartite form begins to appear at this time. *Ra* has the triangular foot-mark but does not develop a tail. Both *la* and *ha* have firm bases with their hooks falling in an inner curl, as in the Middle Ganges Valley. *Va* is of the rounded type. *Śa* keeps up the old flat-topped form to the end. The cerebral *ṣha* appears in the later half of the seventh century a.d. The dental *sa* has the triangular loop and sometimes opens its mouth. On the whole we find the older forms persisting as optional cases in the medial vowels, and in the letters *a*, *i*, *ja*, *tha*, *dha*, *na*, *bha*, *ya*, *ra*, *śa*, and *sa*. In this survival of the older forms Nepal maintains its individuality.