Page:The Origin of the Bengali Script.djvu/132

96 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).

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

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

(g) There is no change in the form of the letter in the Cambridge Manuscripts.

(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.