Development of Nagari Script

SR No.: 006800
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A K Singh
Publisher: Parimal Publication
Publication Year: 1991
Total Pages: 386
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 6 MB

Page 120

The Period of Transition (9th-10th Ceniury AD)
is of the oval variety with a tail; ta shows an additional stroke to the right of the letter. Superscript s and ligature sa of Table Co represent ihe modern features.
Medials are of fully developed variety. However, variations may be seen in the form of ā of Table C13--full perpendicular, short stroke and cursive form. Medial e also is of both types.
Byu. Table Ci is taken from the Saranesvara (Udaipur, Rajasthan) Temple Inscription of Guhil King Allat (A.D. 953). The head-mark is a mixture of triangular and line form. Generally, the vertical line is straight. Initial vowels have no remarkable development. Among consonants, both limbs of letter ka hang from the head-line or simply touch it. Developing forms of gha and cha have a tail, ta bears a head-mark, na is of cursive variety and ba is shown by a separate sign. However, left limb of kha retains a triangular shape, lower arm of ja is not prolonged into leftward curve, dha is still of bulgy type and na is of broad looped variety. In the formation of medial e continuity of the ornate style may be noticed.
Byil. Table Cu is derived from Harsha (Rajasthan) Inscription of Chāhamāna Vigraharāja (A.D. 973). The vertical line is almost straight; head-mark is represented by broad wedged shape and rarely covers the entire breadth of the letter. Rare initial au is of peculiar variety, by adding a vertical line with a horizontal bar to the form of initial o. The left limbs of kha, ga and sa show hollow triangled foot-mark. Gha is in a developing process. Chha is of peculiar type in which right loop is detached from the left one and shows one step ahead from contemporary signs to take the form of modern Nāgari. Middle bar of ja is extended. Headline of ta becomes a regular feature. Middle bar of la is short and parallel to the head-mark. The lower left limb of sa is growing into the modern tail form. But tha is still without head-mark, na is to develop vertical form and ha is without a tail. In the formation of medial e, the use of ornate double curved form may be seen. Medial au is represented by superscribed two horned and a vertical line form in gau.