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script experts have come to the conclusion that this Aryan script commenced from the tenth century. It is now a national script used by vast majority of people in India. THE JAIN SCRIPT IN SECOND SECTION According to the script experts the Jain script developed a distinct form of letters from the Nagari script as the time passed on and so this script came to be known as the Jain script. As a matter of fact it should be better known as particular curvatures. The five vowels were A, RU, LRU, O, ANDAU and the consonants were CH, J, TH, N, D . and TH. There were two styles, Agrama tra and Padimatra for writing the Jain script. In Agramatra style the vowel signs for the consonants followed such consonants e g. Ruand in Padimatra or Prushtha Matra the vowel sign over the consonant followed such consonants e.g. Ru and in Padimatra or Prushtha Matra the vowel sign over the consonant preceded the consonant. But both these styles have been discontinued. At present the vowel signs are made on any of the four sides of the consonant. THE KHAROSHTHI SCRIPT IN THE THIRD SECTION The script according to some is named after the great preceptor Kharoshtha " and according to other is named Kharoshtha because the letters written were big like the lips of a donkey for 'khara' means a donkey and Oshtha' means lips or, the name might have come from the caste called "Kharoshtha. The distinct feature of this scriptis that the signs of vowels are applied to the first vowel e.g. A.I., A, U, etc. The script has 37 letters out of which five are vowels and these vowels are short. The remaining letters are consonants. This script came into existence in the 4th century B.C. and was discontinued in the 3rd century A.D. Jain books refer to the Kharoshthi script while discussing the various types of scripts. THE BRAHMI SCRIPT IN THE FOURTH SECTION According to Jain mythology the first Tirthankara Bhagawan Shri Rishabhdeva who fourished billions of years before this era gave this script for the first time to his daughter Brahmi, with his right hand. Since then the human race got the first script. Thus started the science of the script and the first script came to be known as Brahmi after Brahmi Bhagawan Rishabhdeva taught numerals to his other daughter named 'Sundari, numerals are also a sort of script.26 What was the number of original letters in the Brahmi script? According to Samavayang of Jain Agama Sutra it was 46 but the author does not specify or enumerate them. The commentator on the said text, written in the 11th century notes, these letters to be 46 and probably the vowels RU, ROO.LRU and LROO, and consonants L and KSH were not included among them. The great Indian script expert late Mr. Jayakrishna Indraji Oza suggests that either Lor KSH was omitted. Huensang.the Chinese traveller of the seventh century mentions this number as 47 while number 42 is noted elsewhere. The forms of these letters have been referred to in Prashnavyakarana and this partly fits with the present script. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BRAHMI SCRIPT 27 The script experts have described the Brahmi script as the mother of thousands of scripts current today. They have declared that the Brahmi script is the source of all Indian scripts. So the Brahmi should be looked upon as the mother and all other scripts should be looked upon as her descendants, This script is systematically arranged and does not imitate any other script. What is spoken can be exactly written and what is written can be spoken (Without a change in this script. Hence it is considerd to be a scientifically well developed script with the letters systematically arranged. For many reasons it is looked upon as a universal script. The Jain texts call it an Aryan Script. The Scriptures of Jainism 2 and Buddhism 2 were written in this script. The Brahmi script is the old form of the Nagari script and the Nagari script is its present form. Regional difference of writing this Brahmi script reached such a state that it became difficult to discover the original forms of the letters. A script always changes its form!! ABOUT THE FIFTH SECTION In this section miscellaneous letters, figures, signs and punctuation marks are mentioned. Among them the letter" of the Brahmi and the Jain script are shown. Then the nasals, Jihvamuliya, Upadhmaniya letters, the Anuswar,
Note: 20. The manuscript of a book written in this script in 1008 A.D. is at London-Cambridge. Besides I have seen at the Jesalmer collection of
ancient manuscripts the text of Visheshavashyaka Bhashya Tecka in the Nagari script. Many palm leaf manuscripts of the 10th and
Ilth century written in letters resembling those of the Nagari scripture available. Note: 21. A question may also be asked: 'Is it not possible that the Nagari script may have been originated from the Jain Script! Note: 22. This is the view of the Chinese Scholars Note: 23. This type of script is used in the Gandhian Circles for the last 30 to 40 years. Note: 24. This script was used for a pretty long period in Turkey and other countries where Indian or Buddha culture prevailed considerably
of the Brahmi Script and they declare that the script was called the Brahmi as it was received from Brahma Chinese encyclopaedia supports this view. It is clear that common beliefs accept the antiquity of this script. Note: 26. The number zero was undoubtedly invented in India which presented the same to other countries. Note: 27. The Brahmi Script is mentioned first in the lists of Scripts in the Scriptures. Bhagawati Sutra, the fifth Anga of the Jain Agama Angas
starts with the aphorism Namo Bambhie livie (Obeisance to the Brahmi Scripts). This sutra suggests that a script also deserves honour. Note: 28. See the relcrences of Panna vana, Samavayang and Chaupanna Chariyam. Note: 29. Sec 'Lalita Vistara Note: 30. The Curvatures of the Brahmi Script changed but the letter 'Dh' didn't change its form. So it is called an obstinate letter and for this
reason an obstinate or a stupid fellow is called 'Dh' in India. Note:31. The script changes from time to time and from region to region. We have no date from which we can come to a definite conclusion
about the difference between the script shown by Bhagawan Rishabhadev and the script used for writing Agamas before about three
thousand years Note: 32. These letters include in fifty two letters.
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