________________
Development of Nāzarī Script
The further evolution during 10th century A.D. are represented in Tables CA and C, which have been taken from the Bengal Asiatic Society's plate of Vināyakapāla (A.D. 931) and Bharat Kala Bhavan plate of Harirāja (A.D. 983).8 Bühler is of the view that in Northern and Central India, Nāgarī appears first on the Copper-plate of the Mahārāja Vināyakapāla of Mahodaya. But, it may be seen in Table C4 that the head-mark is a broad triangle or wedge which does not cover, optionally, the letter ma, ya, sa; base of the letter pa, ma is slanted; and lower limb of the vertical line turns rightwards. In the formation of the ligatures old pattern is adopted.
In the observation of the Bharat Kala Bhavan plate it may be noticed that the plate is engraved in a simple style. Head-mark is in line form which regularly covers the full breadth of the letters. Even on the top of tha and na, head-mark is formed. Right verticals show a straight line form. Most of the ligatures represent a process of following the pattern of modern rule, conjuncting side by side. Except e, medial signs have uniformity throughout and attain modern shapes. As far the development of letters is concerned, ka, kha, ga, ta tha, da, na, pa, ya, ra, la, va and ha have taken Nägarī shapes; and gha, cha, ja, tha, ņa, pha, śa, sha, sa, etc., are nearer to the modern form. On the whole, the characteristics of the alphabet entitle Bharat Kala Bhavan plate to be considered as the inscription of Nāgarī.
Bu. Table B, is taken from the Pandukeśvar (Garhwal, U.P.) Plate of Lalitāsuradeva (A.D. 854) to represent the development of script in the inscription of the local ruler. Barāh Plate of Bhojadeva (A.D. 836) is also found from U.P., however, there is a remarkable difference in the alphabets of these two inscriptions. In the Barāh Plate (Table B6), head-mark is denoted by a small line while in the present inscription a solid-triangle is formed and tail is small. The Kutila features are prominent in the present inscription. Kha is of open-mouthed variety like in eastern style. Ța and tha are without top-mark. Ņa shows open-mouthed form with sloppy base. Tha is of peculiar variety with an added right vertical. Na is denoted by
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
