Indian Palaeography c16.s1.12.2

c16.s1.12.2

1, though here also different traditions are traceable. Of the initial vowels the most distinctive is *a*, where the two left curves meet the right vertical separately—a practice which became common in the post-Aśokan period.² The initial *u* generally has its vertical longer than the horizontal. The medial *i*, as in *ki*, *chi*, *di* and *ri*, starts from the middle of the vertical; the medial *u* is applied to the left, middle, or right of the base line, and the medial *o* in *śo* is a horizontal line drawn across the angular peak of *śa*. These features again point to a late date. In the letter forms two traditions are marked—one with rounded features, and the other with angular forms, especially in Ritigala cave inscriptions nos. 2–7. The angular features can be seen in the forms of *a*, *ḍa*, *da*, *pa*, the triangular base of *ma*, *la*, *sa* and *ha*. Occasionally the vertical of *ka* is equal in length to its cross-bar. *Ga* has an angular peak. *Gha* in Ritigala nos. 8–10 has its left vertical slightly longer than the remaining two. *Ṭha* has a flat base. Both *ṇa* and *na* have short bases. *Ta* is of the Deccani type with an inclined stroke to the right of a vertical. The mouth of *da* is open to the left. *Ba* is a square. *Bha* in Ritigala cave inscriptions nos. 8–10 follows the older form, but its upper stem is added by mistake to the left instead of to the right.