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The Period of Transition (9th–10th Century A.D.)
75
Chicacole Plates of Madhu-Kāvārnnadeva (A.D. 923). Chicācole Plates belong to Andhra; however, its alphabet shows the influence of Orissa. The lower left limb of the letters kha, ga and sa represents open-triangular mark like the earlier style of the region. Initial e of Table Cz opens its mouth to left, which later on became the common characteristics of the eastern script. Ța and sa followed the style of eastern region. The lower extremity of da is turned to left. Na extends its right limb upwards. The upper outer loop of tha is still in the form of a hook. The upper right loop of pha is developing into a hooked shape, which was later on accepted in the eastern style. Ha has a developed tail in its left portion. The top-strokes still do not cover regularly the entire breadth of the whole letter. Ligature kshe of Table C, shows the transitional form. Superscribed n in Table Cz has a dot or circle at the right tip of the upper horizontal line. This may be regarded as the precursor of modern Nāgari na with a dot at the right side of the letter. It is also to be found in ihe inscriptions of Nārāyaṇapāla of Bihar (Pl. 53, B2). Ñ is of eastern variety. Among medial signs noticeable form is e which is generally formed by adding a line in the left portion of the letter as it is found in eastern scripts.
General Remarks
The observations attested that the inscriptions of Eastern India do not show regular full covering head-mark. The alphabet is progressing towards local scripts, however, the influence of proto-Nāgarī is still retained in many forms; Nālandā and Mungir inscriptions are marked by proto-Nāgarī than any other influence. The Bengālī, Assamese and Oriyā scripts are still in the process of evolution during this period.
North India
In North India Pratīhāras established an extensive empire. Two important cultural territories - Kānyakubja and Mālava---were under them. As a consequence, the writing style of the region was much developed and influenced the scripts of eastern India and penetrated into the western regions.
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