The Origin of the Bengali Script/Chapter 4

by Rakhaldas Bandyopadhyay

CHAPTER IV

The Final Development of the Alphabet.

I. Vowels:―

(1) Ā :―

(a) In the Māndā inscription, the line joining the comma shaped curve to the top stroke, is still intact; and that joining it to the right vertical still horizontal. There is also a long narrow wedge at the bottom. Cf. Artha (L. 8).

(b) In the Kamauli grant the top stroke has given place to a wedge, at the line joining it to the curve being suppressed. The wedge at the bottom has opened at the top.^[1]

(c) In the Gadādhara temple inscription, which has been very slovenly executed the comma-shaped curve touches the right vertical but the line joining it to the top stroke has not yet been suppressed. Cf. Anākāri (L. 6).

(d) In the Cambridge Manuscripts the wedge at the bottom and the line joining the comma-shaped curve are still present.^[2]

These two were not dropped until the present time. In a Sanskrit inscription written in Bengali characters of Śaka 1666—1744 A.D, found at Kāmākhyā in the Gauhati District, Assam, we find that though the wedge at the bottom has disappeared, the line between the curve and the top stroke is still present. Cf. Āmrātakeśvarasya (L. 14). 2. Ā:—

(a) The straight line to the right of Ā, which denotes the length of the vowel, is joined to the main body of the letter by a short slanting straight line in the Kamauli grant.^[3]

(b) The wedge is present at the bottom of Ā in the Torpondighi grant, and the line joining the main letter to the right hand vertical is not slanting but vertical, in fact a prolongation of the top stroke. The line joining the top stroke to the curve seems to be suppressed. Cf. Āṅgirasa (L. 41).

(c) In the Bodh-Gayā image inscription of the 51st year of the era of Lakṣmaṇasena, the comma has become a semicirlar curve and the line joining the curve to the top stroke is present. The vertical line denoting the length is joined to the main body of the letter by producing the top stroke towards the right. Cf. Ā-caṁdrārkka (L. 9).

(d) In the Gadādhara temple inscription of the time of Govindapāla (?) we find that both the wedge and the joining line between curve and the top stroke, are present. Cf. Ācandrārka (L. 11) and Âśvina (L. 12).

(e) The form used in the Cambridge Manuscripts is exactly similar to (d).^[4]

3. I:—

(a) The peculiar form of the initial short I used in the Kamauli grant is certainly abnormal, as Dr. Bühler has already remarked:— "But the I and Ī of plate V, 3, 4, appear to be Southern forms; compare plate VII, 3, IV-VI."^[5]

(b) In the Torpondighi grant the short I consists of a top stroke with a wedge at its left end and a vertical straight line drawn downwards at right angles to it from the right end, two circles below the wedge, and another curve below them. Cf. iva (L. 18) and iha (L. 55).

(c) We find an almost similar form in the Māndā inscription, viz., a wedge at the top, two circles below it, one on each side and finally a comma below them. Cf. iti (L. 4).

(d) We find the modern Bengali from in the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla. Cf. iti (L. 5).

(e) In the Manuscripts from Cambridge we have the transitional form, which is the same as that used in the Deopārā praśasti.^[6]

The changes between the transitional form of the Deopārā praśasti and the Cambridge Manuscripts and the final one of the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla are not easy to trace with the materials at present at our disposal, but they can be guessed with a tolerable degree of certainty. First of ail the loop on the right in the transitional form became detached to the bottom and was produced below. Then the loop on the left gradually became smaller until it disappeared altogether or became a dot. The right limb then gradually assumed a vertical position. We find the fully developed form in the 10th century in a Bengali manuscript of Kṛṣṇa-Kīrttana of Caṇḍīdāsa which is certainly not later than the 15th century A.D. Cf. Kaile (L. 2). (See photo of fol. 179.)

4. Ī:—

(a) The initial form of the long Ī is very rare. The form used in the Kamauli grant of Vaidyadeva is certainly of southern origin.^[7]

(b) The length of the vowel is denoted in the Cambridge Manuscripts by a slanting straight line placed below the short I.^[8]

5. U:—

(a) The form used in the Kamauli grant shows a hollow wedge instead of the top-stroke, the inward curvature of the vertical line, and the shortness of the terminal curve.^[9]

(b) The form of the letter in the Torpondighi grant is not much different. Here the top stroke is a very short horizontal line instead of the wedge. Cf. ubhan (L. 51).

(c) In the Cambridge Manuscripts we find the development almost complete. The only change needed is the addition of the curve placed in the modern form above the top stroke.^[10]

This stroke we find for the first time in a Bengali Manuscript of Śāntideva's Bodhi-caryāvatāra written at Veṇugrāma in the Burdwan District in V.E. 1492 = 1435 A.D. which was discovered by Mahāmahopādhyāya Hara Prasāda Śāstri, C.I.E., in Nepal. We find this U in L. 1 of the last page (66) in the word Koccha-uccha.

6. U is of very rare occurrence and is to be found in the Cambridge Manuscripts only where we find that the length is denoted by the addition of a second curve at the bottom.^[11] The only addition in later periods was the curved stroke above the base line which seems to have been made about the same time as that in the short one.

7. Ṛ is, also, of very rare occurrence and we find it for the most part in manuscript records:—

(a) It occurs in the Kamauli grant, where it consists of a triangular va, with a wedge for its top stroke and a vertical straight line to the right, which is joined to the main body of the letter by a slanting straight line.^[12]

(b) It is of course to be found in the Cambridge Manuscripts where we find the wedge transformed into a top stroke.'^[13]

In later periods the triangle, in the left limb, opens at the top, and finally a curve is added to the top of the open side. The right limb decreases in length and mounts upwards.

8. Ṛi is very seldom found. We find it in the Cambridge Manuscripts, where it is formed by adding a short curve to the foot of the short Ṛ.^[14] In later times the addition which denotes the length of the vowel becomes angular.

9. L is to be found in the Cambridge Manuscripts only where it is a reversed S.^[15]

10. Li is also to be found in the Cambridge Manuscripts where the length is denoted by the addition of a curve placed below.^[16]

The very rare occurrence of L and Li makes it impossible to trace the later changes in their forms.

11. In E the Bengali form was developed long ago and this was continued without change:

(a) In the Māndā inscription in eva (L. 7).

(b) In the Kamauli grant.^[17]

(c) In the Madanapāḍa grant of Viśvarūpasena,^[18] in etasmat (L. 4).

(d) In the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla in eva (L. 2).^[19]

(e) In the Gayā inscription of the Gadādhara temple in eva (L. 8).^[20]

(f) In the Cambridge Manuscripts.^[21]

12. Ai is of very rare occurrence and is to be found in its initial form in the Cambridge Manuscripts only where we find the complete Bengali form.^[22]

13. O:—

(a) It occurs in the Naihāṭī grant of Vallālasena^[23] Cf. Ovāsu (L. 17).

(b) and as a matter of course in the Cambridge Manuscripts.^[24]

14. The initial form of Au is, also, of very rare occurrence. It is to be found in the Cambridge Manuscripts.^[25] The only change in the later periods is the elimination of the lower part of the left limb.

15. Aṁ shows the modern Bengali form:—

(a) in the Kamauli grant;^[26]

(b) in the Cambridge Manuscripts.^[27]

In other records the anusvāra is a dot or a circle placed on the line:—

(a) The Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla.

(b) The Gadādhara temple inscription.

(c) The Torpondighi grant.

PLATE X.

Kamakhya Hill Inscription of Pramatha Sinha-Saka 1666.

16. Aḥ shows the old form even in modern Bengali. It has the form of 8 in the Dacca inscription,^[28] pratiṣthitetiḥ (L. 2) and in the Cambridge Manuscripts.^[29]

II. Consonants.:—

1. Ka:—

(a) In the Kamauli grant we find the older form of ka in which the acute angle at the bottom has not reappeared.^[30]

(b) The reappearance of the acute angle is to be observed in:—

(i) The Māndā inscription.^[31]

(ii) The Torpondighi grant.^[32]

(iii) The Dacca image inscription.^[33]

(iv) The Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla.^[34]

(v) The Gadādhara temple inscription at Gayā.^[35]

But in these records the left limb or back of the letter remains cursive. The angularity of this part, which shows that the development is final is to be found in the Cambridge Manuscripts.^[36]

2⟨.⟩ The development of Kha was almost complete in the 11th century A.D. In this century we see that in the majority of cases, with the appearance of the acute angle at the bottom the development is complete:—

(1) In the Kamauli grant.^[37]

(2) In the Torpondighi grant in Khaln (L. 22).

(3) In the Gadadhara temple inscription in Bhikodeva (L. 11).

(4) in the Cambridge Manuscripts.^[38]

The only exception is the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Asokacalla, in Lakhvaṇa (L. 12).

3. In Ga, the only change needed, was the elimination of the right angle, at the right end of the top stroke and the substitution of a curve for it, as well as the upward elongation of the vertical line:—

(a) In the Māndā inscription we find in one case that the right angle is still present, parabhāgo (L. 1) and in another that the transformation has taken place Śrimadgopāla (L. 3).

(b) The transformation is complete in the case of the Kamauli grant.^[39]

(c) The Torpondighi grant shows the retention of the right angle.

(d) The letter is incomplete in Gurava (L. 5) of the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla, though the right angle has disappeared.

(e) The Gadādhara temple inscription shows both forms. Cf. Govindapāla (L. 3) and gatarājye as well as Gayāyāṁ (L. 4).

(f) The Cambridge Manuscripts show the completely developed form.^[40]

4. Gha:—

(a) In the Kamauli grant the development is not yet complete.^[41]

(b) The Torpondighi grant shows an improvement, as the left limb is a curve to the left and not to the right when it touches the top stroke. Cf. Kṣettr-angha (L. 10-11).

(c) We find the development completed in the Bodh-Gayā image inscription of Aśokacalla, e.g., Rāghava (L. 7) Siṁghala (L. 9-10) and Saṁgha (L. 10).

(d) The development is also shown to be completed in the Gadādhara temple inscription at Gayā. Cf. lagh (v)ī (L. 8), Rāghavaḥ (L. 10).

(e) The Cambridge Manuscripts show the use of the transitional form, which is almost similar to the form used in the Kamauli grant.^[42]

5. Ṅa is very rare in use and its initial form cannot be found at all.

6. Ca is one of the letters the development of which was completed long after the Muhammadan conquest of the country.

(a) In the Māndā inscription Ca consists of a wedge as the top stroke, a vertical straight line at right angles to it and a curve to the left, semi-circular in shape, the ends of which touch the vertical line. This is in fact a modification of the Ca of the Deopārā praśasti. Cf. vīcī and viracita (L. 1).

(b) In the Kamauli grant the letter is almost similar where we find an angle in the curve.^[43]

(c) The form used in the Torpondighi grant is almost the same as that in the Dinājpur pillar inscription and the Deopārā praśasti; Cf. Cakra (L. 4).^[44]

(d) The form used in the Dacca inscription shows the next state of transition, where the letter consists of a top stroke, the vertical line which curves to the left, and a second inward curve joins the lower end of the vertical to the point of its junction with the top stroke. Cf. Caṇḍīdevī (L. 2).^[45]

(e) The same form is used in the Bodh-Gayā image inscription of Aśokacalla. Cf. ācandrār-kkaṁ (L. 9).^[46]

(f) The Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā shows the use of the same form.; Cf. caturddaśa (L. 4).^[47]

(g) There is no change in the form of the letter in the Cambridge Manuscripts.^[48]

(h) In the Bengali manuscript of the Bodhicaryāvatāra we find the next transitional form. The form used in the word Bodhicaryāvatāra (L. 2 of fol. 66) shows that the straight part of the vertical has become a curve, which has swollen out on the right side and not on the left. Consequently the left curve has almost become a vertical straight line.

(i) In the next stage we find that the left limb is only slightly curved, while the former vertical line has become very much cursive and has swollen out to the right. Cf. Caṇḍīdāsa (L. 1) in fol. 179 of Caṇḍidāsa's Kṛṣṇakīrttana.

The next stage is the conversion of the left limb into a vertical straight line, an event which happened sometime after the 15th century A.D.

7. Cha is not of common use and is very often to be found in ligatures:—

(a) In the Kamauli grant we find the same form as that used in the Deopārā praśasti.^[49]

(b) We find the same form in the Torpondighi grant. Cf. Duṣkhacchid-ātyantikī (L. 4) and Catuḥsīm-āvacchinna (L. 35).^[50]

(c) There is no change in the form to be found in the Cambridge Manuscripts.^[51]

(d) The modern Bengali form is to be found in the Bengali manuscripts of the Bodhicaryāvatāra written in V.S. 1492 in the word Koccha-uccha (L. 1) of fol. 66.

8. Ja:—

(a) The form of Ja used in the Māndā inscription is transitional. Cf. rmmañjarī-piṁjarīsu (L. 3.)^[52]

(b) The Kamauli grant shows the fully developed western variety form, with a wedge for its top stroke.^[53]

(c) In the Torpondighi grant we find another transitional form in which the vertical has not as yet become perfectly straight. Cf. Mahārājādhirāja (L. 23) but the fully developed Bengali form is also to be found, Cf. Srīmaj-Jayaskandhāvārāt (L. 23).^[54]

(d) We find the transitional form in the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla. Cf. Mahārāja (L. 3) and Rājānaṁ (L. 6).^[55]

(e) The same form is to be found in the Gayā inscription of the Gadādhara temple. Cf. Kāja (L. 15).^[56]

(f) The form used in the Cambridge Manuscripts shows the shortening of the right limb.^[57]

(g) In the Bengali manuscript of the Bodhicaryāvatāra we find the Bengali form, the only difference being the shortness of the right limb. Cf. Kuje (L. 3) of fol. 66.

The full development of this letter also was completed after the 15th century A. D.

(h) The completely developed form is to be found in the Kāmakhyā minor temple inscription of the Śaka 1666 = 1744 A. D. in L. 4; in the word Kajjala.

9. Jha is to be found very seldom.

(a) In the Kamauli grant its form is very peculiar.^[58]

(b) The letter does not occur in the Cambridge Manuscripts.

10. Ña:—

(a) In the Māndā inscription this letter is used in ligatures where it has the peculiar form of initial E the loops on the right being absent. Cf. Kṛtajña (L. 6).

(b) In the Kamauli grant we have the finished Bengali form in the ligature ñcai.^[59]

(c) The complete form is also to be found in the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla in jñāna (L. 4).

(d) In the Gadādhara temple inscription at Gayā, the form of the ligature ñca is the same as that used in the modern Bengali alphabet. Cf. mulañca (L. 8) and pañcakaṁ (L. 14).

(e) In the Cambridge Manuscripts the form is entirely different, which may be due to western influence.

11. Ṭa:—

(a) In the Māndā inscription of this letter consists of a wedge as the top stroke and scythe-shaped curve below it. Cf. Kotīra (L. 2).

(b) In the Kamauli grant Ṭa "seems to have been produced by an abnormally strong development of a 'Nepalese hook' with a serif at the end, placed above the ancient round ta which is represented by the second lower curve on the left."^[60] But the form seems to have been developed independently from that used in the Khālimpur grant of Dharmmapāla.

(c) In the Torpondighi grant we find a transitional form, consisting of a curve joined to the top stroke by a second one on the left side, and another joined to the right side of the top stroke. Cf. Mahākṣapaṭalika (L. 27).

(d) The form used in the Bodh-Gayā inscription is peculiar and is formed from the western variety. Cf. bhaṭṭa (L. 7).

(e) The development is complete in the 15th century when we find the modern form kuṭumbika (L. 1) of fol. 66, of the Bengali manuscript of Bodhicaryāvātāra.

(12) Ṭha:—

(a) In the Kamauli grant the development is not clear as the letter is found in the ligature ṇṭha.^[61]

(b) The form in the Torpondighi grant is not clear for the same reason. Cf. anuṣṭhayine (L. 42).

(c) The archaic form of the Mauryya period is used in the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā. Cf. Gadābhṛṇ-mathe (L. 7).

(d) The modern form is to be found in the Cambridge Manuscripts in the ligature ṣṭha^[62] but the older form continued to be used till at least the 15th century as we find it in the Bengali manuscript of the Bodhicaryāvatāra. Cf. Ṭhakura (L. 2) of fol. 66.

13. Da:—

(a) The Māndā inscription shows the transitional form in which the curve at the end has not fully developed. Cf. Aiḍadeva (L. 6) and Krīḍati (L. 7).

(b) The Kamauli grant shows the use of the older form in which the vertical line has got a curve to the left in its middle.^[63]

(c) We find a similar form in the Torpondighi grant in nicaḍahāra (L. 33).

(d) The Dacca inscription shows the finally developed Bengali form in the ligature ṇḍi in Caṇḍī (L. 2).

(e) In the Bodh-Gayā inscription of the time of Asokacalla we find the modern form of the ligature ṇḍa in Paṇḍita (L. 5).

(f) W G frd by the partly complete form of this letter in the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gaya in Ḍallano (L. 6) ; and Śoḍaś-aiva (L. 8).

The only change needed to complete the development is the lengthening of the curve at the foot of the vertical straight line.

14. Ḍha is also rarely met with:—

(a) In the Kamauli grant it has the form of a Ța of the Māndā inscription.^[64]

(b) In the Torpondighi grant we find the letter two or three times; uttarāḍhā-vāpa (L. 36) bhumy-āḍhā (L. 33) and in these cases we have the same form as that in the Kamauli grant.

The extreme rarity of this letter makes it difficult for us to trace the changes in it. The only change needed is the straightening of the curve to the left.

15. Ṇa is one of those letters in which the development was not complete till the 15th century A.D. In most of the inscriptions we find the Proto-Bengali forms which resembles the modern Bengali letter la minus the top stroke:—

(a) In the Māndā inscription where the letter is a curve with a straight line on the right and a small vertical line bisecting the curve. This form is the precursor of the modern Bengali form.

(b) In the Torpondighi grant.

(c) In the Kamauli grant where the vertical line is projected slightly beyond the point of its junction with the left limb.

(d) In the Dacca image inscription.

(e) In the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla.

(f) In the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā. (g) In the Cambridge Manuscripts. (h) In the Bengali manuscript of the Bodhicaryāvatāra written in 1435 A.D.

The final development is very clearly shown in the Bengali manuscript of Caṇḍīdāsa's Kṛṣṇakīrttana where on (ol. 179 we find both the transitional and final forms. The transitional form between the Proto-Bengali one and the final Bengali form is the one in gaṇe and suṇaha in L. 1 where the bisecting vertical line in the curve of the Māndā inscription, seems to have become a horizontal cross bar. The final form shows the elimination of this cross bar in Suṇaha, L. 3.

16. Ta:—

(a) In the Māndā inscription we find the transitional form in which the left limb is curved and the broadening of the top is changed into a knob. The only difference between this form and the Proto-Bengali one is the curvature of the right limb, which in this one turns to the right and not to the left.

(b) In the Kamauli grant the Proto-Bengali form is used but the knob is absent.^[65]

(c) Torpondighi grant shows a further development, viz.,: the lengthening of the right curve.

(d) The same form is used in the Dacca image inscription.

(e) The Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla shows the transitional form of the Kamauli grant.

(f) This is also the case of the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā.

(g) The final development is to be found in the Cambridge Manuscripts.^[66]

17. Tha:—

(a) The Māndā inscription shows the use of the archaic form in which the upper loop has not as yet opened out. Cf. prathita (L. 4).

(b) The Kamauli grant shows the use of the modern Bengali form.^[67]

(c) In the Torpondighi grant we find the transitional form. Cf. ithaṁ (L. 36).

(d) The fully developed modern Bengali form is to be found in the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla. Cf. Tathā (L. 1).

(e) The Cambridge Manuscripts also show the modern form.^[68] 18. Da:—

(a) In the Māndā inscription the older form with the curved back.

(b) In the Kamauli grant we find the same form.^[69]

(c) The same form is to be found in the Dacca Image inscription along with the completely developed modern form. For the older form see deva (L. 2) and for the modern one see Dāmodra (L. 1).

(d) The Torpondighi grant shows the use of the older form.

(e) We find the modern Bengali form in all cases in the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla. But in the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla's brother, Daśaratha, incised in La-saṁ 74 = 1193 A.D. we find the older form in all cases.^[70]

(f) This is also the case with the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā; Cf. Govindapāla (L. 3) and Dvivedaḥ (L. 5), but the older form persists in ligatures, e.g., nda in Govinda (L. 3) and rdda in caturddaśa (L. 4).

(g) The Cambridge Manuscripts show the use of the older form.^[71]

19. Dha:—

(a) In the Māndā inscription we find the use of the older form in which the slanting straight line has not as yet been added to the top; Pādadhuli (L. 4).

(b) In the Kamauli grant we find that this addition has already been made.^[72] (c) In the Torpondighi grant we find the fully developed form. Cf. Indrāyudhaṁ (L. 1).

(d) This is the case in the Dacca image inscription. Cf. Adhikṛta (L. 1).

(e) The Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla shows the use of the older form the only exception being that in Dharmma (L. 1).

(f) In the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā the modern form is used in all cases.

(g) The Cambridge Manuscripts show the use of the older form.^[73]

20. Na:—

(a) The Māndā inscription shows the modern form with a wedge for its top stroke.

(b) The peculiar form of the Kamauli grant is due to a defect in the facsimile—the line joining the knob to the right vertical, being faint, has not come out well.^[74]

(c) The modern form is to be found in all cases in the Torpondighi grant.

(d) This is also the case with the Dacca image inscription.

(e) The same form is used in the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla.

(f) This is also the case in the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā.

(g) The Cambridge Manuscripts clearly exhibit the use of the modern form.^[75]

21. Pa:—

(a) We find a transitional form in the Māndā inscription in which the acute angle has reappeared and in which the curve in the left limb has a short inward curve. Cf. Śrīmad-Gopāla (L. 3).

(b) This inward curve in the outwardly curving left limb is still more pronounced in the Kamauli grant.^[76]

(c) The same form is used in the Torpondighi grant.

(d) The Dacca image inscription shows the use of the modern Bengali form for the first time in 1122 A.D. (i.e., year 3 of the Lakṣmaṇasaṁvatsara). Cf. Pratiṣṭhitetiḥ (L. 2).

(e) The modern form is used in all cases in the Bodh-Gayā image inscription of Aśokacalla.

(f) The Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā shows the use of the older form. The influence of the western variety may also be looked for in this case.

(g) The Cambridge Manuscripts show the use of the transitional form of the Torpondighi grant.^[76]

22. Pha:—

(a) The Kamauli grant shows a peculiar form which has nothing in common with the modern Bengali one, which latter is angular and was fully developed in the 11th century A. D.^[77]

(b) The transitional cursive form is used in the Torpondighi grant. Cf. phaṇi (Lt. J).

(c) The form used in the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla is very slovenly incised, but it is the modern Bengali form. Cf. phala (L. 5).

(d) The modern form is used in the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā. Cf.. phalaṁ (L. 13).

23. Ba need not be discussed separately as its form is the same as that of Va.

24. Bha:

(a) The archaic form is used in the Māndā inscription. Cf. parabhago (L. 1).

(b) This is also the case of the Kamauli grant.^[78]

(c) The same form is used in the Torpondighi grant.

(d) This is the form to be found in the Dacca image inscription. Cf. tabhrādakanā (L. 2).

(e) The modern form is met with again in the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla.

(f) The same form (modern) is used in all cases in the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā.

(g) The Cambridge Manuscripts show the further development of the modern form.^[79]

(h) The completed development is shown in the Bengali manuscript of the Bodhicaryāvatāra, Śobhābhir-mmanḍayantu (L. 1) of Photo A.

25. Ma:

(a) The Māndā inscription shows the use of the modern form. Cf. muṣarātaḥ (L. 3).

(b) The Kamauli grant shows the use of the Nāgarī or the western variety form.^[80]

(c) The Torpoudighi grant shows the use of the modern form.

(d) This is the case also in the Dacca image inscription.

(e) The same form is to be found in the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla.

(f) The Gadādhara temple inscription shows the use of the western variety form.

(g) The Cambridge Manuscripts show the use of a slightly archaic form.^[81]

26. Ya:—

(a) The modern form is used in the Māndā inscription in svepvayā (L. 3-4).

(b) The Kamauli grant shows the use of a cursive form in which the acute angle has not reappeared.^[82]

(c) The modern angular form is used in the Torpondighi grant.

(d) The modern form is also used in the Dacca image inscription in Śri-Nārāyaṇena.

(e) The form in the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla is almost the same—the difference being a slight cursiveness.

(f) The cursive form from which the acute angle is absent is used in the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā.

(g) The complete development is shown in the Cambridge Manuscripts.^[83]

27. Ra:—

(a) In the Māndā inscription the archaic arrow-headed form of Ra is used.

(b) The modern triangular form is used in the Kamauli grant.^[84]

(c) The same form is used in the Torpondighi grant.

(d) This is also the case in the Dacca image inscription.

(e) The form used in the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla is similar but slightly cursive.

(f) The western variety form is used in the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā.

(g) The modern form minus dot is to be found in the Cambridge Manuscripts.^[85]

In later periods we find that a slanting cross bar in the interior of va denotes ra as in modern Assamese:

(1) Manuscript of Caṇḍīdāsa's Kṛṣṇa-Kīrttana, fol. 179, Mallārarāgaḥ (L. 1).

(2) Niranta in L. 4 of the Kāmākhyā minor temple inscription of Śaka 1666=1744 A.D.

28. La:—

(a) In the Manda inscription we find two forms of La.

(i) The modern Bengali form as in Gopāla (L. 3); and,

(ii) The archaic form in which the base line is still present, galāvasaḥ (L. 8).

(b) The Kamauli grant shows the use of peculiar 12th century form of La which is also found in the Deopārā praśasti and the Tetrawan image inscription of the second year of Rāmapāla. The form of this letter is the same as the Ta of modern Nāgari.^[86]

(c) The modern Bengali form is used in the Torpondighi grant.

(d) The peculiar ta-shaped form is to be found in the Dacca image inscription.

(e) This is also the case with the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla.

(f) The same form is used in the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā.

(g) The modern Bengali form is to be found in the Cambridge Manuscripts.^[87]

The Ta-shaped form of la still survives in Bengali where a dot is put under na to denote la.

29. Va:—

(a) The form used in the Māndā inscription shows that the back of the letter is still cursive and not angular.

(b) The same form is to be found in the Kamauli grant.

(c) This is also the case in the Torpondighi grant.

(d) The same form is to be found in the Dacca image inscription.

(e) The Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla also shows the same form.

(f) This is also the case with the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā.

(g) The final development is to be found in the form used in the Cambridge Manuscripts.^[88]

30. Sa:—

(a) In the Māndā inscription we have almost the same form of Śa as that used in the 11th century records, the difference lying in the curvature of the left limb to the right as in ga. Cf. tṛdaśa (L. 6).

(b) We have a similar form in the Kamauli grant, but here the upper part of the right vertical shows no curvature.^[89]

(c) The Torpondighi grant shows the use of the 11th century form with a wedge at the lower part of the left limb. Cf. diśi (L. 9).

(d) The Dacca image inscription shows the use of 11th century form with a short horizontal line instead of a wedge at the bottom of the left limb. Cf. Śri (L. 1).

(e) The Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla shows a short leftward curve at the lower part of the left limb.

(f) The same form is to be found in the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā, where we notice a shortage in the height of the left limb.

(g) We find a transitional form in the Cambridge Manuscripts where we find that the height of the left limb has diminished and we find a separate curve joined to the lower end of it.^[90]

This separate curve gradually evolves into two small circles of the modern Bengali. The development of this letter was not complete till the expiry of the 15th century as we find the Cambridge Manuscripts form in the Bengali manuscript of the Bodhicaryāvatāra. Cf. śudi and śubhaṁ (L. 3) of fol. 66. The Bengali manuscript of Caṇḍīdāsa's Kṛṣṇakīrttana shows the completely developed form for the first time. Cf. ṣolaśata (L. 6 ) of fol. 179.

31. Ṣa:—

(a) The modern Bengali form is used in the Māndā inscription. Cf. muṣarātaḥ (L. 3).

(b) The form of the Kamauli grant is a little more cursive.^[91]

(c) We find the Bengali form in the Torpondighi grant where the acute angle has not as yet reappeared.

(d) The form used in the Dacca image inscription found in the ligature ṣṭhi of pratiṣṭhitetiḥ (L. 2) is similar to that of the Torpondighi grant.

(e) The Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla shows the use of the western variety form. Cf. teṣāṁ (L. 1).

(f) The same form as that of the Bodh-Gayā inscription is to be found in the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā.

(g) The complete Bengali form is used in the Cambridge Manuscripts.^[92] The form used in the Bengali manuscript of the Kṛṣṇakīrttana shows that there was no change in subsequent centuries. Cf. Ṣolaśata (L. 6) of fol. 179.

32. Sa :—

(a) In the Māndā inscription the wedge in the left limb of the letter is still hollow and open.

(b) The form used in the Kamauli grant is peculiar as it shows the suppression of the upper part of the left limb. In the lower part of the same limb we still find the hollow wedge.^[93]

(c) The hollow open wedge is also to be found in the form used in the Torpondighi grant.

(d) The same form is to be found in the Dacca image inscription.

(e) The form used in the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla is similar.

(f) The same type is used in the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā.

(g) The Cambridge Manuscripts show the final development of the form of this letter with the solid wedge.^[94]

33. Ha :—

(a) The Māndā inscription shows the transitional form in which it is not yet possible to write the letter at one stroke of the pen. Cf. tasy-āhaṃ (L. 4).

(b) The Kamauli grant shows the use of the archaic 9th or 10th century form.^[95]

(c) A transitional form similar to that of the Māndā inscription is to be found in the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla.

(d) The form used in the Gadādhara temple inscription is similar.

(e) The form used in the Torpondighi grant is the 11th century one, earlier than that of the Deopārā praśasti.

(f) The form of the Cambridge Manuscripts is also a transitional one, similar to that of the Bodh-Gayā inscription of Aśokacalla and the Gadādhara temple inscription of Gayā.^[96]

The development of this letter was not complete even in the middle of the 15th century A.D. as in the Bengali manuscript of Bodhicaryāvatāra written in 1435 A.D. we still find this transitional form of Ha. The change must have been completed afterwards as the finally developed form is found in the Krṣṇakīrttana of Caṇḍidāsa. Cf. Hātha (L. 6) in fol. 179.

1. Buhler's Indian Palæography, pl. V, XIX, 1.
2. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 1.
3. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 2.
4. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 2.
5. Ibid, p. 59.
6. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 3.
7. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 4.
8. Ibid, pi. VI, X, 4.
9. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 5.
10. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 5.
11. Ibid, X, 6.
12. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 7.
13. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 7.
14. Ibid, X, 8.
15. Ibid, X, 9.
16. Ibid, X, 10.
17. Ibid, pl. V. XIX, 7.
18. B.986 A.J. pt. p. 1.S. 1. 9, pl. I.
19. Epi. Ind., p. XXVIII
20. Mem. A.S.B., Vol. V. p., 109, pl. XXVIII.
21. Bühler's Indian Palæography, pl. VI, X, 11.
22. Ibid. pl. X, 12.
23. Baṅgīya-Sāhitya Parisad-Patrikā, Vol. XVI, p. 238.
24. Bühler's Ind. Palæographie, pl. VI, X, 13.
25. Ibid, X, 14.
26. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 38.
27. Ibid, pl. V, X, 15.
28. J. and P. A. S. B., Vol. IX, p. 290m pl. XXIV.
29. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 51.
30. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 10.
31. Mem. A. S. B., Vol. V, p. 102, pl. XXX.
32. Epi. Ind., Vol. XII
33. J. & P. A. S. B., Vol. IX, p. 290, pl. XXIV.
34. Epi. Ind., Vol. XII.
35. Mem. A. S. B., Vol. V, p. 109, pl. XXVIII.
36. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 15.
37. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 11.
38. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 16.
39. Indische Palæographie, pl. V, XIX.
40. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 17.
41. Ibid. pl. V. XIX. 13.
42. Ibid, pl, VI, X, 18.
43. Ibid, Tafel V, XIX, 15.
44. Ibid, XVIII, 15.
45. J. and P.A.S.B., Vol. IX, p. 290, pl. XXIV.
46. Epi. Ind., Vol. XII, p.
47. Mem. A.S.B., Vol. V, p. 109, pl. XXVIII.
48. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 20.
49. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 16.
50. Epi. Ind., Vol. XII, p. 8, pl.
51. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 21.
52. Mem. A.S.B., Vol. V, p. 102, pl. XXX.
53. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 17.
54. Epi. Ind., Vol. XII, p. 9.
55. Ibid, p. 29.
56. Mem. A.S.B., Vol. V, p. 109, pl, XXVIII.
57. Indische Palæographie, Tafel VI, Vol. XI, 22.
58. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 18.
59. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 19.
60. Ibid, p. 59.
61. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 21.
62. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 26.
63. Ibid, pl. V, XIX. 22.
64. Ibid, XIX, 23.
65. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 25.
66. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 30.
67. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 26.
68. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 31.
69. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 27.
70. Baṅgīya Sāhitya Pariṣad Patrikā, Vol. XVII, p. 216.
71. Bühler's Ind. Palæographie, pl. VI, X, 32.
72. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 28.
73. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 33.
74. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 29.
75. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 34.
76. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 35.
77. Ibid, pl. V. XIX. 31.
78. Ibid, XIX, 33.
79. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 38.
80. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 34.
81. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 39.
82. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 35.
83. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 40.
84. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 36
85. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 41.
86. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 37.
87. Ibid, Vol. VI, X, 42.
88. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 43.
89. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 29.
90. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 44.
91. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 40.
92. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 45.
93. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 41.
94. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 46.
95. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 42.
96. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 47.