Indian Palaeography c18.s4.t4: 4–8. Scytho-Parthian Period
Indian Palaeography c18.s4.t4
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4–8. Scytho-Parthian Period
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There are a large number of inscriptions falling in this period, some dated and others undated. There has been a great controversy as regards the era or eras to which these inscriptions are to be assigned. The chart shown in Pl. XXIII. *4*–*8*, has been made in order to draw attention to the different hands that were responsible for the varying modes of writing seen in this period. In general the inscriptions fall into two categories: (*a*) those represented in nos. 5 and 6 show a great similarity to no. 3 above, but at the same time mark a new stage in the development of the Kharoshṭhī writing, and no. 6 especially brings us to the early years of the Christian era; (*b*) no. 7 is taken from the Takht-i-Bahi inscription of the year 103, which definitely falls in about the middle of the first century A.D. No. 4 shows a late development. Its letters are much more advanced, and the characteristic use of the new letters *kh'a*, *g'a*, *t'a*, *d'a*, *dh'a*, *y'a* and *s'a*, which are formed by the addition of an oblique stroke at the right side of the lower end of the vertical, places it in line with the inscriptions of the Kushāṇa period. In no. 4 we also find the medial *u* shown by a loop and *sa* with the mouth of its head wide open. No. 8, which is taken from the Mathura lion capital inscription,¹ is difficult to date. Here the medial *u* is formed by a loop, and very rarely this loop has an open mouth, but sometimes we also meet with a simple bend. The right hook of *ka* generally slopes downwards, though occasionally we also meet with the angular form. *Kha* has no hood on the top. *Ña* is of the later type, with a crooked hook attached to the upper half of a vertical on the right. *Da* has two forms, one in which the horizontal is less marked, as in no. 6, and the other showing the older form with a significant horizontal line. The lower end of *dha* is drawn at an incline to the left—a form seen in the later period. These double forms can also be seen in *na*, *ba*, *bha*, *la* and *śa*. *Ya* is of the angular type. *Sa* again shows the mixed varieties. The most common is decidedly later, with its head having its mouth wide open. *Ha* occasionally has the lower curve straightened but more often it is awn farther, as in the Kushāṇa period. The most important new cure is the use of new letters *k'a*, *g'a*, *ḍh'a*, *t'a*, *bh'a*, *r'a*, *ś'a*, *ṣ'a* and *h'a*, all of which are not marked in the chart given. Some of the letters are very loosely drawn, showing a wave in the vertical, and the others show a gentle curve towards the left as the verticals descend. These features are strange, and are not seen in any other inscription of this period. I would therefore suggest that this inscription should not be taken into consideration while determining the style of the Scythian period, because its features remind us at once of the writing known in the inscriptions of the Kanishka group of the rulers. Therefore the genuineness of this inscription is not above suspicion.
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¹ For a detailed analysis of this inscription see A. H. Dani, ‘Mathura Lion Capital Inscription (A Palaeographical Study)’, *Journal of the Asiatic Society of Pakistan*, v. 128–47.
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The inscriptions of group (*a*) show some distinguishing features: the fish-hook form of the vowel base sometimes has an angular head. The initial *i* has its horizontal stroke in the middle of the vertical. The initial *o* in no. 5 has its horizontal stroke added to the left middle of the vertical. The medial *u* turns its stroke upwards. The *anusvāra* is always indicated by a hook at the bottom of the letters. The consonants also show some changes. *Kha* has an upper hood in nos. 5 and 6, and in them we also see the old form of *cha*. The lower left horizontal of *ṭha* is optionally inclined. The right hook of *bha* is now applied at the upper half of the vertical—a style which henceforward becomes common. *Śa* has its verticals equal in length to the horizontal. The lower curve of *ha* is invariably straightened. We also meet a new conjunct *śpa*, in which *śa* is cursive, shown only by an oblique line falling down from the upper end of the vertical of *pa* on the left. In (*b*) we have the medial *u* shown by a loop. *Śa* optionally has a rounded top. *Sa* has the mouth of its head wide open. The most difficult problem raised by these inscriptions is to decide about the phonetic value of what has been read as *vha*. Rapson¹ prefers to read it as *ph a*. But, as we have seen before, the phonetic difference from *pha* would normally be shown by adding an oblique stroke on the right at the lower end of the vertical. This clear departure, in which we find a combination of a *va* with an angular hook on the right with its mouth upwards, argues for a conjunct. Rapson's reading was influenced by the Greek legend on the coin of Gondophares, but from the palaeographical point of view this reading is not justified. Although, of course, the form of *ha* is not at all clear in the conjunct, *vha* appears to be a better reading.
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¹ *Kharoshṭhī Inscriptions*, pt. iii, p. 307.
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*9–12. Kushāṇa period*
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The inscriptions of this period can be classified in four groups: (*a*) Those inscriptions which mention the name of Kushaṇa, Khushaṇa, or Gushaṇa, or those dated after the year 122, beginning from the Panjtar inscription (Konow, no. B. XXVI). Pl. XXIII. 9 represents this group. The Takht-i-Bahi inscription, described above, shows a writing very similar to that of the present group. (*b*) This group includes the stone inscriptions dated in the new series and referrable to the time of the Kanishka group of the rulers. The writing here generally continues the style of (*a*), though some new influences from (*c*) are also traceable. It is represented here by Pl. XXIII. 11. Of the inscriptions falling in this group the Mamane Dheri pedestal inscription (Konow, C. LXXXVIII) shows great similarity to those of the next group. (*c*) This group is represented by Pl. XXIII. 10, 12, which introduce the true Kushāṇa style of the time of the Kanishka group of the rulers. To this group belongs the Bimran vase inscription (Konow, B. XVII), and its date lies in this period. No. 12 is the latest in the series and has some connexion with the writing known from Chinese Turkestan, discussed below. The dominant feature of this writing is the characteristic bend of the lower end of the verticals towards the left. The medial *i*, as in *niṁ* in no. 10, is occasionally given at the left end, in place of the middle as before. Rapson¹ correctly recognized the form of *visarga*, as in *naḥ* in no. 12. Here the two dots placed side by side are given on the top of the letter. The medial *u* in no. 11 assumes the form of a triangle. In no. 12 *ka* joins the left horizontal and the right hook in a single curved stroke—a form which is commonly found in the manuscript writing from Chinese Turkestan. *Kha* here always has an upper hood. In no. 11 *jha* is the reverse of *ña* as seen before. This form of *jha* with a vertical on the right and a curved stroke on the left is the usual form in the manuscripts. Generally the right horizontal of *ṭa* is not shown. In no. 12 *ḍ'i* is drawn cursively in a single sweep of the hand, and *ṇa* has an insignificant tick in place of the head curve. In nos. 10 and 11 *da* is just a straight line with the characteristic bend at the lower end. *Ya* in nos. 11 and 12 has a flat top, and it is hard to distinguish it from *śa*. The left vertical of both *ya* and *śa* have the usual bend. *Sa* is drawn very cursively with the mouth of its head wide open. *Ra* in the conjuncts such as *rva*, *rya*, and *rtha*, is drawn with a loop at the junction of the vertical. Of all the new conjuncts the most remarkable are those with *ya* as the second element. It is of one type in no. 10, as in *sya* and *shya*, which have a curved stroke beginning with a loop and turning to the left, but in no. 12 the additional hooked stroke is turned to the right, as in *pya*, *sya*, *kya* and *lya*. (*d*) The last group of the Kushāṇa period includes those inscriptions which are dated in the series 303 to 399, beginning with the relic casket from Charsadda² of the year 303. As these inscriptions continue the style of the stone inscriptions of (*b*), they have not been represented in the chart. But their dates fall after the time of the Kanishka group of rulers. Here also we get the flat-topped *ya*, the open-mouthed *sa*, and the looped type of the medial *u*.
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¹ *Kharoṣṭhī Inscriptions*, pt. iii, p. 300.
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² *Epigraphia Indica*, xxiv. 8–10.