Indian Palaeography c15.s7.4

c15.s7.4

(*a*) The Malwa variety of the fourth century A.D. is represented by Pl. XV. 1, taken from the Eran pillar inscription of Samudra Gupta and the Udayagiri cave inscription of Chandra Gupta II, the latter dated in the (Gupta) year 82. This variety has been described in the last chapter.¹ Here it only needs to be pointed out that the forms of all the letters are southern, including also the medial vowels, as is definitely proved by the form of the medial *ṛi* in *nṛi*, and the medial *ā* attached to the middle of *mā*. In these inscriptions the head-mark is distinctly given at the top left end of the verticals. If there are two or three verticals in a letter, such as *a*, *gha*, *pa*, *ma*, *ya*, *sha* and *sa*, the square mark is applied to the left one. This mark is also given over the round tops of *tha* and *śa*, but not over *ga*, *ṇa* and *la*. It is seen on the flat top of *dha*, but not over *ṅa*, *ja* and *ṭa*. This head-mark is given separately, and does not appear to have had any other influence on the actual forms of the letters.