Indian Palaeography c15.s9.1

c15.s9.1

The deltaic region of the Godavari and the Kistna forms another zone where we see the beginnings of a different regional writing. But this region was very disturbed politically, and the effects of political changes are clearly stamped on the styles of writing seen here. This zone was under the Śātavāhanas in the second and the early part of the third century a.d. Later in this century the Ikshvākus developed an ornate style of writing. But this particular style did not leave behind any legacy in the palaeographical field, except that the characteristic long verticals of Ikshvāku writing are seen in some of the inscriptions of the Pallavas and in others its degenerate version is copied. On the other hand, we meet with a sudden corrupt hand in the Mayidavolu plates of Śivaskandavarman and the Kondamudi plates of Jayavarmma, the letters being drawn very crudely, some of them even recalling the inexperienced hand of the Bhattiprolu writing. Obviously the end of Ikshvāku rule was due to a violent outbreak of some local force, probably represented by the Bṛihatphalāyana dynasty, which must have been suppressed by the rise of the Pallavas, after whose ascendancy we meet with a peaceful development for some time. These developments can be studied in the records of the Śālaṅkāyanas and the Vishṇukuṇḍins. But in the fifth century a.d. the square-headed letters of the Vākāṭaka records infiltrated into this region, and in the sixth century the influence of Chālukyan writing is noticeable in the later inscriptions of the Vishṇukuṇḍins (Pl. XVII. 5). At this time the Eastern Chālukyas established themselves in this region and with them the proto-Kannadi forms came in. The Gaṅgas continued the square-headed type in their secluded region north of the Godavari delta, but, towards the close of the 7th century a.d. the proto-Nāgarī writing of the Rāshṭrakūṭas began to exert its influence in this region. The Gaṅgas were the first to adopt some forms from this source. On the other side the Pallavas re-established their authority in Kāñchī and perfected a style of writing peculiar to that region. The influence from this source is seen in the inscriptions of the Ānandas. Thus this region has throughout been influenced by extraneous elements, and hence the development of proto-Telugu was delayed. When later we see its evolution, the influence of proto-Kannadi is very marked. The palaeography is described under the following groups: (*a*) The inscriptions of the Bṛihatphalāyanas. (*b*) The inscriptions of the Śālaṅkāyanas and the Vishṇukuṇḍins. (*c*) The inscriptions of the Gaṅgas. (*d*) The inscriptions of the Eastern Chālukyas. (*e*) The inscriptions of the Ānandas.