Indian Palaeography c15.s5.t1.2

c15.s5.t1.2

(ii) Pl. XIII. 2 is taken from the Bihar Kotra inscription of Naravarman, dated in the (Vikrama) year 474, and from the Gangadhar inscription of Viśvavarman, dated in the (Vikrama) year 480. Pl. XIII. 3 is derived from the Sanchi inscription, dated in the (Gupta) year 131, the Mandasor inscription of Govinda Gupta, dated in the (Vikrama) year 524, and the Mandasor inscription of Kumāra Gupta and Bandhuvarman, dated in the (Vikrama) years 493 and 529. These two groups show the last survivals of the southern characteristics in this region. However, they have the head-marks in the north Indian fashion. The medial vowels are given in the southern style; the only northern influence that can be traced is in the top curved slants for *ai* and *au*. The distinguishing southern medial vowels are the circle-stroke for *i* and *ī*, the left rounded stroke for *ṛi*, a cursive form of the medial *o* in *lo*, and a curved tip in the vertical stroke of the medial *u*. The initial *a* maintains the curved form of (i) above only in no. 2, but no. 3 shows the older form with a hook attached to the left limb. The other initial vowels are all in the southern style. *I* has a curved roof above two dots, but in no. 2 the roof is doubled. The term roof-type of *i* will be used henceforward. *U* is of the same form as in (i) above. *E* has an upper stem with the corners of the triangle rounded. In no. 2 the stem is very faintly visible. *Au* maintains the ‘z’-form but with the angles rounded and an additional slant going upwards. Of the consonants no. 2 has some forms borrowed from the north, while no. 3 exhibits exclusively southern forms. No foot-mark is seen at the left limbs of *kha*, *ga*, or *śa*. In fact both the limbs of *ga*, *ta* and *śa* are equal, except in no. 2, where *ga* has a longer right limb. *Gha* is of the southern type with its left vertical bent. *Ṅa*, as seen in the conjunct *ṅgo*, has two arms with a straight vertical. *Cha* is of the beaked type as in the north. *Ja* has three straight arms attached to a vertical, but in no. 3 the vertical is bent in the southern fashion. *Ña*, as seen in the conjuncts *ñcha* and *jña*, is of two types—in the latter example it is of the looped variety, and in the former the usual type. *Ṭa* is almost a half-square. *Ḍa* in no. 2 has a bent leg, but in no. 3 has a squarish back. Both *na* and *ṇa* are of the looped type. *Ta* in no. 2 has an angle at the meeting-point of the lower limbs, but in no. 3 a curve. *Tha* is oval with a curved line within. *Da* is rounded in no. 2 but squarish in no. 3. *Dha* narrows the lower end in no. 2, but in no. 3 the old Deccani form is seen, with an arc on the left attached to the two arms of a triangle. *Pa*, *pha*, *ba*, *sha*, and *ha* have notches at the left arms. *Bha* is of the broad type. *Ma* is also of the southern type with a loop at the bottom and two strokes above. *Ya* is of the tripartite form but has no loop at the left arm. *Ra* has a curved tip, and *la*, when used singly, curves the upper end of the vertical to the left. *Va* is of the triangular type. *Sa* has a hook at the left and *ha* has a firm base. The *jihvāmūlīya* does not have the dumb-bell form of the north, but resembles the form of the southern *ma*, while the *upadhmānīya* has a cross within an oblong form. Thus southern influence persists throughout these inscriptions. It must, however, be remembered that this southern influence is all traceable from Gujarat and Kathiawad. These inscriptions show no trace of the new tendencies that were appearing in the extreme south. Probably it will be better to call these features Central Indian, as their source lay in the inscriptions of the Śātavāhanas and the Western Kshatrapas.