Indian Palaeography c15.s9.t1.7

c15.s9.t1.7

(ii) Pl. XVII. 5 is taken from the Ramatirtham plates of Indravarman and the Chikkula plates of Vikramendravarman II, both of the seventh century a.d. These show the definite influence of late Chālukyan writing. They have thick head-marks, their curves are extended farther, and some of the typical Chālukyan forms are adopted. Among these last the most notable are the medial *ī* with a broad curve having a curled end, *ka* with its lower vertical doubled, *ṇa* and *na* with angular hooks on the left, the curved type of the Chālukyan *ta*, *ya* with a loop in place of the left vertical, *va* with its quadrangular loop attached to a vertical on the right, and the Chālukyan forms of *ṟa* and *ḷa*. The influence of stylus writing is also seen in the frequency of the notches in the horizontal lines. But along with these Chālukyan features the local forms are also preserved. We have *a* of both the types, with broad and short curves; *ka* also has a short curve along with the double-vertical variety; *kha* optionally has a looped base; and *ta* also is optionally of the looped variety of the Andhra region. Of the other letters the initial *i* has a curved roof, *e* shows a stem, both *ga* and *śa* have their left arms curved inwards, *cha* is of the broad type, and round backs are seen in *ṭa*, *ḍa*, *ḍha* and *da*. A remarkable form among the conjuncts is that of *mme*, in which the lower *ma* lies horizontally.