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 22

Development of Nāgarī Script
Nāgara or Nāgari had a definite geographical connotation about which our predecessors had no ambiguity. They used this term by prefixing Deva-, Jaina-, Nandi- for scripts and Nāgara and Upanāgara for apabhrarías as well as for a definite style of temple architecture prevalent in a definite area.
Antiquity of the name Nāgari
Considering the antiquity of the term "Nāgari', we find that the Jaina commentators Maladhāri Hemachandra Sūri (of Harshapurīyā Gachchha, A.D. 1118)21 and Malayagiri (c. 2nd 3rd quarter of the 12th Cent. A.D.)22
ention Nāgarī in their commentaries. This indicates that the Nāgarī appellation had become popular by the 12th century A.D. In point of fact, Hemachandra Sūri quotes an ancient verse, possibly of the tenth or the eleventh century A.D.; to the effect, which indicates that the name Nāgarī was known even a few centuries prior to the 12th century A.D.
Al-Beruni, who visited India (c. A.D. 1030) with Mohammed of Gazanā, mentions Nāgara-a script which was used in the Mālava country.25
Vasu24 averred that the first mention of the Nāgarī script is encountered in the Jaina Nandisūtra (of Devavāchaka, c. mid. 5th Cent. A.D.). However, there is no mention of Nāgari script at all in the selfsame work. Strangely, Vasu does not give the exact reference of this work and only quotes 18 lipis from the Jaināchārya Lakshmi-Vallabhagani's Kalpasūtra-Kalpadruma-Kalikā, commentorial work of as late as 17th century A.D.
Perhaps the Nāgarī script became famous by the name Devanāgarī in later period. But the date when this appellation came into use is controversial. Rai Bahadur Bishun Svarup25 thought it of as early as 1700 B.C., which in course of time lost the name revived lately to indicate that the script was used in upper India, including Banaras, the seat of Sanskrit learning. This is an improbable conjuncture.
However, M.R. Kale tries to define the word in his own way. According to him, "The Aryans who were much fairer in colour than the aborigines of