Indian Palaeography c3.7

c3.7

The difference in the charts lies in the main concept. I am trying to discover the main principle underlying the Indian numerical system. The ideas, so far propounded, that some of the symbols represent alphabetical forms, like *tha*, *gra*, *hra*, *la*, etc., are fantastic, unconvincing and unreasonable. They have not led to formation of any system. On the other hand the European scholars have tried to borrow the symbols from the Semitic world. This is also not convincing as the local system is entirely different. In order to make the issue clear I have placed the Kharoshṭhī and Brāhmī symbols side by side. The last row gives the modern Hindi shapes as evolved from Brāhmī.