Indian Palaeography c15.s9.t3.1

c15.s9.t3.1

Two copper plates of the rulers of this dynasty, illustrated here, are in two different styles. Pl. XVII. 11, taken from the Gorantla plates of Attivarman, recalls the style known from the stone inscriptions of the later Pallavas of Kāñchī, datable from the seventh century A.D. onwards. Pl. XVII. 12, taken from the Mattepad plate of Dāmodaravarman, illustrates a local Andhra style as evolved further from the inscriptions of the Vishṇukuṇḍins but not influenced by Chālukya writing. Both inscriptions belong to the seventh century A.D. There is no connexion at all between the writing of these inscriptions and the Ikshvāku style, as has been maintained by several scholars.¹ The medial vowels are all of the seventh century A.D. as seen in the Pallava records (Fig. 16). The double ruled lines in the verticals of *a*, *ka*, *ra*, and the vertical-type of the medial *u*, are clearly inspired by the style of the Pallava stone inscriptions. There are other identical forms in no. 11: the optional type of *ja*, which has a left curl in place of the upper right arm, *ṇa* and *na* with closed loops at their bases, the looped type of *ta*, *la* with a flat top to its extended curl, *śa* with both its arms curved inwards and a short mark within in place of the full length mid-line, and *sha* having its right vertical slightly curved inwards instead of the mid-line. Finally, *ña* used in the conjunct *jña* has a loop on the left. The other inscription, no. 12, exhibits stylistic differences. The curves in the verticals of *a*, *ka*, *ra*, and the vertical type of the medial *u* are no doubt extended but do not show any tendency to being ruled. The foot type of *e*, used here, opens its mouth upwards. *Kha* has no loop at its base. *Ja* has three arms attached to a vertical. *Ṇa* and *na* have their bases bent, and *ta* is of the Deccani style with a curved hook on the right of a vertical. The left arms of *pa*, *pha*, *ba*, *sha* and *ha* are bent. *Ya* has a short curl in place of the third left vertical. *La* does not extend its upper curl too far. Both *śa* and *sha* have full length mid-lines. Notches are seen in the base lines of *e*, *cha*, *da*, *dha*, *pa*, *pha*, *ma*, *ya*, *la*, *va*, *sha* and *ha*.