Indian Palaeography c16.s1.30

c16.s1.30

G. Pl. XIX. 11 is taken from Nagarikanda, Nilagama, Vessagiriya, and Burrow's Pavilion inscriptions; Pl. XIX. 12 is derived from Dakkhina Thupa rock inscription of Dathopatissa. These inscriptions introduce a style which is in conformity with the conservative writing. The new developments are clearly marked in no. 11, while no. 12 is a further simplification of this style. These letter-forms could well be evolved locally, but as they are found in a limited number of inscriptions, issued within a limited period, it is likely that they were borrowed from outside. But this style of writing is not known in India, except in one inscription, the Siroda plates of Devarāja (Pl. XVIII. 1), which has been dated in the sixth century a.d.¹ As no details are known regarding the palaeographical developments in Goa, it is difficult to be certain about the question of borrowing. If this style was not local to Goa, it may be taken as a counter-influence from Ceylon on the western coast of the mainland. The initial *a* is completely changed in no. 11, though in no. 12 it retains the old form. In no. 11 the lower left curve is stretched up to the right vertical and the middle horizontal is optionally dropped. In the final form we find only the upper curve slightly broadened on the left and there is no trace of the lower curve. The initial *i* is of the double-roofed variety in no. 11, as in the inscriptions from Gujarat (Pl. XVI. 8–10). *E* in no. 11 is a further simplification of the foot type with its mouth open upwards, but in South India the foot is placed to the left and here it is to the right. The form of *o*, which is wrongly read as *u*, is a type well-known in the south. The medial vowels are usually local, except the circle type of *i*, which is copied from the mainland. Of the consonants the most remarkable are the following: the round-topped form of *ga* with left limb optionally curved inwards; *cha* in a new form, besides the foot type, a triangle with its right arm extended upwards; *cha*, *ḍha*, *pa* and *ha* with notches in the lower sides of the foot type; *ṇa*, of the local type with insignificant horizontals; *ta*, optionally of the looped variety; *na* with a closed loop at the left; a new type of *ma* with its mouth closed by a line, as occurs also in the Siroda plates; *ya* either of a simple tripartite form, as in the Siroda plates, or bipartite with an optional loop at the left; *la* with lower curve broadened; and *sa*, optionally the simplified version of a form which has an open-mouthed triangle at the left corner. On the basis of these characteristics no. 11 may be placed in the sixth century a.d., and no. 12 in the seventh century.