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72
Development of Nagari Script
arm of ja is further extended towards left. Ta is of two varieties in which eastern one prolongs its right hand tick downwards and left portion contains a semicircle with a slanting stroke by which it is attached to the left end of the top stroke. Tha is still of a plain circle type. The back of da is curved and leg is bent. Na is cursive as well as of open-mouthed variety. Ta is of curved type. Tha develops an outer loop at the upper portion in Table B2. The breadth of pa is shortened. Pha shows a peculiar variety with its outwards turned loop. Bha and sa have opened their triangular foot-mark. With regular forms a peculiar variety of sa is found with its top curled and joined by a bar to the right vertical (Pl. 32, B2). Perhaps this is the peculiarity of the region from which Bengālī form was derived later on. Ha has a developed tail in its left portion.
The ligatures ksha, dya, nda, śrī of Table B2 are nearer to their Nāgarī forms. Subscript ña is of cursive variety while in superscript it is formed in full shape. Superscript r retains its triangular head-mark.
A vertical line to the right of the letter is the form of medial ā, except in the case of ta of Table B1 which retains its older feature. The medials i and i are extended up to the bottom of the letter. The medial u is of cursive as well as wedged vertical type. In the case of ru it is a downward hook from the middle of the letter. A leftward hook is added at the bottom of the letter for medial u. The older style of putting the left vertical stroke still continues in the case of medials e, ai, o and au; but in a majority of cases new style of leftward slanting stroke is marked (Tables B1 & B2). Old form of halanta sign is retained in these inscriptions (Fig. 6). Optionally, the triangular form of top-stroke is found.
AI. Inscriptions of Assam
Table B4 is taken from Parbatiyā plates of Vanamālavarmadeva (A.D. 835-65). The head-mark is represented as a broad solid-triangle. Initial a and u show the regional influence. I is of archaic variety with its lower curve leftwards. E represents peculiar variety in which upper left portion is rounded and lower portion attached with the right vertical at its middle.
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