Indian Palaeography c15.s4.24

c15.s4.24

Pl. XII. 9 is taken from five stone inscriptions from Chamba. The writing is in different hands. The Panali Nala inscriptions show a style with the head-mark which is usually a hollow triangle, but the Gum inscription has solid triangular heads. Again the Panali Nala inscriptions are crudely engraved, but the Gum inscription is well executed. All of them clearly show the influence of *kuṭila* writing and forms identical with those seen in the Middle Ganges Valley at this time. Regional differences are no longer found. The inscriptions may be dated in the seventh century A.D. The only initial vowel found here is *a*, which is of the curved type with two arms of the curve projecting beyond the left vertical. The medial *i* and *ī* have their curves extended down to the bottom of the letters. *Ka* not only has the loop on the left, but also has an additional bent vertical on the right. *Ga* has the triangular foot-mark at the left limb. *Chha* is of the double-looped type. *Ja* merges its upper arm with the head-mark and bends the two lower ones downwards. *Ṇa* is of the open-mouthed type with its base sloping to the right. *Ta* is of the *kuṭila* form. *Da* has an upward slant at the tip of the curve. *Dha* is of the bulged form, and *na* is of the head type, but also shows a regional variety of the looped *na*. Both *pa* and *ma* have acute angles on the right. *Ya* is of the bipartite type. *Ra* clearly shows the foot-mark. *La* slants its base upwards with its hook curled in. *Va* when triangular has its base slanting, and when rounded bends its right vertical. *Śa* shows an eastern form, with its top curled and joined by a bar to the right vertical. *Sa* is looped and has another variety with its mouth open.