Indian Palaeography c16.s1.34

c16.s1.34

I. Pl. XIX. 14 is taken mainly from the Tiriraya rock inscription. The writing seen here copies the Pallava Grantha style of the seventh to eighth century a.d. (Pl. XVIII. 9–11). The Kuchchaveli rock inscription gives the simplified version of this style. The only initial vowel known is *i*, which is of the double-roofed type with a line joining the right roof and the dot below. Double-ruled lines are seen in the verticals of *ka*, *ra*, and the vertical type of the medial *u*, and also the subscript *ya*. *Kha* is seen for the first time in Ceylon. It has a broad looped base, and sometimes the mouth of this loop opens upwards. The left limbs of *ga* and *śa* curve outwards. *Gha* is of the simple type with three uprights on a base. *Ja* shows the simplified version of the Grantha form, in which the loop in the lower arm is lost; but the Sinhalese inscription no. 13 has the true Grantha form. *Na* is of the open-mouthed variety with loops at the lower ends. *Ta* is of the looped variety. *Tha* has an open mouth of the circle type. *Dha* is roughly oblong. *Bha* opens out its triangular mouth, and the medial *u* and *ū* added to it are of the broad Pallava type. The medial *i* is also of the circle type. *La* extends its upper curve downwards. *Sha* optionally has the Grantha form, with a double loop at the right limb, and the triangle at the left of *sa* opens upwards. These features clearly relate this writing to the Grantha style of the Pallava inscriptions. The inscriptions may be placed in the eighth century A.D.