Indian Palaeography c15.s9.t3.17

Language: English

c15.s9.t3.17.1

(*c*) Pl. XVIII. 3 is taken from the Hirahadagalli inscription of Śivaskandavarman. The writing shows the same bad hand as in the Mayidavolu inscription, though the corrupt forms of *ja*, *ma* and *sa* are not found here. On the other hand, we find here some new forms. The long verticals, the curved tips, and the same type of the medial vowels, as seen in the Mayidavolu plates, are found here. Of special interest are the following features: the left stroke in *jo* is marked at the middle of the letter; the stroke of medial *ā* in *ṇā* is attached to the right bottom; the medial *e* in *be* and the medial *o* in *mo* are given in the middle of the letters; and in *lo* the medial *o* shows the cursive type of the south. The curve of the medial *u* is turned to the left in *khu*, *ḍu*, *du*, *nu* and *pu*, but it is turned to the right in *gu*, *tu* and *bhu*, and optionally in *ku*. The form of *ke* with its mid-bar slanting downwards to the left is the same in the Kondamudi, Mayidavolu, and Hirahadagalli plates. The initial *a* has two types—one with the hook on the left, while the second has on this side a loop with its mouth open. This second type appears later in the Grantha writing, as seen in the inscriptions of Annamalai and Mamallapuram. *I* is of the three-dot type with one dot above. *U* is of the late Śātavāhana form with its base gently turned upwards. *E* is of the triangular form with its two lower corners rounded. It has no upper stem.

c15.s9.t3.17.2

The cross-bar of *ka* has curled ends, as also in the Mayidavolu plates—a feature which persisted in this region and was widely adopted in the later Grantha writing. *Kha* has a quadrangular looped base. *Ga* has equal arms and a rounded top, and one optional form has the lower ends of the arms curved inwards. The left arms of *ga*, *pa*, *pha*, *ba*, *va* and *ha* are bent. *Cha* is of the foot type. *Ja* has three arms on the right. *Ṭa* has a pointed back. *Ṭha* has its lower side straight. Both *ḍa* and *da* have rounded backs, as in the Mayidavolu plates. *Ṇa* is of the open-mouthed type and shows the same method of applying the medial *ā* as is seen in the Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudra Gupta and the Susunia rock inscription of Chandravarman.¹ This is the earliest appearance of this type in the whole of the south and the only example of its use in this region. Its adoption is explained by the fact that in the Kondamudi and Mayidavolu plates we do not find a separate sign for *ṇa* and *na* distinct from that of *da* and *ḍa*. If this letter is crucial, the date of this inscription cannot be earlier than that of the Allahabad pillar inscription. *Ta* is of the Deccani type. *Tha* has a dot within an oblong form. *Dha* is a rough quadrangle, but also has the late Śātavāhana form with an arc added to the sides of a triangle. The base of *na* is bent. The optional form of *ba* has its left arm deeply curved inwards. *Bha* is of the broad type.

c15.s9.t3.17.3

The loop of *ma* is slightly tilted to the left. *Ya* is of the tripartite form, with its third left arm sometimes curled inwards and sometimes almost dropped. *Ra* optionally has the serpentine vertical. *La* has its right vertical curved to the left. *Va* is either triangular or round. *Sa* has a hook on the left. The vowelless consonant, as *m* in *ddham*, is placed at the right bottom. In the conjuncts the tendency is to write the second letters with a cursive hand, but no cursive forms are developed, except the optional form of *tha* which draws the end of the circle inwards instead of giving the dot separately within the circle. This inscription has been placed by most palaeographers in the first quarter of the fourth century a.d. But the forms of the open-mouthed *a*, the foot type of *e*, the quadrangular looped base of *kha*, the open-mouthed *ṇa* with the medial *ā* attached to its right bottom, the deeply curved left arm of *ba*, and the cursive medial *o* in *lo* raise doubts as to the validity of this dating. If these forms are at all indicative, its date should be in the second half of the fourth century a.d.—a view which was expressed long ago by Fleet.²