Page:The Origin of the Bengali Script.djvu/145

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THE FINAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE ALPHABET.
109

(g) The modern Bengali form is to be found in the Cambridge Manuscripts.[1]

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.[2]

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.[3]

(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).


  1. Ibid, Vol. VI, X, 42.
  2. Ibid, pl. VI, X, 43.
  3. Ibid, pl. V, XIX, 29.