Indian Palaeography c15.s9.t3.12

c15.s9.t3.12

(*a*) The earliest inscription⁴ of the Pallava dynasty belongs to Siṁhavarman (not illustrated). The writing seen here does not agree with the styles known from the other inscriptions of the Pallavas. As pointed out by D. C. Sircar, it resembles the Ikshvāku writing. But one marked difference is that the present inscription does not show the symmetrical writing of the Ikshvākus. It is possible to point to its counterpart in the second series of the Ikshvāku records,⁵ where the symmetry is not observed. But other differences are also marked. The head-mark in this inscription is more developed than in the Ikshvāku records. Though the lower verticals of *a*, *ka* and *ra* are prolonged, the medial *i* and *ī* do not have the tall signs. On the other hand, the medial *ī*, as applied to *sī*, is turned to the right with an initial prominence. The loop in the forms of *ṇa* and *na* is optionally omitted. *Ya* optionally has a flat base. However, the style is definitely derived from the degenerate writing of the Ikshvākus. It may be dated in the first half of the fourth century a.d.