Indian Palaeography c15.s7.t1.10

c15.s7.t1.10

(iii) Pl. XV. 12 is taken from the Gaṅga inscriptions of Hastivarman, Indravarman II, Indravarman III, and Devendravarman; dated between the (Gaṅga) years 79 and 183 (A.D. 574 and 680). The square head-mark shows another development in these inscriptions. Here we notice the solid square growing into a broad rectangle, and this mark is placed centrally over the verticals, as in *ka* and *ra*, and over both the verticals in letters like *a* and *ma*. The practice of giving head-marks to both the verticals is inherited from the Madhara records. But there is no doubt that the change of the square head-marks into broad rectangles is a distinctive feature of the later Gaṅga records. It is most probably from this type that the Pipardula plate of the Śarabhapura king derived its style, because in that region the solid square type had long been given up. In this Gaṅga style the influence of the stylus is clearly marked. The letter forms are in the Andhra style, not influenced by that of the Eastern Chālukyas or even by that of the Pallavas. In fact a northern influence is traceable in the open-mouthed type of *ṇa*, *ta* with an angular hook, and *na* with a head on the left. The distinctive letters are *a*, *ka* and *ra*, all of which have a short curve at the lower ends of the vertical, *kha* with a broad looped base, and *la* with a short upper curve. The medial vowels are all in the local style.