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Development of Nāgarī Script
archaism may be seen in three full armed gha, headless tha, open-mouthed na and tailless ha.
By. The characteristics of the Chandella alphabet are shown in Table C, taken from the Khajurāho inscription of Yasovarmā (A.D. 954). In the formation of the letter and medial sign taste of ornamentation may be seen. The head-mark is represented by broad-wedge shape and lower portion further extends into a rightward curve. Initial a is developing in the direction of modern Nāgarī. Lower rightward curve of i bends downwards with a stroke to the left like that in Pehevā Inscription (Table B8). U is without head-mark. E shows a developed tail and looks Nāgarī in form.
Among consonants, the tail is well marked in every letter. Even an unusual tail is seen in the left limb of bha. Gha retains three arms and na is of open-mouthed variety. Pha has a peculiar shape, nearer to the same letter in Dewal Prasasti of Lalla the Chhinda (Table C5). Ligature approaches the modern Nāgarī style. The medial ā is generally formed by a vertical line, while in tā hooked or cursive form is still present. Both forms, wedged and cursive, are employed for medial u. E is formed with a top stroke as well as with a vertical line at the left.
Byi. The Mālava Copper-plate of Vākpatirāja (A.D. 974) and Harsol (Ahmedabad, Gujarāt) Grants of Siyaka (A.D. 948) are selected and illustrated in Tables C, & C13; to represent the characteristics of Paramaāra alphabet. The head-mark is a broad-wedge in Table C, and line or notched form in Table C13. The forms of the letters in Mālava plate are bold type in the forming of which cursive hand is adopted. Lower extremity of the letters is further extended to the right. Initial a shows a foot-mark; the curves of a, e and u prolong upwards. However, initial a of Table C13 bears no foot-mark; tail is yet to develop in e; the loop of pha transforms into a curve and is placed to the right of the straight vertical line. Most of the letters show developed forms.
In the formation of ligature, modern features may be seen. Ksha shows almost the modern form. Superscript n is without a dot. Subscript chha
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