Indian Palaeography c15.s3.t1.6

c15.s3.t1.6

The initial vowels *a*, *ā*, *i*, *ī*, and *e* are similar to the forms seen in the Gupta inscriptions of the Middle Ganges Valley. But the base of *u* already has a curve downwards, and an optional form of *e* has an upper stem, as has been noted in the inscriptions of the later Guptas.¹ The difference from the Middle Ganges Valley form is also seen in the medial *o*, as applied to *kho*, *go*, *ṇo*, *bo*, and *yo*, where the right-hand mark is given at the bottom right, as in the case of the medial *ā*. The medial *au*, as applied to *tau*, also shows a variation in so far as the third mid-stroke is actually inclined to the left. The Kushāṇa system of a top slant for the medial *ā* is not found here, but it is seen in the case of the medial *e*. The medial *i* is a curve going to the left, and the medial *ī* has two arms in a curve, the right one longer than the left. There is no change in the other medial vowels. The left limbs of *kha*, *ga*, and *śa* have line heads instead of foot-marks, while the right limbs of *ga*, *ta*, *bha*, and *śa* are longer than the left. *Ka* has the curved mid-bar and *gha* maintains the straight base. *Cha* has pointed as well as rounded beaks. *Ja* has its lower arm slightly bent at the tip. *Ña*, as seen in the conjuncts *ñcha* and *jña*, has already developed the cursive form with three teeth. *Ṭa* flattens its top, and *ḍa* has its back slightly rounded. *Ṇa* is of the open-mouthed type with a loop at the left. *Tha* is oval with a mid-line. *Na* is of the looped variety. *Pa* and *pha* have rounded left angles, while *ba* optionally has a slight bend at the left arm. *Bha* keeps up the angular form. *Ma* has two varieties in the tailed form—in the first the base slopes to the right vertical, thus giving the first example of an acute angle in this letter, while the second is a constricted form in which the base curves upwards and replaces the right vertical. This method is also adopted for drawing the letter *pa*, which gives a shape closer to the later proto-Bengali *pa*. *Ya* is of the tripartite form with a loop at the left arm. *Ra* is a straight vertical. *La* and *ha* are of the hooked type but very cursively drawn, especially in the Baigram plate. In this plate alone we get the letter *ḷa*, of the same form as in the Allahabad inscription. The base of the triangular *va* has already started sloping to the right. As said before, *sha* is replaced by the form of *sa*, and the latter is of the looped variety.