Page:The Origin of the Bengali Script.djvu/143

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THE FINAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE ALPHABET.
107

(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.[1]

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.[2]

(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.[3]

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.[4]

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

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


  1. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 39.
  2. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 35.
  3. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 40.
  4. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 36