(1) The Akṣayavaṭa inscription of the 5th year[1] and (2) the Āmgāchhi copper plate grant.[2] So also of the reign of Rāmapāla we have the Chandimau image inscription of the 42nd year.[3] But these inscriptions are useless to us as trustworthy facsimiles have not been published or are not easily obtainable. The impression of the Krishṇa-Dwārikā temple inscription of Nayapāla was obtained after a good deal of trouble through the kind services of Pandit Parameswar Dayal of Gayā.
In the Sārnāth inscription of Mahīpāla I we find that a mixed alphabet has been used. There is not the slightest chance of the entire alphabet being called Nāgarī, as a comparison with the Benares grant of Karṇṇadeva, the Cedī ruler, would prove at once that the western variety of the North-eastern alphabet was something altogether different.
The following are the peculiarities of the alphabet used in the Sārnāth inscription of Mahīpāla I:
(1) Ā in ārādhya and ī in īśāna (L. 1) have the western variety form. In Ā the comma shaped curve in the lower part of the left limb of the letter has lost its knob or head and has acquired the form of a semi-circle.
(2) In ī we find that the letter consists of a horizontal straight line above the two dots below and under them a slight curve indicates the length of the vowel Cf. Īśāna (L. 1).
(3) We find Eastern variety forms in Śa, Ha, La, Ṇa.
(4) E in etāṁ (L. 2) has the modern Bengali form in which the loop has opened. So also is Ja.
