Sarada and Takari Al...
Sarada and Takari Alphabets
Origin and Development by: Bhushan Kumar Kaul DeambiSarada script has a pride of place among the Indian scripts. Though an alphabet of Kashmir par exellence, it remained for several centuries a popular script of north-western India and an extensive area around it. This book deals with the development of this script and its descendants, the Devasesaa and Takari scripts.
Original price was: ₹900.00.₹810.00Current price is: ₹810.00.
ISBN: 9788124604120
Year Of Publication: 2008
Edition: 1st
Pages : xxiii, 175
Bibliographic Details : 53 B&W plates; Bibilography; Index
Language : English
Binding : Hardcover
Publisher: D.K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
Size: 29 cm.
Weight: 1050
Among the Indian scripts the Sharada script has a pride of place. Though an alphabet of Kashmir par excellence it remained for several centuries a popular script of an extensive area of north-western India including Afghanistan, Gandhara or north-western Pakistan, the Darad territories of Gilgit, Chilas and Chitral, Ladakh, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. The epigraphic and literary records written in the Sharada script that have surfaced in these regions have thrown welcome light on many facets of the history and culture of the area of their provenance. Nearly the entire extant manuscripts of Sanskrit works including those on science, mathematics and erotics besides some old Kashmiri texts are written in this script. The Sharada alphabet was replaced in the 13th century by its descendant, the Devashesha, which in turn gave rise to the modern alphabet of Takari. The epigraphic, literary and other valuable documents of Himachal Pradesh available are mostly written in Devashesha and Takari. But it is sad that the number of scholars having a sound knowledge of the Sharada and Takari scripts is extremely small. There is every apprehension of the complete loss of these two scripts unless serious measures are taken to disseminate the knowledge under the guidance of the epigraphy stalwart to our younger generation of scholars. The entire study of the present work is based on original records and is comprehensively illustrated by palaeographic tables and charts prepared from published facsimilies, photographs, and original inscriptions and manuscripts. To give an idea of the records written in these two scripts, printed photographs of the inscriptions, manuscripts, documents, etc. have been given at the end of the book. It is hoped that the book would serve as a guide and an aid for the scholars interested in the study of the important and valuable records written in Sharada and Takari scripts which are otherwise preserved in museums and libraries in India and abroad.
Foreword
Preface
List of Tables
List of Plates
Key to Transliteration
1. Origin of Sharada Script
2. The Sharada Alphabet
3. Development of the Sharada Alphabet (11th-13th Centuries)
4. Development of the Sharada Alphabet (14th-16th Centuries)
5. Sharada Alphabet in Manuscripts
6. Numerals of the Sharada Alphabet
7.Takari Alphabet Origin and Development (14th-16th Centuries)
8. Takari Alphabet (17th and 18th Centuries)
Tables
Plates
Bibliography
Index