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The Period of Transition (9th-10th Century A.D.)
on the way of developing into a leftward bend. The vertical form of ta and na may be seen in Table C14. Pa attains modern Nagarī form. In the outer looped type of pha head-mark disappears. The mouth of bha and sa are opened. The looped form of sa shows many varieties. Ha has developed a tail.
In ligature superscript n is in full form. Subscript ta mouth opens to the right. Superscript s of scha, with an outer loop and slanted foot-mark, is reaching nearer to the modern form. Ligatures are generally formed by conjunction of one consonant upon the other.
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With general perpendicular line the cursive form of medial a is also noticed in ta. The vertical type e is more common. Other two forms are side stroke or hooked and top-stroke. In su of Table C15, a slanting stroke is added to the right vertical of the letter for denoting medial u.
CII. Inscriptions of Śilāhāras
Table B15 is taken from three Kanheri Cave Inscriptions of Pullasakti and Kapardi II (A.D. 843, 853 & 877). These inscriptions are in a mutilated condition and eye copies of Mirashi are unsatisfactory from the veiwpoint of palaeography. But one can not afford to leave these inscriptions because earlier epigraphers like Sukthankar13 considered them the first Nagari inscriptions.
The head-mark is in the line form, but it may be marked that the entire breadth of the letter is not always covered by it. Ligatures are formed in old style by conjuncting one upon the other. Medial a is denoted by long or short vertical line, or cursive form. Medial u is generally of wedged type and occasionally cursive. Both forms of e are present.
As far as the development of an alphabet is concerned these inscriptions reveal the advanced forms of letters. Initial a and a have attained modern-shapes. I is of roofted variety. Generally, the left limbs of kha, ga and sa show a triangular loop. Gha retains three arms. The lower arm of ja does not show developed curve. Ta is still of double curved form.
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