Indian Palaeography c17.s3.4

c17.s3.4

The letters have distinct head-marks, which are generally notched, but sometimes angular. The lower verticals of *a*, *ka*, *ra*, and the vertical type of the medial *u* do not end in curves. The only initial vowel used is *ā*, which has a hook appended below its sloping upper left side. The medial vowels are very instructive. The medial *ā* is marked both by a top slant as in *yā* and by a horizontal stroke as in *gā*. The medial *i* is a stroke curved to the left, while the medial *ī* has an additional initial prominence. The medial *u* in *ru* is a stroke sloping downwards, but in *stu* it is an upward curve going outwards. The medial *ṛi* is a left curve of the southern type. The medial *o* in *ko* has one of its strokes in the form of a top slant, but in *lo* it has the cursive form of the southern type. This mixture of northern and southern medial vowels points to the region of Gujarat and Malwa, where they were in actual use in the fourth century a.d. *Ka* has its central bar curved. *Ga* has equal arms with rounded and flat-topped varieties. *Ṅa* in the conjunct *ṅga* has its vertical bent. *Cha* narrows the loop on the left side. *Ja* is of the three-armed type, with its vertical slightly curved in the middle. *Ña* in the conjunct *ñcha* maintains its proper form with a hook on the right. *Ṭa* in the conjunct *shṭa* has a round back. *Ṭha* in the conjunct *shṭhā* makes a rough oval. Both *ṇa* and *na* have bent bases. *Ta* has its lower two arms meeting in an upper curve. *Tha* in the conjunct *sthā* has a dot within a circle. *Da* is round backed. The left sides of *pa*, *ba* and *ha* are bent. *Bha* is of the broad type. *Ma* has a triangular looped base with two slanting uprights. The tripartite form of *ya* has its third left arm replaced by a loop, but in the conjuncts the three uprights of this form are well preserved. *Va* has a triangular loop below a stem, and *sa* a hook on the left.