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Rh A.D. and which others hold to belong to the 6th century A.D., no inscriptions are known which can be said to belong to the pre-Gupta period.

At the beginning of the Gupta period, we are confronted with three distinct varieties of the alphabet, used in Northern India. Inscriptions belonging to the first-half of the 4th century A.D., are unknown unless the Allahabad pillar-inscription of Samudragupta be referred to that period. The second inscription in the chronological order, which can be safely referred to this period, is the Bodh-Gayā Image-inscription of the Gupta year 64=383-84 A.D. Scholars are divided in opinion about the date of this inscription also. Prof. Lüders of Berlin holds Cunningham's theory and says that it is a Śaka date, inspite of Dr. Bühler's clear statement on the point.

E. The so-called Gupta Alphabet of the 4th and 5th centuries A.D.

Dr. Bühler recognises three different varieties in the Northern Indian alphabet of the 4th and 5th centuries A.D.:–


 * (i) the Eastern variety—distinguished by the peculiar forms of la, ha, ṣa and sa,
 * (ii) the Western variety—cursive roundhand type,