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Numerals and Other Signs
159
to deal with the typology, old and new, of the numerals but to trace the history of evolution of Nāgarī numerals. For the present purpose I have prepared three numerical Plates out of which Plate 175 (Tables N, to N15) is derived from the inscriptions of the 6th-8th centuries, Plate 176 (Tables NG to N21) from the 9th-10th centuries and Plate 177 (Tables N32 to N47) from the period between the 11th and the 13th centuries.
Here I do not wish to enter into the controversy of numerals being evolved with the letter forms or independent symbols, but have taken the general resemblance of the numeral signs with the letters of the period.
Sign for Zero
The sign of zero, in Terundia Plate of Subhakar: A.D. 704 (Table N3) is represented as a dot. It is evident from literary sources that the sign of zero was drawn by a dot in the earlier period. 12 Tables N4 and Ns, derived from Purushottampur and Daultābād plates, show an open circle or hook like sign. From the 9th century, it becomes circular in shape as in modern times.
Sign for One
The numeral 1 is denoted by a horizontally placed stroke (Pl. 175, Tables N2 & N15), or curve (Table Ny) and continues till 8th century A.D. From the 9th century, curve is vertically drawn. In further developmental stage a hook (Table N16), a knob (Table N26), or a small circle (Tables N27, N30, N31) is added to the top of it. These forms are continued till 13th century. Out of them, small circular variety is accepted in modern Nāgarī.
Sign for Two
Two parallel horizontal lines occur for the numeral 2 in Tipperāh Grant of Lokanāth (Table 1). In the next developmental stage (Table Nm), both horizontal stroke are joined by a third cursive stroke. This numeral notation attains modern shape during the 9th century A.D. in which a slanting stroke is attached to the upper half-circle.
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