Indian Palaeography c15.s9.t3.25.2

c15.s9.t3.25.2

The medial *ai* has an additional curved stroke attached to the bottom of the medial *e*. The medial *au*, as seen in *pau*, combines the strokes of *ā* and *ai*. The medial *i* is of the circle type, but the medial *ī* has the broad curve with a curled end. The medial *u* and *ū* in *gu*, *bhu* and *bhū* are always broad curves to the right, but in other letters the medial *u* is of the vertical type. The medial *ṛi* is a curve to the left as in *nṛi*, or to the right as in *kṛi*. The initial *a* has a double vertical on the right, and on the left either a loop or a triangle with its mouth open. The roof of the initial *i* is notched and a tail drops from its right end to join the dot on the right. The foot type of the initial *e* now opens its mouth on the right, has a loop at the base, and curves the right arm downwards. *Ka* has a double vertical and its cross-bar has curled ends, but in the Mamallapuram inscriptions this form of the cross-bar is replaced by a loop on the left and an angular hook on the right, recalling the looped type of the proto-Nāgarī *ka*. The left arm of *ga* curls upwards in the inscriptions of Panamalai and Annamalai. The left arm of *gha* is bent, but the base is straight. *Cha* is of the foot type with its mouth optionally open at the top. The three arms of *ja* are very rarely seen.