[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989) › v1.c25.s4.29 # An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c25.s4.29 An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c25.s4.29 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c25.s4.29](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c25.s4.29) But if only idea was needed for the creation of the Brāhmī script there is no need for a cumbersome exercise to derive the forms of only 11 out of 46 letters from n. Semitic and early Phoenician scripts. The Indian \*varṇa-mālā\* was in existence well before Pāṇini, and even before Yāska. To create a script on the basis of the \*varṇa-mālā\* with the help of simple geometrical signs—angle, triangle, hook, dash and dot—was not a difficult task. For this the 'idea' or 'inscription', if any is needed, cannot be fixed with certainty. - [Previous: v1.c25.s4.28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c25.s4.28) - [Next: v1.c25.s4.30](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c25.s4.30) - [Up: v1.c25.s4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c25.s4) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c25.s4.29](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.ghosh-1989.v1.c25.s4.29) · Pramāṇa