Indian Palaeography c15.s9.t3.15.1

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.