An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c25.s4.t1.1

v1.c25.s4.t1.1

Of the two main scripts known from ancient Indian epigraphs, the one written from right to left was earlier designated as Bactrian or Indo-Bactrian, being first noticed on the coins of the Indo-Greek rulers of Bactria, as Kabulian, Arianian or Gandhārian on geographical grounds, and as Bactro-Pāli or Ariano-Pāli on the basis of the language used. Kharoṣṭhī, the name currently popular, was used first by T. de Lacouperie and was popularized by Bühler. It is mentioned in the *Lalitavistara* (c. 3rd century A.D.). The Chinese encyclopaedia *Fa-Wan-Shu-Lin* (A.D. 668) speak of the script invented by Kia-lu (or Kia-lu-she-ti). Kharoṭṭhi (Kharoṣṭhī) appears among the 18 scripts listed by the *Pannavaṇa-sūtra* and *Samavāyaṅga-sūtra*. The *Mahavastu* records the form Kharostri.