Indian Palaeography c15.s5.t1.7

c15.s5.t1.7

(vi) Pl. XIII. 10 is taken from the Kanaswa inscription of Śivagaṇa, dated in the (Vikrama) year 795, Pl. XIII. 11 from the Buchkala inscription of Nāgabhaṭa, dated in the (Vikrama) year 872, and Pl. XIII. 12 from the Barah plate of Bhojadeva, dated in the (Vikrama) year 893. These inscriptions show a development away from the ornamental tendencies seen in (v) above, towards simplification. Nos. 10 and 11, which are engraved on stone, still have a touch of flourish, but no. 12, which is a copper plate, shows only simplified forms. This simplification is noticed to a greater extent in the copper plates of the Rāshtrakūṭas of still earlier date, as we shall see below. This fact may suggest that the copper-plate engravers of this region favoured a simplified style. The truth of this is borne out by the copper plates of the Maitrakas of Valabhī and the Chālukyas. The letters have a triangular head-mark in the stone inscriptions, but only a line mark in the copper plate. The *kuṭila* forms are preferred in the stone inscriptions but the copper plate has straight verticals and flat tops. The development of tails in letters such as *ka*, *ja*, *da*, *pa*, *ma*, *ya*, *ra*, *la*, *va*, *sha*, *sa* and *ha* is seen in both the styles. The forms in the stone inscriptions generally agree with those seen in the Middle Ganges Valley, and these need not be described again. But the copper plates show some new features. The medial *ā* has a long vertical on the right. The medial *i* and *ī* extend their curves downwards. The medial *u* has only a curved stroke, and the vertical form seen earlier in some cases is no longer used here. The medial *ū* also is a slanting stroke with a head to the left. But in the case of the medial *e*, *ai*, *o* and *au* the older style of the left horizontal stroke still continues optionally. In the initial *a* the two strokes attached to the left end are clearly seen and its right limb slants downwards to the left. The initial *i* has its tail curved to the left, while *u* does not have the head-mark. Remarkable developments in the consonants can be seen in the following: the top arm of *ja* is totally lost, and its second arm falls down from the head-mark while the third extends its curve to the left; *ṭa* has the head-mark; *ta* has an angular hook attached to the right limb; the bulged form of *tha* has an outer loop; *bha* and *sa* are of the open-mouthed forms. In the conjuncts the cursive form of *ña* and the constricted forms of other letters are notable.