Page:The Origin of the Bengali Script.djvu/146

110 (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.

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.

(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.