Indian Palaeography c15.s5.t1.3

c15.s5.t1.3

(iii) Pl. XIII. 4 is taken from the Eran pillar inscription of Budha Gupta, dated in the (Gupta) year 165, Pl. XIII. 5 is derived from the Eran inscription of Toramāṇa, and Pl. XIII. 6 from the Gwalior inscription of Mihirakula. These inscriptions did away with the southern features from this region for good, and initiated new styles allied to the northern characters. All the medial vowels now follow the northern system. Remarkable is the change in the medial *ṛi*, which now curves to the right, as in the north. The medial *i* optionally extends its curve to the bottom of the letters, and the medial *ī* curves to the right. The initial *a* preserves the local curved type as well as the Gupta form, with its left hook having a graceful bend. The long *ā* is now made by adding a curve to the foot of the right limb. The initial *i* is also of the northern type with two dots above and a tailed one below. The initial *u* also has the northern form with its base curved downwards to the left. The initial *e* has a flat top and a narrow lower end. The right limbs of *ga*, *ta*, *bha* and *śa* are longer than the left, while the left limbs of *kha*, *ga* and *śa* have foot-marks. *Gha* has a variation at its base. *Cha* is of the beaked type. *Ja* has its three arms straight. The tops of *ga*, *ṭa* and *śa* are now flat. *Ḍa* has a long leg as in the north, while *ḍha* is round-backed. *Ṇa* is of the open-mouthed type. In the Gwalior inscription the inner arms of *ṇa* optionally almost coalesce. In Budha Gupta's inscription *tha* maintains the southern form, but in the Toramāṇa inscription it has the oval with the mid-line, and in the Gwalior inscription it is of the bulged form. *Da* is of the double-curved type, *dha* of the bulged form, and *na* of the looped variety. The curve at the left sides of *pa*, *pha*, *ba*, *sha* and *ha* is no longer seen. *Bha* is of the angular type, *ma* is of the tailed variety, and *ya* has a left loop in the tripartite form. *Ra* has a foot-mark, and *la* curls its left hook downwards, while *ha* has a gradual curve in its base line. On the whole these inscriptions preserve their distinction from those of the Middle Ganges Valley.