Indian Palaeography c15.s3.t1.9

c15.s3.t1.9

In all these inscriptions the head-mark is distinctly given. The Gupta form of *a* appears in the plates of Dharmāditya and used optionally in the plates of Gopachandra, but in the later plates the curved form of *a* is seen, as in the post-Gupta records of the Middle Ganges Valley. The initial *i* maintains the Gupta form, but *u* extends its curve upwards. The triangular *e* still has its base at the bottom. Only in the Ghughrahati plate is the base on the top. Only two medial vowels show change: the medial *ā* optionally uses the top slant of the Kushāṇa style, and the medial *i* prolongs its curve to the bottom of the letter. The medial *u* in *tu* is turned down, but in *gu*, *du* and *bhu* it is turned up. *Kha* has both round and flat-topped forms. *Gha* now divides its base into a sloping right half and a curved left half. *Ṅa* drops the loop at the left of the open-mouthed form. *Tha* maintains the oval form in the inscriptions of Dharmāditya, but the bulge form is seen in the other plates. Both *pa* and *ma* show an acute angle at the right. *Ya* has a new tripartite form with the outward curl at the left arm, as seen in the Amauna plate,¹ while the old looped form also occurs. In the plates of Gopachandra the bipartite *ya* appears. *Ra* optionally has an upward slant, recalling the foot-mark. Both *la* and *ha* have the hooked varieties in the earlier inscriptions, and in the later ones we have the full forms with the firm base line. *Sa* optionally has the triangle instead of the loop at the left. Among the conjuncts may be noted the forms of the double letters *ṭṭa* and *rjju*, in which the lower letters are twisted downwards. Similarly, *tha* in *sthā* has its oval in a horizontal position. On the whole the style suggests the gradual adoption of some of the forms which were already in use in Bihar.