Indian Palaeography c17.s3.6

c17.s3.6

(ii) This group includes three inscriptions—the Myson inscription of Bhadravarman (Pl. XX. 2), the Hon-Cuc inscription (Pl. XX. 3), and the Cho-Dinh inscription of Dharmamahārāja Bhadravarman (Pl. XX. 4). All these inscriptions are characterized by the square or rectangular head-marks added to the top left of the verticals. This square mark is also seen over *ga*, *tha*, *dha* and *śa*, but not over *kha*. In style there is a close connexion between these inscriptions and that from Vo-Canh, the main difference being in the head-marks. The square head-marks of these inscriptions have also given angularity to the forms of the letters. As in the Vo-Canh inscription, the lower ends of the verticals do not curve, but show a sharp cut-end, especially in the Myson inscription. The medial vowels are of the same type. We may also note the additional medial *au*, which is of the curved variety of the south. These features link this square headed type with the Deccani style of Malwa (Pl. XV. 3). Other links with Gujarat are seen in the forms of *i*, which is of the roofed type; *u*, which has its lower horizontal curved upwards; *kha*, with a broad looped base; the broad type of *cha*; *ja* having its upper curve smaller than the lower; the looped varieties of *na* and *na*; and *śa* having a short mid-stroke attached to its right arm. The invariable use of the hooked variety of the subscript *ya* suggests that the date of these inscriptions should be placed slightly later than that from Vo-Canh. The middle fifth century A.D. would be the earliest possible date for them. In the Cho-Dinh inscription we get the looped variety of *ta*, which is first seen in the late Śātavāhana records in India. Henceforward the looped varieties of *ta*, *na* and *ṇa* become common in South-east Asia. This northern link of these inscriptions is further confirmed by the title *Dharma-mahārāja* adopted by Bhadravarman—a title obviously borrowed from the Vākāṭakas.¹