Introductionto Ancient
IndianPalaeographyand
Epigraphy I
Topic
Brahmi script
Meanings
• Epigraphy
– The study and interpretation of ancient inscriptions.
– Specifically excluded from epigraphy are the historical significance
of an epigraph as document and the artistic value of
literary composition.
• Palaeography
– The study of ancient writing systems and the deciphering and dating
of historical manuscripts.
– It is concerned with the forms and processes of writing; not the
textual content of documents.
Ancient Scripts
• Mentions of Scripts
– Pannavana Sutra – 18
– Lalitavistar Granth – 64
• Mention of word Brahmi
• Bhagavati Sutra
Decipherment
• Attempts in medieval period
– Firozshah Tughlaq
– Mughal Badshah Akbar
• Attempts by British officers
– Sir William Jones
– James Prinsep
Opinions about Origin of Brahmi
• From Semitic
• From Phoenician and Egyptian
• From Dravidian
• From still pictures (sthir-chitra)
Chronology of Brahmi
Brahmi
Letters
Brahmi
Numerals
Features of Brahmi Script
• Earlier 8 vowels, 32 consonants and 1 nasal sign - total 41
signs
• Later addition of ऐ, औ and श, ष – total 45 signs
• Separate signs for vowels and consonants
• Different sign for vowel when it comes with consonant
• Structure of joined letter – जोडाक्षर
Signs for vowel sounds
‘क’ ची बाराखडी/चौदाखडी
Joined Letter – जोडाक्षर
Classification by Pronunciation
Classification by Pronunciation
Origin and Descendants of Brahmi
8 forms of letter ‘अ’
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
आधु
नि
क
अशो
क
क
ु
शाि
गुप्त यस
होव
रमय
वधध
ि
प्रनि
हार
गह
डव
ल
पर
मार
चंदे
ल
का
नलंग
प
ल्ल
व
चालु
क्य
राष्ट्र
क
ू ट
याद
व
नवज
यि
गर
आधु
नि
क
अशो
क
क
ु
शाि
गुप्त यस
होव
रमय
वधध
ि
प्रनि
हार
गह
डव
ल
पर
मार
चंदे
ल
का
नलंग
प
ल्ल
व
चालु
क्य
राष्ट्र
क
ू ट
याद
व
नवज
यि
गर

Brahmi Script

Editor's Notes

  • #15 Panini Sutra – 8 ve shatak Sibilants - A consonant characterized by a hissing sound (like s or sh) Palatal - A semivowel produced with the tongue near the palate (like the initial sound in the English word 'yeast') cha chha ja jha Lingual - A consonant that is produced with the tongue and other speech organs t tha d dha
  • #17 Buhler