Indian Palaeography c15.s9.t3.15

Language: English

c15.s9.t3.15.1

(*b*) Pl. XVIII. 1 is taken from the Siroda (Goa) plates of Devarāja, dated in his 12th regnal year, and Pl. XVIII. 2 is derived from the Mayidavolu plates of Śivaskandavarman. Both these plates are described here for the sake of comparison, as the Siroda plates have been referred to the same date as that of Mayidavolu on the ground that they are written in the same style. But a comparison of the writings as given in the plates will show that there is hardly any similarity between the two. Of the medial vowels the Siroda plates have the circle type of *i* and *ī*, but in the Mayidavolu plates both are left curves, the medial *ī* having an initial prominence in addition; the medial *o* and *ā* in the former have sometimes long verticals on the right, e.g. in *chā*, *thā*, *bhā*, *mo*, *yo* and *yā*, but not in the latter plates. In the Mayidavolu plates the curved tips are very important and the long verticals are seen in *a*, *ka*, *ra*, and the vertical type of the medial *u*. But in the Siroda plates the tendency is to reduce the curves, and no long verticals are seen—features which compare well with the Gurjara records. Only two initial vowels are used in the Siroda plates: in the initial *ā* the hook at the left limb is not prominent, and *u* is almost an arc of a circle. In the Mayidavolu plates the left hook of the initial *a* hangs separately, the initial *u* has a stem with its lower part curved, and the initial *e* is of the same type as in the Kondamudi plates.

c15.s9.t3.15.2

In the Siroda plates *ka* has a short vertical with a cross-bar; *ga* optionally curves its left limb upwards; *gha* is tripartite, with no bending at the verticals; *cha* is of the foot type; *ja* has either three arms or two curves joined together, as in the Gurjara records; *ṇa* has its base bent, but *na* is looped; *ta* has its two arms meeting upwards in a curve; *tha* and *dha* have notches at their lower sides, while the first in the conjunct *sthā* has a circle within it; *da* is round-backed; *pa* has lost its base line; *ba* is almost rectangular; *bha* is angular but without the stem; *ma* has a peculiar form resembling the number 8; *ya* is tripartite; *ra* is vertical; *la* in one case is of the Chālukyan type, with its upper curl rounded, and in the other has a short right vertical; *va* is either circular or triangular; *sha* is angular, with a midline; *sa* has a hook on the left; and the base of *ha* is rounded. Conjuncts show cursive forms as in *ṇṇi* and *shpa*. The *upadhmānīya* is a rough oval with a short mid-line. These forms do not show a single resemblance to those of the Mayidavolu plates. On the other hand, there is some connexion with the Gurjara and Chālukyan characters. The writing may be regarded as a regional script of Goa, derived mainly from the Gurjara style with influence from that of the Chālukyas. However, it may be pointed out that it bears close resemblance to the sixth century style of writing in Ceylon¹ (Pl. XIX. 11).

c15.s9.t3.15.3

It may be dated to the sixth century A.D. On the other hand, the letter-forms of the Mayidavolu plates agree with those of the Kondamudi plates with only this difference, that the forms of the latter do not emphasize the curved tips or show the long verticals. Exact correspondence is seen in the forms of *ke*, *kha*, *ga*, *chha*, the corrupt *ja* (optional in the Mayidavolu plates), *ṭha*, *ḍa*, *da*, *na*, *ṇa*, the Deccani form of *ta* (though the Mayidavolu plates have also the looped *ta*), *ma*, *la*, *sa* and *ha*. Similarly, conjuncts are rare in both, the only one of frequent occurrence being *mha* and *nha*. Of the different forms the Mayidavolu plates have a better type of the initial *a*, the foot type of *cha*, the three-armed type of *ja* (optional), the rare *ña* with its curved tip, *ṭa* with a straight back, *tha* with an inner dot, *pa* and *ba* with their left limbs bent, *bha* of the broad type, the tripartite *ya* with a straight base and its left arm slightly curled, and the triangular type of *va*. This difference is mainly because the Mayidavolu plates exhibit a slightly better hand than the Kondamudi plates.