South Indian Scripts in Sanskrit Manuscripts and Prints - Text PDF

ERRATA
Reinhold Griinendahl
South Indian Scripts in Sanskrit Manuscripts and Prints
Grantha Tamil - Malayalam - Telugu - Kannada - Nandinagari
ISBN 3-447-04504-3
Harrassowitz Verlag Wiesbaden
Please correct the following errata and defective font changes:
p. 16, line 5: c 2d>&c_gi /'
pp. 17, lines 5/6; 76: O -h (jihvamulTya) <8> -h (upadhmaniya)
p. 49, lines 8/9: e G□ e G□
p. 79, line 1:
p. 94, line r. 0©
©
nya dre
3 9
p. 146, line 9: righra 23 1
p. 179, line 10: ppu od3T° ^
p. 178, lines 6/7: OO -h (jihvamulTya) X -h (upadhmaniya)
p. 208, line 10: rse %
p. 229, line 17: for Venketasesa read Venkatasesa
interchange diacritics for jihvamuhya and ripadhmaniya;
pp. 17, 76: for -h read -h (jihvamuhya)
pp. 1], 76, 92, 178: for -h read -h (upadhmaniya)

South Indian Scripts in Sanskrit Manuscripts and Prints
South Indian Scripts

in Sanskrit Manuscript
and Prints
Grantha Tamil - Malayalam -
Telugu - Kannada - Nandinagari
2001
Harrassowitz Verlag • Wiesbaden
Gedruckt mit Untersriitzung der Deutschcn Forschungsgemeinschaft.
Contents
Preface . vii
Terms and Symbols . xii
Introduction . xiii
Grantha Tamil
Basic Characters & Ligatures . i
Prepausal Consonants .16
Additional Graphs .17
Conjunct Forms of Sonorants .17
Consonant Clusters & Conjuncts .18
Tamil .43
Die Deutsche Bibliothek - CIP-Einheitsaufnahmc
Ein Titeldatensatz fur these Publikation ist bei Der Deutschcn Bibliothek
Abbreviations & Contractions .52
crhaltlich
Numerals .55
Die Deutsche Bibliothek - CTP Cataloguing-in-Publication-Data
A catalogue record for this publication is available from Die Deutsche Bibliothek Graphic Classification .59
e-mail: cip@dbf.ddb.de
© Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 2001

Grantha Malayalam
This work, including all of its parts, is protected by copyright.
Any use beyond the limits of copyright law without the permission Basic Characters & Ligatures .77
of the publisher is forbidden and subject to penalty. This applies
particularly to reproductions, translations, microfilms and storage Prepausal Consonants .92
and processing in electronic systems. Additional Graphs .92
Printing and binding: Hubert & Co., Gottingen
Printed in Germany Conjunct Forms of Sonorants .93
ISBN 3-447-04504-3 Numerals .93
Consonant Clusters & Conjuncts .95

Telugu Preface
Basic Characters & Ligatures . 121 The present guide is a by-product of my edition of the Sivadharmasastra as
Additional Graphs . 136 well as of my handling of the South Indian manuscript and print collections
of the Niedersachsische Staats- und Universitatsbibliothek, Gottingen. It is
Conjunct Forms . 136
intended to provide a basis for the self-reliant study of documents written in
Numerals . 138 South Indian scripts. Apart from manuscripts and inscriptions (the latter
Abbreviations & Contractions . 138 with the qualifications explained below), this comprises printed editions of
Sanskrit texts published in large numbers up to the 1930’s. From about that
Consonant Clusters & Conjuncts . 143
time onward, Sanskrit printing in South Indian scripts was gradually mar¬
ginalized by Devanagari type.
In the course of this development the former achievements of Southern
Kannada printing gradually fell into oblivion, much to the detriment of Sanskrit
studies, I believe. The major catalogues of Sanskrit printed books' testify to
Basic Characters & Ligatures . 163 the wealth of this tradition, and there is reason to assume that its volume is
Additional Graphs . 178 considerably larger than recorded in those catalogues. Apart from facilitat¬
ing access to the Southern text tradition in general, prints in South Indian
Conjunct Forms . 178
scripts have brought to light a fair number of Sanskrit texts never published
Numerals . 180 in Devanagari or any other North Indian script. However, it remains
Abbreviations & Contractions . . . .^. 180 exceptionally difficult to trace their bibliographical data, let alone the prints
themselves, especially in libraries outside South India.
Consonant Clusters & Conjuncts . 181
To give an example from first-hand experience: Towards the end of my
editorial work on the Visnudharma I came across various references that led
me to assume that the authors of the books in question had used a South
Appendix: Distinctive Features of Nandinagari .201 Indian edition of the Visnudharma that was hitherto unknown, at least to
me. However, in the bibliographic reference tools available to me at that
time this assumption did not materialize. When I visited the Adyar Library,
Cennai (Madras), a storehouse of South Indian manuscripts and prints, in
Checklist of Conjunct Components .211 1993, I simply checked the card catalogue, and there it was, a Telugu edi¬
tion of the Visnudharma that had escaped R.C. Hazra’s notice as well as
The Southern Brhaspati Cycle (1207-1986 A.D.) .217 mine!
Those who do not have the good fortune of having easy access to the
Bibliography .219 admirable collections of South Indian prints in Adyar and other places may
be referred to the catalogue of printed Sanskrit books deposited in the
1 See, e.g., Catalogue of the Library of the India Office, Vol. II, Part I, Sanscrit Books, [ed. by]
Outline Tables Prana Natha and Chaudhuri, Jitendra Bimala, 4 vols., 1938—1957.
viii PREFACE PREFACE IX
library of the Oriental Research Institute, Mysore,2 a kind of bibliographic few booklets designed for elementary instruction (see bibliography). Prac¬
self-help kit in all such matters, and a very useful complement to the India tical guides to South Indian scripts that gave adequate attention to the
Office Library catalogue mentioned above. plethora of conjunct characters were hard to find.
Measures to overcome this deplorable lack of information are easy to When thinking about ways to fill this gap it seemed only natural to start
envisage, but not quite so easy to realize: A cumulative online catalogue will with the material I had just collected, viz., manuscripts of the Sivadharma-
probably remain a librarian’s castle in the air for some time to come, unless sastra and the Visnudharma, and various prints, among them the Visnu-
perhaps South India’s booming computer industry, in a noble gesture of dharma edition mentioned above. On the one hand I already had prepared
reverence to the subcontinent’s cultural heritage, would bestow its blessings machine-readable versions of these two texts (c. 1,300 respectively 4,300
on libraries and other institutions struggling to preserve their exceptionally verses), which furnished evidence of all relevant characters and conjuncts.
rich holdings. On the other hand, the Sivadharmasastra tradition alone offered manu¬
By and large, the same applies to Sanskrit manuscripts in South Indian scripts in three of four South Indian scripts (the exception being Kannada).
scripts. However, compared to catalogues of printed books, the range of In a further stage, these materials were supplemented by other texts avail¬
South Indian manuscript catalogues, though limited to relatively few libra¬ able in South Indian prints as well as in machine-readable versions, first and
ries, is stunning, as a look into K. L. Janert’s Annotated Bibliography will foremost the Bhagavadglta (for details see bibliography). At about the same
show.3 4 In view of the abundance of tradition documented in these catalogues time I was entrusted with a collection of books in modern Indian languages
taken over from the Seminar fur Indologie und Buddhismuskunde, Gottin¬
it is all the more regrettable that the projected successor to Theodor Auf-
gen, a considerable number of them being written in Dravidian languages
recht’s Catalogus Catalogorum, the New Catalogus Catalogorum published by
and/or scripts. This fortunate coincidence put the project on a much firmer
the University of Madras, seems to have come to an untimely halt.3 As
basis. Finally, the yield of these materials was compared with samples from
pointed out elsewhere, whatever the reason for this delay, the project
the manuscript collection of the Niedersachsische Staats- und Universitats-
deserves all the attention and help needed to get it back on track.5
bibliothek, Gottingen.
The idea for this book came to me when I was collecting manuscript
An endeavour like the present one requires the basic decision between
microfilms and prints in South India in 1993. Feeling quite unprepared for
particularity and generality. Should the delineation of a given script confine
the task, I looked around for practical help, but all I chanced upon was a
itself to one particular manuscript or should it comprise as many sources as
possible, including printed texts? In my view the first method, although
2 Sitarama Sastry, S. (comp.): A catalogue of printed Sanscrit worlds in the Government Oriental
convincingly applied to other Indian scripts, is less suitable for a highly
Library, Mysore (l8gi-iggg). — Mysore : Govt. Branch Press, 1944. Venkatanathacharya,
complex system such as Grantha Tamil, of which the following pages can
N. S. (comp.): A supplemental catalogue of printed Sanscrit works in the Oriental Research
only give an inadequate impression.
Institute, Mysore (1945-1956). - Mysore : Univ. of Mysore, 1957
But the impression would have been even less adequate had I confined
3 Janert, Klaus Ludwig: An Annotated Bibliography of the Catalogues of Indian Manuscripts. -
Wiesbaden 1965 (Verzeichnis der orientalischen Handschriften in Deutschland, Suppl. 1). myself to the evidence of one particular manuscript. To begin with, even
4 Calculated on the basis of Aufrecht’s tripartite Catalogus Catalogorum, the New Catalogus with a limited choice of manuscripts it would be difficult to decide which of
Catalogorum has covered around 43 per cent of its ground in the 34 years since the publica¬ them can be considered exemplary. Having made a choice, and accepted its
tion of vol. 2 in 1966 (not taking into account the first edition of vol. 1 in 1949, replaced by inevitable randomness, one is tied to the characteristic features of that parti¬
a 2nd ed. in 1969). If it is continued at the same speed, it could take another 45 years until
cular manuscript, no matter how ‘typical’ they may be. Furthermore, the
at least some of us would see its completion, but considering that the last volume was
published in 1991, this seems a very optimistic estimate.
choice entails undesirable limitations: As a rule, a given manuscript will
5 See Grunendahl, R.: “A Plea for an Integrated Approach towards Manuscript Cata¬ offer only one variety of, say, the Grantha Tamil conjunct hca, which may
loguing”, Journal of the Nepal Research Centre, 12 (2001), pp. 151-159, section 4.2.1.
X PREFACE PREFACE XI
match one of the seven specimina given below (see p. 24). But with regard adequate representation of manuscript evidence before other aspirations.
to the other six — provided they had come to one’s notice in the first place — Furthermore, even within the limited range of my standardization efforts,
one is faced with the dilemma of either waiving the principal decision in font design already took far more time than I had planned, and at some
favour of one particular manuscript or plainly excluding valuable evidence point pragmatism had to prevail in order to carry the project to completion.
gathered from other sources. And there is another, equally undesirable After all, it had already caused yet another serious delay of my schedule for
limitation: Considering that hardly any individual manuscript will yield the completing the edition of the Sivadharmasastra.
full range of ligatures and conjuncts it may be asked how its limited evid¬ A discussion of palaeography and phonology definitely lies outside the
ence is to be complemented, or whether comprehensiveness should be tacitly scope of the present guide. Here the reader is referred to the pertinent titles
sacrificed in favour of an ultimately unsustainable principle. in the bibliography. At present, a discussion of palaeographical aspects would
By comparison, an eclectic approach taking in all available sources - be premature anyway because this field of research will soon be put on a
manuscripts and prints — has few disadvantages, apart from not finding new basis by the ongoing ‘Indoskript’ project of the Indological institutes of
favour with the purists. It will certainly increase general applicability of such Freie Universitat Berlin and Universitat Halle.
a survey if the bewildering variety encountered in manuscripts, and the Generous spacing provides room for noting down variants one will in¬
sometimes distinct conventions of prints, can be distilled to a diversified evitably come across in the course of one’s study of manuscripts and prints
whole. Such an approach obviously requires a certain standard in the deline¬ in South Indian scripts. It is the primary purpose of the present guide to
ation of the scripts in question. To a degree, the printed type developed for encourage such studies.
these scripts in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is the result Besides, it is also intended to recall to memory an aspect of librarianship
of a similar distillation process, and therefore provides a suitable reference that tends to be ignored by the modern travesty of an academic librarian
point for the standardization of the material collected in this book. I am striking the eye in the peculiar blend of a self-styled global player in infor¬
confident that readers will have little difficulty in relating the standardized mation management and a smug media worker.
type to the individual character, and vice versa.
An additional advantage of standardization is that it elucidates the under- My debt of gratitude is to Gerhard Ehlers (Berlin) for going through
lying principles of composition, especially with regard to conjuncts. An indi¬ earlier versions of the Grantha Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu sections and
vidual scribe may slur conjunct components beyond recognition, whereas contributing numerous additions and corrections, to Ute Hiisken (Gbttin-
they remain recognizable if standardized, and this in turn enhances the gen) for procuring material from India, and for her help and encourage¬
grasp of the underlying principles of composition. ment through the various stages of this project, to Heike Moser-Achuthath
With a view to achieving the degree of uniformity necessary for easy (Tubingen), from whose expertise the Malayalam section has benefitted
recognition of characters I designed a number of PostScript™ fonts with considerably, to the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft for funding the
Fontographer™ 4.I.6 These are definitely not intended as a contribution to publication of this book, and to Harrassowitz Verlag for undertaking it.
professional typography, and seem to confirm Fiona Ross’ verdict that the
wide dissemination of font designing tools had led to an abundance of very
poor font designs.7 It should be kept in mind though that I had to put the Reinhold Grunendahl
6 Apart from Fontographer™, no Windows™ based software was used in the composition of
this book. The layout was done with WordPerfect™ 6.0 (DOS) supported by SmartKey™.
7 Ross, Fiona G. E.: The Printed Bengali Character and Its Evolution. Richmond : Curzon 1999,
p. 223.
Terms1 and Symbols Introduction
Conjunct The graphic connection of a consonant with another

Most of the hitherto published works on Indian palaeography focus on the
consonant or consonants, whereby another shape is pro¬ historical development of the various Indian scripts based on the evidence of
duced.
inscriptions and manuscripts. Especially works on South Indian palaeography
Consonant cluster The unconnected combination of a consonant with an¬ rely almost exclusively on epigraphic evidence, which may be due to the
other consonant or consonants, which leaves all compo¬ extreme scarcity of South Indian manuscripts with verifiable dates. In conse¬
nents graphically unaltered, except in size and position. quence, these works usually turn out to be moderately useful for the prac¬
tical purpose of actually learning a script: to begin with, they can only offer
Ligature The combination of a consonant with a vowel diacritic.
the limited range of characters documented in inscriptions. Furthermore,
epigraphic characters of a given script differ considerably from those
encountered in manuscripts.
The present book is an attempt to fill this gap. Some practical hints for
readers may not be out of place:
& separates variants (not used in lists of conjuncts)
Variants of basic characters are given in the respective systematic sections
# a Tamil character in a Grantha Tamil context
under -al-a (see box on top of the page). These variants have not been
# a numeral carried through all non-a vocalizations unless a particular ligature appears
more frequently or seemed worthwile to recall as a variant of a basic
□ represents a host consonant (in displaying vocalization etc.)
character. The large-size outline tables give only the ‘standard’ form.
Both long and short diphthongs {e/e, o/o), the distinction of which is a
characteristic of several Dravidian languages and scripts, have found their
way into South Indian Sanskrit manuscripts and prints. In some sources
they seem to be used indiscriminately while in others preference is given to
one or the other. As a rule, I have given the exact transliteration of long and
short diphthongs although the distinction is inconsequential for Sanskrit
(for examples see the lists of conjuncts).
The charts and outline tables display a number of ligatures (i.e., vocaliza¬
tions) not sanctioned by Sanskrit phonetics. This certainly makes them
rather hypothetical and difficult to document in texts as, e.g., ligatures of
vocalic -/ with consonants other than But I can detect no harm in includ¬
ing them just the same. And, if required, each and every one of them can
actually be documented, albeit in one particular context alone, viz., the
South Indian ‘letter-numerals’ occasionally used for numbering the folios of
manuscripts. The system of ‘letter-numerals’ reserved for this purpose is
different from the one employed in other contexts, which combines basic
1 Cf. Ross 1999:236^ characters and conjuncts in no apparent order, all of them ending in -a,
XIV INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION XV
with three exceptions (see the Malayalam section, p. 94).2 3 By contrast, the Tamil
letters used for manuscript pagination follow the sequence of the Sanskrit
Tamil script (for the Tamil language) is included here because Sanskrit
alphabet, usually beginning with the vowels from a to au (plus am/ah/iti)
manuscripts and prints in Tamil Grantha frequently display Tamil charac¬
followed by the consonants from {- to h- (plus fy-/sl(-/sp-) declined through
ters (e.g., 6TI la for (u)) la in 6) .JlldfiF61T<g3(D) patalatala). Furthermore, in
the entire range of vocalizations from -a to -au? Gerhard Ehlers once point¬
spite of its limited range of characters, Tamil script is frequently used for
ed out to me that these ‘letter-numerals’, apart from their obvious function,
printing entire Sanskrit texts, especially popular editions of religious texts
could also be intended to provide the reader of a given manuscript with a
such as the I—I<3E>6nS) So66)<9j , in large numbers. Although they are
reference aid for getting acquainted with the hand of its scribe. In view of
seldom encountered in a Sanskrit context, I have also included Tamil
the fact that such mss. frequently display a parallel numbering in digits it
abbreviations and other features that are hard to find in the usual reference
seems likely that this is the principal purpose of South Indian ‘letter numer¬
works.
als — contrary to letter numerals in Nepalese manuscripts, for example.
The following remarks on graphic elements of the Tamil script are based
on Beythan’s observations (1943:i4ff.):
The following notes on some graphic aspects of the scripts in question are
A hook is added at the lower right to distinguish between initial cfj, d-
intended to facilitate orientation in the sometimes confusing variety of
and c#) a-, and likewise between diacritic -it and □ -u (in Ib^ nit, L_j}pu,
characters. Palarographical and phonological aspects are of no concern here.
ILj, yu, 61^ vu). Similarly, the end of initial 6^ 0- is curled to distinguish it
from 6^ o-. An added 6TI /-graph distinguishes initial 9611 a- from 9_u-,
Grantha Tamil initial 6^61T au- from 6j> o-, and diacritic Qn61T -au from 61a -e.
A curl distinguishes diacritic □ -1 from □) preceding diacritic G □ -e /
Grantha Tamil is by far the most complex of the South Indian scripts
Gad -o from 61a -e and 61OIT -o, as well as a variant of diacritic -u from -u
applied to Sanskrit texts. Finding this complexity difficult to summarize in
(in @ (Fp mu, ^ ru, lu, (Till) lu). It should be noted that diacritic
words I have tried to map it out in an attempt at graphic classification (pp.
-ul-u show the greatest variety of all vocalizations.
59—76), which, it is hoped, will need no further comment here.
A thorn at the lower right distinguishes initial 6J e- from 6T e- and
(where necessary) |J ra from diacritic [f -a, while the F -a-element distingu¬
ishes 61 aF -o from 61 □ -e, and GaF -o from G□ -e. A similar graphic ele¬
ment denotes diacritic -it (in OTjfT nit, 600311 nit, ^11 tu, JjJT nu, 6AJIT lit, JFF
2 Cf. C. Bendall 1896.
ru, <60)11 nit) if the respective -u character ends in an upward stroke ( 6TI nu
3 Cf. Burnell 1878:80. At least to my knowledge, the South Indian systems of letter-numerals
etc.).
have not yet been studied in great detail. Here are some examples taken from manuscripts
The three characters that have a curve at the bottom to denote diacritic -a
deposited in the Niedersachsische Staats- und Universitatsbibliothek, Gottingen. First, a
rather typical numbering method according to a Ramayana-Ms. in Tamil Grantha (Cod. (viz., (500) na, (fi/ ra, 60) na) retain it in -o/-o: 61(500) no, G(500) no etc.
Ms. Sansr. Schr. 75)' vowels from a to au (1—14), am (15), ah (16), consonants with
inherent a from ha to ha {17—49), then la> k§a, s\a, spa, am(?), iti (50—55), followed by !{a
[repeated!], ha, k}> hj, hu, ha, hr, hj, hi, kj, he, \a'• kp, hpu (56-69), ham (70), hfth (71), and
Grantha Malayalam (Arya Eluttu)
so on through the rest of the alphabet (i(ka, hha, hhi, hhu etc.). An interesting variation can
The graph for unaugmented diacritic CD -au distinguishes initial (alternat.)
be found in an incomplete manuscript of the Taittirlya-Samhita (Cod. Ms. Sanscr. Schr. 6):
6Y0® i- from 6n i-, g>® u- from u-, ^ /g f- from g r-, Q® au from
ha-ha (1-33), la, h§a, sha, spa, am( ?), iti (34-39), then ha, ha, hi, k}, ku, hp> hj, h}', hj, Kl Ke, nj
Kat (4°—51); after a gap caused by missing folios, the numbering continues with chu (‘70’, 63 o, and diacritic Qn® -au from ©□ -e.
according to the somewhat incongruous parallel numbering in numerals) etc.
XVI INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION XVII
The two older variaties of diacritic -u □ / D3 and -u □ / c£L are invariably Telugu
applied according to the pattern laid down in the respective table (pp. 84b).
There are two conspicuous characteristics distinguishing Telugu (and Kan¬
This pattern is also applied if such -u ligatures appear as final members of
nada) from Grantha Tamil and Malayalam. One is the vertical stroke
a conjunct/consonant cluster: cflYg) btu, cfrgi \tu, cflb fyut, cflb knu etc.
(Tel. jada or ottu or vottu) marking all aspirated stops except (•) tha. The
In consonant clusters built with virama attachecPto the^st component,
vertical stroke of qj) fya may be considered dispensable in so far as the basic
diphthong diacritics are written between the virama and the following
character is clearly set apart anyhow and, consequently, i{ha does not have
component, e.g., 6T3Gcfl£f1 h{se, (OTDGg tsnye.
the aspiration mark in the related Kannada script (see below). The remain¬
The inventory of prepausal characters is rather small, compared to
ing Telugu aspirates need the vertical stroke to distinguish them either from
Grantha Tamil. However, in Grantha Malayalam prepausal characters for
their unaspirated counterpart (viz., q) cha from o) ca, dha from (5 da,
voiceless plosives also stand for their voiced counterparts. Thus cflb also
£) dha from £) da, $ pha from 5 pa, and bha from 8) ba) or from unre¬
serves for -g, (0b -t for -d, and also for -/!4
lated characters (viz., ^0 gha from ^7) ma and Ocp jha from Cx5) ya\ for
A triangular markXl indicates gemination in conjuncts with preceding r-,
headmarks see below). Strictly speaking, the aspiration mark in (4) tha
v\z. Gy rc(c)a, 6DJ & 6T^Jj rb(b)a,i| rbh(bh)a,Q rm(m)a, <^,)& ry(y)a,
achieves little by way of distinction because there is no unmarked counter¬
Qj & ojd rv(v)a including the non-r- variants of those conjuncts ending
part, and (4) tha bears no resemblance with unaspirated <5 ta. Instead, the
with an upward stroke to the right, especially DJ cca, Q mma and Cg} yya.
dot in the middle distinguishes (4) tha from dha. However, especially in
Variants of the simplified Malayalam script introduced in the 1970s and
older prints the distinction between (4) tha and $ dha is not always made.
1980s have been included.
The second graphic characteristic of Telugu and Kannada is the head-
Due to their graphic similarity, the following characters may be difficult
mark (Tel. talakattu, Kan. talebattu) above some characters with inherent
to distinguish, especially in manuscripts:5
-a, taking different forms in Telugu □ and Kannada tf. According to
0
e-
-au
& pri Burnell (1878:17), this headmark developed from a short cross stroke
(Y) na which, in previous stages of palaeographic development, marked the upper
QJ ca Q_l pa QJ va end of a perpendicular stroke at the character’s origin. With regard to this
CD) sa OJD da headmark, Telugu consonants fall into three categories:
(0) ta cflb ba — 8 consonants without headmark:
63 0 la qj) kha, ha, & ja, ST ha, 6) ta, S3 na, 8) ba, Q la, (and &9 ra),
u £ la g/ nya — 19 with a headmark in central position and/or attached to the body of the
(Y)J nva mi mpa character:
Finally, some notes on writing Prakrit in Malayalam script: 1\a, t\ ga, o) ca, $ cha, fiCp jha, (•) tha, da, dha, <5 ta, (4) tha, £) da,
‘anusvara preceding a consonant may indicate gemination: $ dha, r5 na, bha, ^S) ma, CkD ya, (5 ra, <^> va, &sa, (and ^ la),
0(0) ‘m’ta = (0Y0) tta, oO ‘m’tha = g ttha — 6 with a headmark to the left of the centre and detached from the body:
anusvara on top of a consonant or vowel indicates nasalization: q)D gha, o5 pa, 5 pha, <A. sa, rO sa, dF ha.
617)13 = 6TT)ol3 nambha As a rule, the position of the headmark determines the position of diacritic
‘anusvara may stand for yya: ©TO0(810) am a = ©1Dg)/©TD ayya ET° -a (Tel. dirgham), □ -/ (Tel. gudi, circle), □ -l (Tel. gudidirgham) as well
as diphthong diacritics.
4 As pointed out by Gundert (i8y2:xiv) and others, in Malayalam -t is pronounced
5 List contributed by Heike Moser-Achuthath.
XVI11 INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION XIX
- Consonants without headmark add diacritic -<z/-z/-z7-[diphthong] to the

-zY-z ligatures:
right, attached to the upward stroke, and sometimes merging with it (as,
Most consonants with an upward stroke bearing a headmark (c5 ca, $ cha,
e.g., in €7 la, D li, t) It, £) le etc.).
<l5 ta, rS na, if bha, oSd ma, o5 va, if sa, f la) or with a hook to the right
However, some consonants without headmark have diacritic -a in central
(qj) hha, 25 ja, 85 ba, 0 la) attach an integrated variant of diacritic -z/-z":
position:
khi, $> hhi, fi) ci, t) ci, S) chi, eP chi, 03 ji, 2§ ji, etc.
— ^5° ha, apparently in order to avoid confusion with 25° ja,
Another variant of diacritic -i/-i is attached to closed circular consonants
— na because it has no upward stroke,
or suchlike elements thereof which bear a headmark: Gcp jhi, tw jhi (alter¬
-gT ba by obvious analogy with ^ bha derived from if bha which, by
natively: CpT), S) thi, & thi, (q) thi, <|> thi, <£) di, di, £) dhi, $> dhi, £> n,
distinction, bears a headmark.
t) ri.
■ Consonants with headmark replace it by diacritic -a/-z'/-z7-[diphthong], If
-u/-u ligatures:
the headmark is in a detached position to the left of the centre (i.e., pa,
o5 va and pa if pha denote diacritic -w (Tel. bpmmu, horn) with
<0 pha, al sa, (0 sa; for 07 gha and <J° ha see below), diacritic -dl-ol-ol-au
replacing it start from the position determined by the headmark, thus
instead of DO to clearly distinguish ff) vu (and fj) pu) from fP) ma, and
intersecting the upward stroke to the right (e.g., t?pd, tTpo, ff po,
fj phu from fp) gha; likewise, they denote -u. with QJ° instead of 177° to
distinguish ^5j° vu (and o5j° pu) from ^5j° ma, and fj° phu from fj° gha.
pau). This, by the way, distinguishesfrpb,~t? pau fromTTz/a, "STvau,
and rxT sa, fCr so, of so, KJ" sau from rT na, r0°no, of no, 7T nau. -ol-o ligatures:
Exceptions: Several Telugu characters (alternatively) denote -o/-o by combining their

respective -e ligature with diacritic 0/J° -u/-u (as is the rule in Kannada;
If the body of the consonant ends with a hook 0 (viz., fP) gha, £cp jha,
see below). However, only 5° ha fully complies with this pattern-^TO ho,
ma, Cx5d ya), the headmark remains and, graphically similar to dia¬
Dr\T° ho (alternatively ho, ho). As against that, qX) gha, fp ma
critic DJ° u, CP -a is attached to the final hook: fPT gha, jha,
and Cx5d ya follow suit only in -o (viz.,l^DP ghoffP)0 mo, 03DO yo), while
ma, Cx5j° yd, whereas -z/-z7-[diphthong] usually take the position of
in -6 ligatures the last hook 0 of the basic character is dropped: ~q)J° gho,
the headmark: 5X) mi, o70 mi,~of) me, me etc.
~fPJ° mo, and Q3j° yd\ Finally, by analogy with its -ul-u ligatures mentioned
However, there are further exceptions:
above, c)5 va adds variant J/J° -«/-« to distinguish^) vo from ^37 me, and
— Cep jha replaces the headmark with diacritic -o/-d/-au\ SJ) jho, <5p jho,
CXJ) jhau), or alternatively retains the headmark and adds -ol-ol-au to the
37 vo fromlST0 mo (alternative forms: oT° vo, vo).
right: jho, jho, Cp7 ° jhau. An additional feature distinguishing Telugu (and Kannada; see below)
from Grantha Tamil and Malayalam emerges from the above description of
— qD gha does not take -z'/-z7-[diphthong] at the position of the headmark
ligatures, viz., the notation of several non-zz vowels: Diacritic -a (with quali¬
but attaches them in the centre: ghi, q?P ghi,~fp) gheffp) ghe etc.
fications), -el-e, -ai, -o/-o, -au are not denoted sideways, but on top of the
— The z-related semi-vowel CtDD ya deserves special attention because it re¬
respective consonant.
tains its headmark in C&P yd, but drops it in -i/-i: COD yi, COJ° yz~!
— In oT ha the headmark is treated as part of the character’s body, and is Consonant clusters and conjuncts:
thus retained in the formation of ^T6 ha as well as ho, ho (alter¬ If two or more consonants are combined without a separating vowel, the
natively oTD ho, oJ\J° ho; see below), and hau. consonants following are written below the first and lose their headmarks.
Various consonants take a special form when subscribed in this manner (see
p. 136T). In general, the construction and arrangement of consonant clusters
XX INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION XXI
is predictable, although the position of diacritics for non-zz vowels can be — 6 with a headmark detached from the body due to the right upward
puzzling. As a rule, consonant clusters are read from top to bottom and stroke usually ending well below it:
from left to right; the vowel — non-zz diacritics usually being attached to the 5? & 0? gha (alternat.), do pa, qj pha, c5\ sa, sa, <xn & ha (alternat.).
basic consonant of the cluster (except with alternative nj-pzz □J-pw / These characters have a dot (or small circle) as an additional feature.
□j-pAw D^-phii) — is pronounced only after the last component. This The dot determines the position of -<z/-z/-z7-[diphthongJ diacritics and,
requires some circumspection, especially in reading more complex clusters combined with the shorter upward stroke, distinguishes die) pa1 / oo pi /
such as rtsnye (see list). It should be noted that, contrary to other non-zz pe etc. from oJc) va / vi / o3 ve etc., rTD sa /A) si / dJ se etc. from
diacritics, the lower component of -zzz 13 is not directly attached to the basic fi3c> na / rv) ni / rv) ne etc.
consonant but written at the bottom of the cluster/conjunct, e.g., A), ntai. In the absence of a special graph for (long) diacritic -tl-el-o, the length is
9 _g _9
In some cases the sequence of components is modified, apparently for marked by adding C (dlrgha) to diacritic -i/-e/-o\ -f, □ ^ -e, Q78)(; -o.
pragmatic reasons (see list for tpra [actually ‘trpa’}\ sstha ['sthsa\, the first s
-i ligatures:
standing for visarga).
Most consonants with an upward stroke bearing a headmark (2d ca, <2*3 cha,
Class nasals are frequently replaced by anusvara (or ardhanusvara). How¬
^ ta, rd na, 2f5 bha, o30 ma, o3 va, c3 sa, & la) or with a hook to the right
ever, they appear in their ‘regular’ shape, too, and have therefore been
(80 bha, Zija, 80 ba, CO la) attach an integrated variant of diacritic -z: SD hhi,
included in the list.6
83 ci, 0 chi, 23 ji, 3) ti, rv) ni, 2d bi, <£) bhi, etc.
Some clusters and conjuncts, especially those with -r-, can be written in a
Another variant of diacritic -z is attached to round or circular elements
variety of ways, which have not been carried through in each and every
bearing a headmark: A gi, COp jhi, A thi, 0 di, 0 dhi, 0 thi, 0 di, 0 dhi,
case. A glance at the context of the respective section will help to comple¬
0 ri.
ment the picture, it is hoped.
-u/-u ligatures:
o3 va and pa dp pha denote diacritic -u with □) instead of DO to clearly
Kannada
distinguish o3) vu (and dj) pu) from o30 ma, and 60) phu from 0? gha-,
Most of what has just been said of Telugu holds good for Kannada, too. A likewise, they denote -u with □J7) instead of 038), which distinguishes o3J5>
vertical stroke □ (e.g., in dha) marks all aspirated stops except 80 bha (cf. vu (and 6jJo) pu) from o30 ma, and dj_/8) phu from <5? gha.
Telugu section above) and 0 tha.
-o ligatures:
The groups of consonants distinguished with regard to the headmark
In Kannada -o/-o is generally denoted by combining the respective -e liga¬
(Kan. talebattu) are very similar to those in Telugu:
ture with diacritic -«, e.g., ^38) f{o, 838MJ kp.
- 8 without a headmark:
oT) ma and CdO ya lose the last hook of their -e ligatures (»3o me /Oil ye)
80 bha, 2S na, 33yzz, TT ha, &) ta, S3 na, 80 ba, CO la (and 63 la, S3 ra),
in o338) mo Ci338) yo / o338)^ mo 0338)C yo.
- 21 with a headmark attached to the body of the character:
d \a, A ga, gha (alternat.), 83 ca, <2*3 & 2^ cha, CLpyVzzz, d tha, 0 da, Consonant clusters:
0 dha, 3 ta, 0 tha, C3 da, 0 dha, r\3 na, 2(3 bha, o30 ma, CdO ya, d ra, o3 va, The principles for consonant clusters in Kannada are the same as those
2) /zz, <36 ha (alternat.), (and 0 la), described for Telugu (see above). Diacritics for non-zz vowels are attached
to the basic consonant of the cluster. Subordinate consonants, including post-
6 By contrast, C.P. Brown (i854:xxiv) considered this “an empty innovation (...) not likely to 7 There is an alternative form for dJc) pa with a longer upward stroke intersected by diacritic
become popular”. -a: cOc) pa).
XXII
INTRODUCTION
consonantal -r, are written after non-a diacritics attached to the basic con¬
Grantha Tamil: Basic Characters & Ligatures
sonant (e.g.,Gfoj dru). Only the subscribed component of -ai is written after
post-consonantal -r (e.g., trai). Pre-consonantal F-r follows the afore¬
mentioned components F rtsnya), but usually precedes post-conso¬ Vowels Initial Diacritic
nantal -r (e.g. Jp rtre); the dlrgha graph { denoting -ll-el-o usually takes
the final position in the cluster (e.g., § F^ rthi, Jf^ rtre). a da
Nandinagari a <S> □fT

In spite of the abundance of manuscripts written in Nandinagari, this
i 61 & □
variety of the Northern Devanagari is perhaps the least-documented South
Indian script used for writing Sanskrit texts. The cursory treatment in co
T °nr° □
Burnell’s South Indian Palceography does not even yield a complete alphabet
of basic characters. The appendix (pp. 201-210) compiled on the basis of
u 1=1
my own limited material and a few specimens consulted in the Staats-
bibliothek Berlin sketches only the distinctive features, stressing the differ¬
ences rather than the similarities in relation to the Nagari of North Indian u 26TT & ®_3 & 2? □“©
provenance.
r 8
finally, the checklist of conjunct components and the table displaying the
years of the Brhaspati cycle according to the South Indian calendar may be
r as & 8^5
helpful in handling manuscripts.
1 ear □6iu
i 6tf) & 6111(5 □6[ff)
e 6U0T & 9/01 Qn&@)n
ai Q6ifflT&6)9/or QQ □
0 6cj> & 6^ Qofr
au 6<c) 61T □ 6TT&Q am

2 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES GRANTHA TAMIL
3
Consonants: Velar Retroflex Labial Sibilants
ka c9f> ta U— & L, pa 6LJ sa UT) & ID

kha tha o& O 6LQ
pha sa 6^
ga da §3 ba 6TU sa 6IT0
gha 6UJ dha bha 61T) & 6Ff) & 2f)
ha ^ & rq na cm ma 8 &
Palatal Dental Sonorants (conjuncts p. ij) Other
ca PLI ta ya UJ ha 6UT) & CUT)
cha PLO &^)X> tha U_9 ra nr & p la 6Q_tk6^~
ja 89 da &£> la \for (CD) la]

@>
jha fcFO & dha uu va 6U
na na IF) & JT) & ITS

T7
4 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES GRANTHA TAMIL 5
-a/ -a -a/ -a
k- c9o c9olT kh- 62J & 6YIIT 6LJ 6LJF ph- 6LQ 6LQIT
p-
g- V) & jp _U)fr gh- 6ILI 6HJ IT b- 6TU 6rUfT bh- 61T) & 6U) 60) rr
n- ^ n , ^fr m- 8 &c? SIT
c- _sli & ^ _9_I(T ch- Q. fl &^-010 j^_o rr UJ iu rr

y-
j- 88 gsir jh- IcFO & qI^ raw r- nr nr ir
n- (§) & CrvQ^ ®ir 1- @j)ir
&
t- U- & L,
v- 6U euir
th- O& O Off
d- gd)ir dh- S3 gair s- iro&iD iron

n- 6MT 6TK5Trr s- 6)% 61£JT
s- 6IT0 6IT0IT
t- j£F) & d?) d)ir th- UL9 UL9IT
d- £>_ & p> ^_ir dh- uo uonr h- 6UT) Q_nQir

n- IT) & JT) J5IT I- 60.1*6”-
6 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES GRANTHA TAMIL
-i/-I
k- drol & die? ci£ kh- 6^1 62P p- ©J] ©T 6l5I
g- $ gh- 6uD ©iP b- ©oJI &6nP ©tP bh- 6U)I&
n- g?>] m- £1
c- _^n jaP eh- _®l61 °i S' y- dl d°

)- §^1 & g? jh- rf61 raaP r- nfl nf
n- ^1 1- @51
t- lJI & lo
v- eS\ 61?
th- <51 & (S' §
a- aSI & ah- aSl aP s- irdl & 1#
n- esofl 60of s- ©£3 ©j£
s- ©rSl ©/S’
<- th- uJH uj?
a- ^>1 &($ c^ ah- ll51 & uJ? uj? h- 6irf)l arf?
n- if^l & fR jP 1- 6Y?Pl 6T2£
8 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES GRANTHA TAMIL 9
k- (S^&cSo) c9d@ & c3g) kh- 67JU 62J® p-GLJ^&GLJ GTJS&^J ph- GUT0 6UT©
v:)
g-JJj13 & LO_ VJ©&U)p gh- 6iirn ear® b- eriF1 & ery ©ru® bh-arr^&arL. arj®&Q7>
n- ^T° m- S 11 & §-n S'© & Sbfi)
c- 7JXI jî® ch- 7)1]^' -2TT® y-UJ^&UJ ILT®^
j- fg™ £S® jh- f?cra HU®

r- nrD&®&rD3 rtnS&r^&HT^ (=rab)
h- ^)u 55®
1- (tip1 @)@ V- 611° 6U©
t- U~® th- G13 G®
d- §7° S- UTF1 & U 0U_ & lK3a_ UTJ®

&5© dh- 07° 25®
n- 6MTn s- 6^° & QJfcn 61J£® & €fi$kg)

60OT®
S- 61T0D 61TI3©
t- — jfj}© th- IJL9^D U5®

h- ffiiTJ13 & Q_m_ 6L/TJ®
d- ^7° & ^ ^7® & dh- 177° HJ®
n- J) u & \h_J5© l- 6UT1 GU©

10
BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES
GRANTHA TAMIL TI
k- c9tTJ & c9u^ kh- 6^g 6^0
s- J53 & m gh- <aig 6^3

... etc.
Variants:
tr & Q1
nr JDq)
GRANTHA TAMIL *3
12 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES
-e/ -ai -e/ -ai
k- Q<5d 00c9o kh- QOJ 0062J p- 06LJ 006LJ ph- 06I£I Q06LO
g- 0V) 00J/) gh- 06UJ 006ULI b- 0601 00601 bh- 061Q Q061Q
h- 0^ 00^ m- 08 008
c- 0 _2J 00_OI ch- Q q>n 00 O) n y- 0UJ 00UJ
j- 083 0083 jh- 0I3U 00130 r- 0nr 00nr
n- 0(§> 00^5 1- 0@) 00(03)

v- 06U 006LI
t- 0u_ 00U_ th- 0O 00O
d- 083 0083) dh- 083 0083 s- 0UT) 00 UB
n- 065OT 006OOT s- 061Jh 0061 $L
s- 06iro 006 LTO

t- 0^5 003j th- 0UL9 00UL9
d- 0^_ 00^. dh- 0UL) 00UU h- 06UT) 006UT)
n- 0J5 0015 1- 060 0060

H BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES
GRANTHA TAMIL
T5
-o/ -au -o/ -au
k- GlcOofr c9b61T kh- 0627(7 62J61T p- 06U(7 6LJ6TT ph- 06)_Qfr 6U36U
g- 6H/)ir J/)6TT gh- 06UJI7 61U6TT b- 0607(7 6TU6TT bh- 06V) fT 61/) 61T
n- 0^q(7 ^61T m- 08(7 861T
c- Q-SJtr J3J61T ch- 0HOI7 y- 0UJI7

6TT UJ6TT
j- 083(7 g26TT jh- 0137)17 fcF0 6TT r- 0(77(7 ITT 6TT

n- 61(g) IT ^6TT -au alternatively
1- 0(lQ)[7 @)6TT
with prefixed Q:
t- Qlît v- 061717 6U61T
th- 00(7 06TT kau 6)c9o61T
d- 61a) it 8061T dh- 083(7 836TT s- 0170(7 UTJ6TT khau Q62J6T1
n- 616(55117 666[ 6TT s- 065£J7 6^6TT gau Q U)61T
t- 6W517 s- 06170(7 6LT06TT ghau 061LI 611

_^6TT th- 01L9I7 UL9OT
d- 0^_I7 ^_6TT dh- 0UJf7 h- 06177) (7 nau 0^0 6TT
UJ6TT 6)_nQ6rr
n- 6)1517 ... etc.
J)61T 1- 06077
i6 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES GRANTHA TAMIL
17
Prepausal Consonants (cf Conjuncts) Additional Graphs
k n Igj&ra fe -m
g P O -m (anusvara)
n b 60/ S & £ & 8 & 1 -h (visarga)
c ty t & 0 m d <8> -h (jihvamuliya)
j &L y O -h (upadhmantya)
n r itr avagraha
t a V i pluti
a/
d s v6
Conjunct Forms of Sonorants
n 6mb s
& Oj & □ J -y-, e.g. sya-\ UTI^ & etc.
t s an)o
j post-consonantal -r-, e.g. sra-\ ^JT)^ & UT>/
d
J h eifti
□_j &A pre-consonantal -r-, e.g. darsana
& ^_ubjF) & îrbi5
(for further variants see list of conjuncts, s.v. r-)
pre-consonantal -r- with gemination, e.g. dharmmaU_)8%
□ &□I &D6V) -/-, e.g. sla-: LTD & IR \J 5

© ©
GRANTHA TAMIL
19
Grantha Tamil: Consonant Clusters & Conjuncts
klu c9ovm (for kl)
kka <5o
<%> kva c3o c9du
cUo 6U
kkha <5o c952i ksa

6^J
kca c9o ksna
kta c9o <3u^ ksnya
ktu
ksma
ktya c3o\
ksmya
ktra <5o ksya dfo)^ dfci^
ktva c3o c^)dyu ksra dJo>$y dfci^

<ffeu
ktha dJo dJ6uL9 ksla dfoi$L c9t>i^

UL9
kna c5b (5u^ ksva dfcd^
J) 6U
knya c36\ <9^ ksa cSfo dloiro
J5ri) 6)fD
kma c3o
2
kya
khna 62J5 QJ5
kra ^dJty
khma
kla dlo <5du khya

@> 6H)
20 CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS GRANTHA TAMIL 21
khra s6^\; gra ^Dj

khla 61J grya
&
khva
gla AD %>
&
gva AD LOJ
611 %
gga irjp
ggha _vjau \psin ghna 6UJ 61JJ

J5 J5
gja
% % ghma 6UJ
8
gda i0
% ghya
®M)
gdha AD LOU ghra QLI^ 6111

uu> <C7
gdhra AD ghrya
gna AD ghla 6UJ 6UJ

A5 @> G\J
gnya
ghva 6UJ
6U
gbha AD L®p
Of)
gbhya L/0)O^ nka

c9o
gma AD
8 £ V rikta
gya nktva
22
CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS
GRANTHA TAMIL
23
rikya
chma
3 ^P
nkra Hr chya
nksa 3
f a£. chra
nksya
chrya
nga G)f)
chla
i0 (@>
nma vo
chva Ik
g
6U *58
ilia
@)
era
24
CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS GRANTHA TAMIL
25
jva 88 thya
6U
°J
thra
jhra
thva 0 O
6U 6)1
rica & dga gd gJ^)

_°U
SO
°U) 1 dja gd
S3
ncya
St) dda gd
Sd
^gd
ncha
ddha gd ^gd
°)n
S3
nja OYUV}
dbha gd gu6ip
S3 op
njya ©\ dma gd
s H
dya
tta
U-4.
W dra
ttha
V 'a dva gd
611
gJ5U
tya
tra
dhya
w
dhva gd
6U 611
26
GRANTHA TAMIL
nta 6m 60ST
6- tkra
ntha 6m
0 ®sr tksa
nda 6SST 6um

S3 tkha <9(d62J
ndya 60OT\ 6W5Hc\
tta 9^
ndra 6$mj
ttya 4^ a^
ndha 6m 6tm)
83 ttra
nna 6m
6m “) ttva jS <3<36LI
nnya 6m\
omn) ttha <5ul9 <3tul9
UL9
nya 6m\^
tna 6h)
J5
nra §66^ 60ob tnya
□5^ b)
nva 6SftT 603DU
6)J tpa 8&6U 96) 1 <5tlj
6) I
nha 6m 6mjJ)
QJT) tpra dfe>L aa_,
nhya 6m\
6LTQ n) tpha afein d6LQ
nhva 6ooino)j tma

1?
tmya
%
tka 6b
<36
H^do 9&c3o tya
b 4)
28
CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS GRANTHA TAMIL 29
tye d^61LU thva UL9

6LI
tra
trya
tla <3u\j
@>
tv a <56)J
6)1
<5m dgha fWl
tsa doro
6LTD
tstha jS dfoiro
6m UL9
UL9
tsna afeiro ddra
6tA) JB
J5 6)
tsnya ddha
_s£\
6XT00J UJ
15
tsya ddhna
emy
tsva <5 afeiro ddhya ^ ^
6iro 6)1
6)1
ddhra
thma UL9 ddhva %jsn

8
thya
thra >6ru gem
thla UL9
<S>
30 CONSONANT CLUSTERS &
CONJUNCTS
GRANTHA TAMIL
dbha
Jq %}P nta J5 6g£
dbhya
ntya
dbhra
ntra
dma
ntva 6c56LI
QJ
dya
ntsa °&6lR) 6c9glto
Giro
ntha J5 6TUL9
UL9
dva
B&j op
6U Jl‘ 3-’ nda _J5
dvya
jm) ndya
i)
ndra J5
&
dhna LU >£/
(see ddhna)
J5 ndri
dhma uu o*j
§ u? ndva J5 pTJD
dhya 6U
ndha J5 'flu 6UU
UU
dhra OJj (see ddhra)
u ndhya
T®>
dhla ULJ
<@) ndhra J5
.uu
dhva uu> (see ddhva)
61J nna J5 Tjf> 615
J5
32 CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS GRANTHA TAMIL 33
nma pma 6LJ

8 cF 8 **
nya pya
6H)
nra pra QJj. QJ,
nla Jb pla 6)_l

@) <@>
nva Jb fFru IEj f5J pva 6LJ
611 6)1
nsa IgJlTO psa 6U
6mi
nsa (gJSLTO n®«) pstha 6U
6IT0
UL9
nha igjem) tfmjp psma 6LJ
61f\)
8
psya 6U\ 6l_A
6ITIVU 6inJ
pta 61_] psva 6LJ
61A)
©J
ptu 6lJ['
ptva 6LJ phna 6LD

<36U J5
pna 6U phma 6LQ
J5 8
pnu 61J phya
IF>_ 6M)
ppa 6LJ 6l/<5LJ phra
611
ppha 6LJ 6L-/6L0 phla 6LD

6LD O
34 CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS
GRANTHA TAMIL 35
phva 6)_Q
6U bhya
bhra ^610^
bja 6TU
29
6Y1V)
S3 bhla ap 6100
@>
bda 61QJ
5- bhva 610 ^ft)J 6U0d
6L1
bdha 60J
uu
bdhva 6VU
bU> mna 8 ok,
bba
6)1 J5
6TU
6TU mpa 06LJ io_i
bbha 6KTJ
6V) mpha O6L0 c^6LQ Sr*
bma 6DJ
2 mba O610J 8
6TU
bya
^H)
mbha 061Q
bra 60^
mma 8 &>
8
bla 6TU
<S>
mmya
bva 6TU
00
fill mya
mra %
bhna SD 0/15
J5 mla 8 8 ScK)
@) CTO
bhma 6U)
2 % «£
mva 8
6)i
C%>l
GRANTHA TAMIL 37
rt(t)ya
rtra ^5y4 ^
yya
'H) r(t)tha LL9-1 c5us4
rthya
rk(k)a Sfo—l c9olc9o
rd(d)a %_4
rg(g)a u)4
r(d )dha IU)4
rgya
r(d )dhna uo4
rgh(gh) a 61U4 &M
J5
6}jy
6UJ r(d)dhva UL_)4
6) I
rghya 6Hl4\
rp(p)a 6LJ-X
rc(c)a ^>y
c#J,
rba 6YU4
rcya
rbha 61Q—b
r)(j)a 82-1 & ggfe
rm(m)a §4 cflcf 4
rju 8^
ry(y)a UJ 4
rn(n)a owr4 «fc)
°t) rl(l)a @)4 @h>l> (ds
ova
rt(t)a iS-l
rv(v)a 6U4 6^) 4
rttha see rtha
rsa Uir4
GRANTHA TAMIL 39
rsva iro4
6U lva (@)
6D
rsa
rsna 61%-i os!

6GGY <5001 vya
rha &H)4 vra
lka @)
<3o sea LTD py
_3J
lga &
AO ©Ip scha UU
lgu
sna LTD
J5
lpa @>
6)_J @€L1 sma UU
2 U>
lpi
sya
lpya
luo) @eq) sra
lba @>
6DJ sla UX) umj
@>
Ima @>
2
@6> sva UU UU6U
6U
lya
ssa UU in
LTD LTD
11a
ska 61% 6a
(3o GJD
4° CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS
GRANTHA TAMIL 41
sta 6LTD
sti anSt
6^
stu 61TU111
- /
stya 6iro\ 6^
stra 61T0
stva 6LT0
d)Q_l
stha 6iro
UL9
sna 61A)
J5
snya 6iro\
spa 6im
6U
spya 61T0\ eircA
6) \n) 6) U
spha 6LT0
61D
sma 61T0
8 n
smi 6H§
smya 61T0\
8 ^
sya 61AIN 6ITlA

Tamil
sra
sla 6LT0 Vowels Initial Diacritic

<@>
sva 61TQ a cJH & jsa_i
6U
ssa Giro a □fr & ^
6im
i &d S]&D°
CO fo
hna 61/7) am T R* & l°F □ &□
6MT cfcoi
hna 6117) u JV)\ & □) I & &□ *
J5
hnya ®i|A 6mn|j u & cMM cS^ &0/1& QJ&D
hma 610) 6Ug)

8 ®SP e 6r&^r 0□&G
hya a/y)
e 6j & G□&G
hra 6L(U ai 98 607 □ & 60p & %u & 2.n
hla 6K7) am 61/Bvj
& ^.;G\J o 6^ & 6(j 0 nfF & GnlT *
hva m)
6)J
anau 5 g) & 6£ G an- & GafT *
au g)61T & 6cj6VT 0Q6TT & Ga6YT
* and variants
44 TAMIL TAMIL
45
Consonants
Vo we Hess -a Vo we lless -a
k- c56 <35 v- 6) 1 6U
n- fLJ 151 1- Lj> k- <56 & 35 (56fT 1- 6Y) 6V)ir

y>
c- S 6T 1- 6TT 6TT n- r6J &!5j &rFu \hm v- 6LJ & r5 1 6UfT
n- <gF> , ri) <3~ & <5F

©
? c- <5PIT 1- Lf)&Lp L^H
t- 1 ' L- n- 66T m n- (67) & g (6T)fT 1- 611 & 6YT 6TTfT
n- 6(TO 1 6m k o°o t- L._. L IT r- rp&/V) (TT/&L)&5p&V\/)
& ( fa o°oU za oo §8 ) n- 666T p66)&6M7>&666) n- 66T §6) & 66T5 & 66)
n- fp Grantha Characters: t- <9) & dp &> fT
u
•
p- LJ £8 n- Jp & Fp jpff j- £8 £9fT
m- LD LD s- 61% 6>% p- u 1_IIT s- 61% & r^9 6)%fT
y- LLJ uj s- 61TD 61TG m- LD & 1 Q LDfT s- 6ITD&1/V)&2/D 6)11)11
r- IT rr h- Qjp 61TT) y- LL1&UJ&LLI* LUfT h- 61/p 6L/piT
1-
V 6\J
6V) 6V> ks- (3(31% <36) % r- D" LIT ks~ <56)% (36>% fT
* To be distinguished from 1 —I_ tta

46 TAMIL
TAMIL
47
-i/ -l
-u/ -u
k- Si & dB S & 6g 1- 6\51 & 6\S 6\f

■ <5 dn 1- 6\)l&i?OJ 6\J[[&6\)/1
n- fl51 & sr ifff&sr v- oil &r 6if - r6_| & ^ v- 61] & 1=1,
Ufc& ©©©>
c- S & !- L0 & Lp lj) dr
0 !- (bP&(SP ©p& ©p
n- (6^1 & ^ (6?)&$ !- 6(f) & 6Vf 6lf 6fd &jil ,61)11 &°3)/T 1- (61T)&6Y1)
t- Lq_&LC LC5. r- rfjl&AjJ rff
© © r- mi & AQ1 urn & /\on
n- 6ftft51&6Mf 6SP n- 6of) & 6ST 6?f 6HJ)l&66tD| 60mn&60Wn n- 66)l^6rn| 6CDI1&6£D/1
t- ^ &^
^Jl & d)/l
n- jfjl & [3 j- g£l S?
£*<5 ■ JP & F>l J5IT&J5/T j- gg°
p- i_51 & i_r Lf s- ©£} 6$
M 1d
s- 6)^
m- L0 & L<5 lS s- &rSi eirS1 , Q_p&(Lp s- 6110° 6ira®
y- U_51 & LLP uT h- Qif)] mf?
U-l h- 6)JTF arp®
r- ffl & rf if ks- <3c&ll cOoi^
0 ks- (56)-^ <3(51^
©
48 TAMIL TAMIL
49
9c93 & &&> G<5okQ>&> 1- 616\) G6\) k- 60)<55 & 66)<3E> 1- <?6Y) & 6lf0\l & 2/0Y)
9(5) Gbi v- 616) 1 G6TJ n- 60)[Q v- 6016)J
9cT Gcg- !- 9lp Glp C- 60) cl l- 60)1J)
9(67) G(6T) !- 9677 G6T7 n- 601(67) 1- §6TT & 6)fOTT & 2/DVT
9i_ Gi f- 9m Gm t- 66) L__
96007 G600T n- 9607 G607 n- §600T&61/300T&2^00T n- ?j60T & 61/30T & 2/661
6\^ G^ t- 60)c5?
Qjtj Gw, j- 9gs Ggs j- 60) g)
9u Gu s- 967% G67% P- 66)U s- 60)6)$L
9ld Gld s- 96770 G6770 m- 607 D S- 60") 6)11)
9ili Guj h- G\6im Gsup y- 60)LU h- 60)6)17}
9[t Grr ks- Qc9®% Gc9ei% r- 60) D" ks- 60)c9t51$L

5° TAMIL TAMIL
-of -o -au
k-0t5B[I&G(5B (T d<56ii&Gair 1- 06v»rr G6V)1T k- 0e366fT & G(956VT 1- 06V) 6fT

A- 61(5111 0I51IT v- Qeuir G6UIT ft. 015J61T v- 06U6TT
c- Qcît Gîr 1- 61j_pir GLpir c- 0^617 !- 0LP6TT
n- 0(6T)H 6(6511 !- 06TT1T Gernr n- 61(OT)61T !- 06fT6U
t- Ql_IT Gi_rr r- Q(Q7 G(rp t- 6lL 6TT r- 0m6TT
n- 005) 0- 610 G0 n- 06OOT6IT n- 065T 6TT
t- 0^rr G&iir t- 0<g>6TT
n- (telT Gnîr i- 0831T Ggsir n- 6Ujy6TT j- Qc96TT
p- Quit Guir s- Qeigjr G6iîr P- 0LI61T y 061^, 6TT
m- Qldit Gldit s- 06m) it Goto ir m- 61LD6TT s- 061TD6TT
y- 0LUIT' Gujir h- 061/pir G6>mrr y- 61lJJ6fr h- 06km 6TT
r- Quit Grrir ks- 0c9caîr Gc9ta^(T r- 0IT 6TT ks- 0<3«£,61T
52 TAMIL
TAMIL 53
Abbreviations & Contractions

= Gl_IITcjB what is spent
6L om (cf. below) ajp

= 63J6F LD charge
= c35c9r until
= 6)J [T 6) | receipts
r- = £l[T@){?6l5] long-lived
- Agriculture etc.
\S = ffllf sri
= d1 6TT LD saltpan
Ld - 1—5]6ir§6Tr pillai, a title of rank
S3 & JX = QlD6\3 6\3l paddy
LD-irr-nT- yiB = ^ DcSoO [JR §3 [Til c3 c f] l*P maharajarajasri,
abbr. “M. R. Ry.”

%r = W) 65T GltfHJJ wet cultivation
- jfjl 6 V) LD ground
A&, = 6 ^ from the first
= L_|60TQdHJJ dry cultivation
&L - 6LI663c56LLI[nr belonging to
kL
= GLDff)l—ILCj _ afore-mentioned - Anglo-Indian Currency
M) = (Lp <3> 6\51lLI 65)6LI “etc.” (3n = (95rr<5r a Cash
- Accounting
L4 = 1_16(5(31 LD a Fanam = 8 o Cash
■=9sl = crfMjdf) total 6 ^- - Ql HT 65T ten Fanams
ffh_ & f[fc3 - \V) 1 J3I_Iff number 6 LTL- = 63J [T ITc55 651 a Pagoda = 42 Fanams
Jf- = J06yi6m6LI balance 1 (dr - 6631_1 <5~ IT a Paisa or Pie
dH 665L an Anna
54 TAMIL
Grantha Tamil: Numerals

0 8c (0^- = 01_IfTLLI a Rupee = 16 Annas
Cardinals
- Calendar
Cb 9 fH&ftrr&Fn CP (Tf) <5tt 6T c^H c5b O

(Sjt> = 6U06]Î D year
&
lS = LDITcffiLD month
£, 0 dr] <T <9b
6L_ 8c Q_ = date
123 4567890
rigij = 0fT61Tg)l current

uO & L!_I & Q & <3B> O lO<5> & Ch<5b uO^- &
10 11 12 etc.
- Weights & Measures
yp = 1_JfTITLD a Candy (an “Indian ton”)

2_uO & 2_ O 2_uO<5> & 2_<5> Q_U0£L & 2_2_
20 21 22 etc.
is = 0065^1 one Marcal (measure of capacity)
[FLuO & Hr. O

ap = 1_\TT) cF6 (0 two Marcals
30 etc.
<3) FEd = 88 fill (0cffU6^5^r] five Marcals
nr & Aq"&rTp&0& dbo o oidD & 6bOc5>
6U0 ~ <!§) QTj ^0fT 6&)fl eight Marcals
100 101 etc.
•
dferr = cfb 6\) 1 D a Kalam = 12 Marcals

(HuO & ITT <5> O 8c <5)cFF> O flTuOda 8c CbCbfbb
B = (56IT67)(3f) a Cawney (measure of land)
110 ill etc.
ddQu. = Qc95(5PLD a yard
= (0 l()I a square yard

NUMERALS
GRANTHA-TAMIL
rTT2_uO & c3)2_0 fTT2_c5) & c5>2_c%
nT ikuO & <5> fFL o
2_fTT &2_00 2_fTTc5» & 2_Oc5)
£LfTTlO & 2_<56 O & &_<9Ek9E>
11,000
Q_rTT2_LO & 2L2_0 2_fTT2_uOc* & 2_nT2_<5> & 99^
ITL fTT & fb_ O O
^ & <%> & <%) &
1,000 1,002 etc.
ûO )c$c5) )c5)2_
etc.
58 NUMERALS
Grantha Tamil: Graphic Classification

Fractions
The following list is an attempt to classify Grantha Tamil characters accord-

(0 § ^ & dH ing to graphic criteria. It is intended for the single purpose of identifying a
given character, without regard to phonetics and palaeography.
'/l20 I/l60 = 2/320 */ =80 ^/320 '/ 40 = 8/320 The major obstacle in learning Grantha Tamil seems to be the bewildering
variety of characters that look very similar, at least to the untrained eye.
anD <92 LI ug&ora' Starting from the characters’ (supposed) origin to the upper left, I have
tried to abstract from this variety a handful of recurring graphic elements:
'/32 = 8/320 + 2/320 3/80 = 8/320 + V320 */20= l6/320 ’/16= 16/320 + V320
oa g 6) □-
a 6EI & 6) ft) 1 IfrO <5>
These basic elements, along with two variants, are displayed in black boxes,
'/lO = 32/320 1A = 40/320 V20 = 48/320 ‘A = 6V320
while the framed boxes below them show their various derivations.
In the column to the right of a framed box,
6\J 9> & © — the first row classifies the basic characters) built from the respective
graphic element (or otherwise remains empty);
%= S0/320 i/2 —160/^20
3A = 240/320
— the second row gives all conjuncts beginning with the graphic element
in question. It should be noted here that only genuine conjuncts, i.e.,
graphically connected consonants, have been classified in this manner; clusters
of graphically unconnected consonants should be looked up in the alphabetic
list, starting from the basic character around which the cluster is construct¬
ed. Where the complete classification of all conjuncts originating from a
particular consonant would have entailed unnecessary repetition the reader
is referred to the alphabetic list for further details.
— The third row indicates graphically related characters.
Within these rows, conjuncts are arranged according to increasing com¬
plexity, as far as possible.
Tamil characters are marked with an asterisk (*), numerals with a number
sign (#). Unclassified characters are listed at the end.
In order to look up an unknown character encountered in a manuscript or

print, the reader should first identify the graphic element at its (supposed)
origin to the upper left according to the basic classification given above.
6o GRAPHIC CLASSIFICATION
GRANTHA TAMIL 6l
ON
°cfJGLTO ntsa
GRANTHA TAMIL 63
(<f 4-0
6)
3.3 ©L_ om 6U va ©_I pa 6)1J gha
61 3.4 61] vu* ©_j^ vu*
(cf. 4.9) 611 v 61_/ p 611—rva 6) I—l) rpa
644 pta 61^ ptu
6l_J_ pna 6)_|^_ pnu © [? pma
©Jl & 6)^ & ©)j rva
61LI^ & ©_|_j rgh(gh)a 61 j gh ma
6H) pya 6lj^ vya
6101T jai* 6l/DVJ lai* 610001 nai*
(cf. 3.12) 3.5 glJ kha g\_IT) khna glJ khma

3-i 6^° la
gl_|J khya gll/ khra gl^ khla
3.2
g\^ khva
GRANTHA TAMIL
65
GRAPHIC CLASSIFICATION GRANTHA TAMIL 67
4.1 Q -e QQ -ai
(cf -o and -au)
4.2 6Y #7 61T -au 6TT la* 6RT 1
4-3 (6TF) lu* ^6TF) !u* 6Tb) & 6fF) nna
4.4 6T e* 61 e* (6?) na* 65I nu*
6~F)fT nu*
4-5 6VT la* (c/l au*)
4.6 6TU ba 610^ b
4-7 6RJU ndha 6T\JL_9 ntha
nO bdha bdhva
bma 6101m) bja 610^ bda
bla 610 ^ bva

6^
4.8 6y2_& la
68 graphic classification
GRANTHA TAMIL
6)
5.1 _3J & <$} ca c^H & 24 #8 ^ & SL\ a*

G)
cfj, & a* 2_TO sa* 0 (1 & c_^)/0 cha
5-2 ^ rca C _3j4 rca
cj^£) chYa <^J|0 chla chva
5.3 & (8j) & (5 1*
S & cy* ma m
B3 da §J d §3 & £3 dha gJ5 d
C7j) & (S,
B mla ?JSY) lai* <3°-* mpa

OVJ
2/ovr hi* 2/oor nai* 2/0001
7° GRAPHIC CLASSIFICATION GRANTHA TAMIL
GRAPHIC CLASSIFICATION GRANTHA TAMIL 73
1_ ta* I & 1^ ta t
l_
1_I pa* I_| pu* pu*
LD&LO ma* (y) mu* Q_p
L_p & Lp la* & (Lp !u*
(T_p & (Lp lu*
(cf 7.10) I . 1 & tta

V&L6
@ tu* g tu*
U) & If) ga
LI iai g u)4 rga gya
[g) & Lj) g @1 g! JP6UU & Lp61U ggh;
l/Op) gbha 1/OlL)^ gbhya lfl gu
l/}J gva Lf¥) gga l/LLJ & gdha

74 GRAPHIC CLASSIFICATION GRANTHA TAMIL
75
7.11 fa #3 frFO jha IU ra llj r 0(U0 i FF T*

^ gma gla ^ gma Lp gd;
7.12
1777) gna LHT^ gnya
7-J3 1 jha
LTD sa LTD sa
IT a IT ra* FF & l°F 1* _FF) & J7j na

ub rsa u6 s ub rsa iro4 < 7-T4
7-i5 fao ha* nda faJ nva faJ ha*

LTO!— su IRjO sya UOAJ sla
I5| nu* ffa #3 111_ nu Hi & fani nva
iron sva [JTTP su
nya J7)l nu* JpIT nu*
"0
sna Uj)| sea jJd)n scha nma nâ Ig^ nla \fg nma
J5
nFry nya 17^ ndha far} nra ITyp^ nna
ITroro nsa Ifarp nha

7-8 U-l ya UU dha llj) #10 UL3 tha
(77) ru* rQ* @ #5
I 79 IL/ y UJ4 rya ■H) yya ryya
LO—i rdha IL^ dhla UL^ dhma
LL9-i rtha thla ULg thma
Llbj thya
(cf 7.2) 7.10 LU & LU & LU ya* LU #10 LLJ yu* Ly yu

76 GRAPHIC CLASSIFICATION
Grantha Malayalam: Basic Characters & Ligatures

“Unclassified” Characters
8 r Vowels Initial Diacritic
& la a (BTO &cfiYD
rp& n) ra* a (BID) & 9SJD) □o & no & m
M] #100 i 6Y3 □H & □

6V 6V
G -e* I OfOO & 6T)(D □ 1 &□
G -e* u 6) & 61 □ & P3 & □ & nj
o& o tha u 6)0 □ & QL &(□} &Di

o -m (anusvara) r 8 n& & □)
® -h (jihvdmuliya) r S&°J
©
o -h (upadhmamya) ! 610 □
610
o & <5. & 8 & 1 visarga i 6t0) □
6rb)
Z&^ avagraha e/e ©□ Go
l pluti ai ©© □
Furthermore, Tamil fractions and abbreviations have not been classified. o/o © ©0 ©□3 G m3
au ©IB ©□0 & D0

78 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES GRANTHA MALAYALAM
79
Consonants : Velar Retroflex Labial Sibilants
ka c£b ta s pa Q_l sa CO
kha 6U tha o pha Q_Q sa 031 &
ga CO da GJL) ba 6TU sa cro
gha CO dha CU9 bha G
ha 6T3 na 6TO &60) ma 12)

Other
Palatal Dental Sonorants (conjuncts p. 99) ha QD
ca O 1 ta (0 ) & dC ya CQ3 & ^ la ^
cha tha LQ ra CO la y
ja 82 da G & 3 la O ra 0
jha (DU) dha CO va OJ [na 60]
ha 6TCD na CD
8o BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES GRANTHA MALAYALAM 8l
P- Q_1 COO 3 ph- 0/0 033

k- C0D c£b3 kh- 60 603
b- 601 6DJ3 bh- 8&3 83
g- CO C/03 gh- QQ] OQJ3
m- CA (23
n- 60 603
y- CO) CQ)3
c- OJ DJ3 ch- OGQ 003
r- CO 03
j- 82 c33 jh- (DU) CDU)3
1- QJ QJ3
n- 6TOO 6T003
V- QJ C0J3
t- S S3 th- O 03
s- C/3 033
d- 010 CU03 dh- CU9 CU93
s- 09d & cO 0943
n- 6TT0 & 6IT) 6003
s- CTO CT003
t- CGO & 3b C303 th- LQ LQ3
h- GO 003 l- y y3
d- 0 &3 03 dh- OO 0)3
1- ®L ^3 r- O 03
n- CD CD3
83
-i/-l -i/-I
k- d3bl cj0bl kh- 61jl oil p- Qjl Q_fl ph- O 61 oxfl

g- col c/fl gh- oofl oofl b- 6Djl 60/1 bh- (51 e6!
n- 6Sl 6cfl m- 61 a6!
c- nil nf1 ch- 0(51 no6! y- cc51 cofl

gsl gfl jh- ffliol (GUfl r- (51 (51
n- 6k51 6T0fl 1- ofl ofl

v- oil ofl
t- sl sfl th- 61 o6]
d- CU)1 cufl dh- ojbI cus6! s- u61 c/51
n- 61753 enrfl s- oq51
s- crol m51
t- «61 (ofl th- LOl LCfl
d- sl efl dh- col oil h- QOl odl !- yl y6!
n- COl ofl 1- eQ $ r- 61 di
85
u/-u
k- d03 C03 & (c©^ kh- 61^ p- OJ0 Ph- o n

r Sj (1Q
g- m ^ gh- oqj °QI b- 6iru0 bh- g i*(§
n- 6GO 60 m- 0O
0
-u/-u alternatively
c- QAO oj ch- ng y- CQ)0 with
J 1 resP■ l'■
j- jh- CDXJg ©U)
0
r- (OB (0^ & 0 k- c£b ^ c£b^
n- 6KBO 6rm 1- Q]0
0 RJ kh- 6H1 611
t- s V- OJ 9J U)J COJ
0 § !h- 9 9 g-
d- oy dh- CU9 s- (Jd> OO3& gh- OQ1J OQJ^

O “8
n- 6re 6Hd) s- cm0 n- 6BJ 6C^
•
... etc.
S- CTO
0 CTO
t- GQ&ctCU), th- 1 QO <y
® LQ
d- 6
O Q dh- (JO
O h- QD 1- 3O> S>
0 0
n- Od Od) 1- 6^
0
r- O0 O©
^0
k- cBj & <£k_ kh- 6y
g- <£) gh- QQJ °g
- ch- Og
>- « ih- ®u>

n- 6TU) 6®
-r/-f alternatively
with
J resr J:
k-
kh- 64J aJj

g"
gh-
"RJ °QJJ
n-
... <?/c
GRANTHA MALAYALAM 89
k- ©C0D ©Ocfb kh- ©6) J 0060 P- Ool ooq_i ph- ©OQ OOO O
g- OCO OO CO gh- ©QQJ OOOQI b- ©6T)J OO6TO bh- OB ©os

n- 060 0060 m- O0 OO0
c- OO 1 OO O 1 ch- OOQ OO O G) y- OQQ) ©OCO)
j- OgQ O©^ jh- OCUUL) OOCUO) r- OCU ©OCU
h- ©6TCD 006TU) alternatively:

1- ©0J ©OQJ
ke dcfb khe (360
V- OQJ OOOI
t- OS ©OS th- OO 000
ge (3CO ghe (3QQI
d- OCU) oocuo dh- 0019 OOGJL9 s- O C/d ©OC/d
he (360
n- ©60) 0060) s- OOOd OOOSd ... etc.
s- ©CTO OOCTO
t- OCU) ©OCU) th- OLD ©OLQ
d- 6)0 OOB dh- OO) OOCJO h- ©o 0 oog 0 1- ©y ©OS’
n- OCT) 00m 1- ©^ 00^) r- OO OOO

90 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES GRANTHA MALAYALAM 91
-o/ -au -o/ -au
k- ©cfbO ©c£b0 kh- ©600 ©600 P- ©CUO ©Q_1 0 Ph- ©o no ©o n 0
g- ©COO ©0)0 gh- ©OQJ0 ©OQJ0 b- ©6roo ©60 10 bh- ©00 ©80
n- ©600 ©600 m- ©12)0 ©0)0

alternatively:
c- ©OJO ©_QJ 0 ch- ©nco o ©0130 y- ©CQ)0 ©CQ)0 kd GcfbO kho 6600
j- ©g20 ©S20 jh- ©CDU)0 ©CDU)0 r- ©coo ©CD0 go 60)0 gho 6GQJ0
n- ©6T0)0 ©6TCD0 1- ©OJO ©QJ0 ... etc.
V- ©coo ©OJ0
t- ©SO ©SO th- ©oo ©O0
-au alternatively
d- ©CU)0 ©01) CD dh- ©0190 ©CO90 s- ©OOO ©00 0 without ©:
kau d3b0
n- ©6TT)0 ©6TT)0 s- ©Q9d0 ©Q9d0
khau 600 ... f/c.
s- ©00)0 ©00)0
t- ©C6)0 ©CO) CD th- ©LQO ©LQ0
d- ©GO ©00 dh- ©0)0 ©0)0 h- ©GO 0 ©QD0 1- ©s> 0 ©S>0
n- ©000 ©000 1- ©^0 ©6^0 r- ©OO ©O0

93
Prepausal Consonants Conjunct Forms of Sonorants
k d0b & c£)b & 9b r (t) & (b <9/ -y-> e-g- tya~- s'ya~:
n 6TTb & 6H& 1 (Ub & ((3b (3d & [□ post-consonantal -r-, e.g. pra(Q_| & [O I
I l
t cob & cob & (db 1 Oo & (/£) □ & Dj pre-consonantal -r-, e.g. hprsa-. cfbQQd & dfbQjfTI
(for further variants see list of conjuncts, s.v. r-)

n ob &ob i #
□ -/-, e.g. sla-: Lfd

m (i 6V> 6\J
□_J -77-, e.g. sva-\ C/QJ

Additional Graphs
o -7?2 (anusvara) Numerals
o -A (visarga) cQ a (T1 @ (TI) 6) QJ Otf o
&
<8> -A (upadhmamya)
<p Q_ (U ©* G) ™r) G1 &(5\ fy Od1^

/*/ avagraha (only in prints; avagraha not documented
in mss.!) 1234567 890
u
□ virama
JUO &dUO (T) 6T#
l 10 100 1,000
□ gemination mark, e.g. cca Q [ Qj
(Grantha Malayalam numerals are handled analogous to

©Go om
Grantha Tamil; cf. pp. 55ff.)
“repeat preceding word/phrase” (esp. in drama mss.)
Grantha Malayalam: Consonant Clusters & Conjuncts

Letter Numerals
no cm
031 («5U) clOO ocyaj kka d9o
na nna nya skra jhra ha gra pra dre
kku cfh53 kku d0 kkr dEte)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
kkra (cffo)
(2 LQ QJ 6DJ (TO)
m
jQQ 6TT)
kkha d0b6U d06II
ma tha la pta ba tra ru cha na
kca d0b_QJ cflbiU kce dEbG _QJ 3LGQJ
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
kta c£H(X> ktu cOYQ) ktu dEH?b, ktr dEbg)
6TQ)
ktya cfrg/
ha
100 ktra (jfkg)
ktrya
Fractions
ktva d0Y9)J dElYSxJ
k(t)tha c£bl Q d0t>LGi cfHso n

kna c£b knu dEb knu cfb
CD CD CD)
knya C0D /
me/
kma c£b
0
kya
&
I GRANTHA MALAYALAM
kra |_cffo (c0}

khra [6D
kla c0d <£H khla 6U
6\) 6\J 6\J
kva dEhJ khva 6UJ
ksa cflh9d d0h£
ksna d0h9d d0tco ( = kga)

6TD gga
$
ksnya c£fa9d i coco CO CAD]
6roey ggha
j CO
ksma d0b9d gja CO“g3
(21
ksmya cMd ,
Q\d gda LB
ksya
g(d)dha COCO cnjo COJD
ksra
g(d)dhra Ln(0) (CAl)
ksva dMdJ
g(d)dhva CQJQJ
ksa c0j cQto gna cm cm gnu LBfd
(TO
gnya
khna 6U gbha COB

CD
khma 6U gbhya
(2)
khya
& gma CO0 C0 U2\
GRANTHA MALAYALAM
99
rikta 613 d&YO)
riktva 6T3 c£H(X)_] £0Y3lJ
nkya 600;
&
rikra 6B(g)
<g>
nksa 6t3dMd 80x91
nkse 6BGdMd G80a91
nksya 60 rfbQjj aagy
nkha 6B6U
iigha 6G“OQJ
nna 6T3 6ST3 606

(D
hma 660
ilia 6BQJ
cca
aj O CQJ
ccha _QJ _QJ (=csa) I9_G3 (=chsa)

oia (Jd (Jd
cchra O I _QJ (=csra)
<29 <S3
IOO
GRANTHA MALAYALAM
cna -QJ6T0) DJ jnya

6TCD
cma nj"a jma ©a
cya
% jya
§
era Lnj
jra | S3 ©>
u
chma a ©a -Q_f 0 (=csma; ch-alternattves accordingly) jla gSQJ

chya
i jva S3J
chra 1 -QO
039
chrya
03% jhya
chla nQ
6\J jhra [emu (ffiU)
chva O.QJ
nca 6KBJ
jja ncya 6®J,
jjna
ncha 6IQJ.O 6TQ) J (=ncsa)
(79
jjya rija 6T2Q nju 6TeB
jjha S3«XU) ©®U)

njya 6T^
jna ©6rcD nna 6T0TQ)

102 CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS GRANTHA MALAYALAM
dma OJD0 CU)

0
dya
tti dra [CUD (op

ttha dva OJQJ
tya
tra
dhya
w
dhra [019
thya Oj dhva CU9J
thra | O (O,
thva OlJ nta 6TOS erg

ntra
(S3
dga CUDCO CUD ntha 6TO 6TT6
CO O
dja CUDgS nda 6mJD
dda CUDCU) ndya 6TT\$)
ddha CUD 019 ^ ndra (§rra)

dbha CUDS ndha 6ITU9
CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS GRANTHA MALAYALAM
ttya
nnya ttra COXCO) (cm)

ttva coyoxj
ttha coin
[6ID (6rp tna COY)
6TO J tnya
W>
6TDOO tpa coboi cofo i
nhya tpra
nhva 6rT)QOJ tpha cob on (0)00

a
tbha see dbha
CObcfb tma
COb(c£j) tmya
(Obd0h9d tya
©
(Db6U tra
c® <§>
am) trya
cm)
GRANTHA MALAYALAM 107
tva COO (d-conjuncts are frequently built with COb = -t)

tsa coro dga eco ffibOT
tstha coboron corun dgra 6(0} fflb (U)
tsna CDTOOD coro dgha shoi (ObQOI Rq|

CO
tsnya COTOO), tsnye COTO GOf)^ dda 9
tsya
ddya (0b(3/
tsra («m)
ddra 60 (Ob0
tsva «mu ddha 6JD
ddhna aooo 60 ddhnu

CO CTd
thma LQ0 LQ ddhya
0
thya
\Sf ddhra (6X)
thra [m Q_g ddhva 60J
thla LQ dna 600 6

6\J
CO
thva LQJ dba 6601 C0b6OJ
dbra 6(60_| C0b(6LLJ
dbha 86 COb 6 CO6 C06

108 CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS GRANTHA MALAYALAM
dbhu COR dbhu COD dbhr CCg nta oo> ntu
dbhya (Obg; ntya
dbhra 6(5 cob® (®3 ntra ntri
dma 60 G0 ffiba ntrya
dya
& ntva Oft) (DU ODD
dra LG © ntsa ObffiTO
dva GJ ntha mu
dvya nda 08
ndya
©
dhna com CD CDD (see ddhna) ndra
(£9
CO
dhma cjoa CD
(2)
ndva an
dhya ndha cruo
dhra [CD (see ddhra) ndhya
dhla CD
6V>
ndhra orb(L9 (nay
dhva CJLU (see ddhva) nna ono
nbra ofb(6n_|
no CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS GRANTHA MALAYALAM
nma 02 pya
nya OQ/ pra L°-l (Qj Pri (jO
nra [TO OfbO (CX) pla QJ Q_\^_ (=pla)

nla Qt)QJ pva OJQJ QJJ
nva OQJ psa Q_I

cro
nsa Ot)C/9 pstha o_jucmQ
nsa Ot)OD psma
nha Ot)ClO psya
psva
pta o_J Q_1 ptu O_1

(0) Q4 ptu m
ptya phna 0_Q
no
ptva QJ phma o_Q
CG1J 0
pna o Too O_1 pnu o 1 Q_J phya

m cro no
ppa phra
8d
ppha
ad phla on
6Y)
pma o_ia phva G_QJ
ri2
CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS GRANTHA MALAYALAM
IX3
U
bja 60J cS 60J bhla 8QJ 8
S3 6NJ
bda 60J bhva 8J
G
bdha 6HJ
CO nO
bdhva 60J mna 0
Oil CO
bba enj mpa 0QJ OTJ (contraction of OftXOJ “npa”)
bbha 6018 mpha 0uqd
bma 60] mba 06OJ

(2
bya eajj mbha 08
bra [60J (6HJ mma 00 0
bla 60J
6\J mya
&
bva 60U mra La ©
mla 0
6\J
bhna 800 mva 0J
bhma 8 mha 0ao

(2
bhya
S
bhra LG yya
© 2}
IX4 CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS
grantha malayalam
rk(k)a Ct»d& cQd cfb cB6) rd(d)a Q
cbco
rg(g)a
& r(d)dha (3JL)
rg(g)ya cboy r(d)dhna feJOCY)
r(g)gha QQJ CAQI

r(d)dhva
r(g)ghy a O0
rp(p)a cy OJ
rc(c)a
Sd Qj oo'i rb(b)a 6Dj eryjd
rc(c)ya my
a
rbh(bh)a £ e'e
r(c)cha no> nh rm(m)a (22

Did j
r j (j) a ry (y) a
S)
rn(n)a
» rl(l)a QJ
6V)
rt(t)a (CTO)
rv(v)a oy oj
qj
rttha see rtha
rsa t/d
bg
rt(t)ya
rsva cAi
rtra Cb(ffl) rtre Cbd(OT) rs(s)a qj9d
r(t)tha (71)‘n
rsna (bead
TD6 6TD
rha ob qp
GRANTHA MALAYALAM II7
lka QJdEb QJ ej sea C^J

cfib
lga qjco QJ (Ob CO (= tga) scha cm3

CO
lta qj sna Ud c/on snu Ud C/OTd

(0) (T) CTd
lpa cabcu (=tpa) sma Ud c/aa
g] 0
lpya sya
O'
lba qj (0b6ru (=tba) sra Leya
6TU
lma qj a QJ sla Ud
0 6\J
lya sva cyaj cyou
Ira L&i oica ssa
be
11a QJ
6\J
lva QJUQJ QJJ ska Q94d6b QOJ cm

C03
cuj
skra Q94"(c§) Q9J

©
vya skha Q9J6U
vra LQJ
CSJ sta Q3d
S
°IJ
vva stya Q9J j

sey
stra Q9J
6
ii8 CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS
1 GRANTHA MALAYALAM
stva Q94J 1 stra (TO

S (TO) 0*
stha Cm stva
o "V
sna cm stha (TO_Q
6TD
snya cmi sna (TO

no
spa cm snya (TO ,
QJ 00C7
spra cm spa (TO

QJ
<y
spha spya (TO . CTO
CIO oJCJ
&
sma spha (TO
a Q_Q
sya sma (TO

a
sla smya (TO ,
6\J aey
sva Q9U sya
sra [nro (TO) (op
ska (TOdBb (TO (TO

CCD
sla (TO
dEb 6AJ
skha oro sva nroj

QJ
(TO (m>
sta
cm
ssa
38
stya nro , ssva (TO
erne7 ^d mil
120 CONSONANT & CONJUNCTS
Telugu: Basic Characters & Ligatures

hna Q06TD
hna QfD hnu QiHfd hnu ClOfd) Vowels Initial Diacritic

K''
hnya a ^9 (□)
hma q ra QJ2) a 0=9 TT
hya
°s i
I
SI □ &B
□ &6
hra |_QO (09
hla QO u □0
6
VJ
hva QDJ u S8 □:p
11a W r £00°
dj
1 °2) (& 00 =lu) □
lka
d0b
o3 >
lea i °?P (8c 0O~° = lu) □

DJ
°?p
e/e ex) □
rr (pronounced tt) O O O ai 80
rrr (09
c*—0
0/0 80 £0 □ □
17 Q °
au
TELUGU I23
ka §■ ta fc> 3
Pa sa $
kha 30 tha <5 pha 3 sa <xX

If
ga t\ da ba a sa rO
gha 3^ dha bha 3

Other
na a na £3 ma 3d
ha 3"
Palatal Dental Sonorants la
ca 5 ta C5 ya c& ia es
cha $ tha ra (5
ja a da <5 la 0
jha Cep dha <3 va 3
na ST na 3
|
I24 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES
TELUGU
I25
-a/ -a -a/ -a
k- S' kh- $3° P- 3 3" ph- q) 3”
g- A 73 gh- $G 3d^ b- a 83 bh- 3 3°

n- &
m- 3d 3r
c- 73 ch- 3
y- c5d o&r
j" & 83 jh- CCp r- 3 o°

n- ST sr3 1- o
t- &)
V- 3 73
th- (5
d- <S cr dh- (S «p* s- 3 w°
n- £9 ET s- oX oX
s- 3 73
t- 3 7T th- $ 3”
d- 6 73 dh- 3 3” h- 3" 3"
n- 3
1-
r- es
TELUGU
I27
-i/-1 -l/-l
k- § § kh- SP $ P- 5 b ph- cP
9
g- A A gh- Ao b- a) & bh- c>

n- $
* m- £0 to
c- 5) & ch- 4 )
y- CO) coj°
j- 23 2§ jh- ftp 6cp &5xr r- 5 6

n- of
1- O &
V-
t- 6 th- <g> A a £>
d- & & dh- $ $ s- §>

n- $ 9
s- cxX !x
A s- b A>
t- o th- (4) &
d- £> dh- & h- 9oT
n- fc
1- § §
1
BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES TELUGU I29
k- §5 & to) §> &g\T kh- spo $or P- S) 37 ph- q)J 5j°
g- AO Sr gh- qX)0 £or b- ao ar bh- ^0 Sr

h- 2SO 2>T m- So Sr-
c- c5o &T ch- cÔ Sr y- o5x> toto r- to) Sr

i- e? jh- too tepr 1- €0 Or v- toj Sr
n- STO srr
s- tor
t- to ter th- <to Sr s- oOJ & oOO cOor & cOteT
d- to ter dh- to & to Sr ^ S s- rOO & rOO to & to°
n- £00 £30T
h- oT°0 & oO™ tor & to™
t- to Sr th- to Sr 1- to Sp
d- to Sr dh- to Sr r- 050
n- to) Sr
J3° BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES
TELUGU
r3i
-r/-r
k' ^ gs kh- S'

T
... etc.
g- *) 3
K. gh_
A- *3
ch- cjS^j
c- ^
*3
s- aJ jh- 6x)^
*3
^ ^3 "•■ sj SJ
d- ^
sS dh" ^
*- a3
s3 th- ^
d- ^ 63 dli- <£\
n- ^
s3 ... etc.
n- 2o
c- fS 3 ch-
£
E■ jh- ~5cp ap
§?
t- lb th- ~5 a
d- G> <3 dh- (3 2.
n- 13
t- 75 $3 th- 3j!)
1.
d- C5 73 dh-
n- 73 3
BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES TELUGU X35
-o/ -i
i «Vo ZZr'jO
k- s kh- S' p- oJ ph-
g- K ?r gh- "5) 53* b- jST S' bh- Sj r S'
n- S' s' m- So S&SS
c- S' s' ch- tj)* S' y- CXlQ (S
V s' S' jh^6j)&(Sfr cc&&( r- (T &(^T s
r^~o
n- zT 1- (S' s Sanscrit -o □ also
r*—6
rendered as -6 □
v- & c3h s
t- 15” ?h- ©”&S” S’ (especially in prints)'.
d- <T S' dh- (T S' s- ;T S' k5 5* kho

r-^Vo
n- eT W S- oA oX ...
<-»Vo
s- rJ jh5 CcX &SJ) ...
t- S' CT th- (T S'
VO oX ...
d- S' S' dh- (5" S' h- 3^&So 3*”
ho 2S6 Sr
n- S' S' !- ^
... <?&•. (see p. xix f.)

r-
r3 6 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES
TELUGU
T37
Additional Graphs
e.g.,
T
□ & □ virdma (Tel. pollu), e.g. alam: ^=9 O oS
e.g., ^5 \ -pu/-pu (altern.): O'? DT
°J oJ oJ
-n, e.g., dhaman: (JPcSDg-
~ph~i e.g., tpha-: *l5 \ -phul-phu (altern.): D9 DT
O -ra anusvara (Tel. sunna)

-b-, e.g., -dba-\ (5^
ardhanusvara (Tel. arasunna) indicating nasalization of

-bh-, e.g., -dbha-\ £5 \
preceding vowels, e.g., dta (Tel. “it is said”): ^9C fc)
& □? -w-, e.g. -nma-\ r\)^ &
^)0 & fto & ft candrabindu, esp. in om: fto
-y- (Tel. kiyya or Ipyyavadi), e.g., -/ya-:
§ & n -A visarga
-yd- (optional), e.g., vidya:

2— avagraha T
^ & |n -r- (Tel., kraravadi), e.g., -/ra-: & \ cf
D alveolar modification of c5 and &: ixT &
-r- esp. as third conjunct component, e.g. -\tra-\ £ J
Conjunct Forms
pre-consonantal -r- (Tel. \valapala]gilapa, “rattle [on
the right hand]”), e.g., darsanar5
D]j e-g->
□ -1-, e.g. -gla-\ f\

-g-, e.g.,
n m
-c-, e.g., -mz-: -v-, e.g. -sva-:
-fA-, e.g., -ccha-\ -s'-, e.g., darsana- (cf. above):

n^>
~t~, e.g., -â-: -f-, the latter only for -psa-: ^
-t-, e.g. {5\

i38 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES
TELUGU
*39
Numerals (cf. pp. 180, 204) Si by, through
= r5 or r5 o500 people
0_93«Xt-2Crro V *
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 <51 = {5m <5 afterwards
crll * = cr6sp date, dated ...

Fractions
FT 1 * = cpoj°§o appertaining or belonging to
— a- I H ^
«r|g'» * = 3T'S0§'€)0 postscript, P.S.
Vl6 2/l6= Vs Vl6 Vl6= ‘A 8/l6='/2 12/l6 = J/4
<511 * = <51*j signature

$
ail day, dated ...

Abbreviations & Contractions (*=loan-words)
on account of
ell * -eSoA' acting
3o| number ...

dr | = 6 o.(j C/jj answer
L3i = ^5‘S’<5<£» according to

si * = S5bS” town
|3| = 5<55d first

Ao| * =/Sozr>(5o in charge of
|5|| question
fol * = a clerk, writer or agent
si * = S’s{5o item, heading
= AbOoa respecting
S’ 1ST II* - H)0q) CfX){So STalO(50 be it known (to you)
5o|| * = c5 0&) ‘on date (dating documents & letters)
5t“|| * = Sr6c3" by the hand of, in charge of
<51 -3*3 *3 according to, at the rate of
TELUGU
14
£DO|| * out of (a sum or number of) ... - Administration
~500 | * =~530~3'DO halting place; also ‘dated at ...’ 1 * = TT" a Taloof{, division of a district
CCD || * = COD rO O an individual cO I * = <0(5A3 a Pergunnah, district division
003 1^9 | * = CCDSjAO ^rvXAO ‘endowed with honour’ Oil or ST* I * » STaTa village , town
&
ui<T||U’| u*a37a&|3;5
‘His Honour’ (address in a letter) — Anglo-Indian Currency
3 * =<5 and (Pers.) m = 3<53" a Pagoda
<3II * = ATvct etcetera 3II = <5so\oo a = 4 Pa/Ve
all = a) 2j° oO 5 5l)0 or o3 r\5ô0 500 letter, request <5o &<jj \ & <5j° \ = 6s°tr Cldoo
cxJ <xJ
ff5 1 or "to! = ^<5Ao(3_;5 ‘Your humble servant’ 3HI * = a Hunn, or Pagoda
much, many
a|| above-mentioned - Calendar
ay 1 * = '5D§£“ inhabitant of ... B1 = <y£^y(53x> Sunday
ay|| Sahib <y>3|| * Anno Domini
3*1 * =2pottZst temporary = S\3,3S'3x> the dark fortnight

A1 &)£3 ^
foil = AO A) o3° A500 Thursday

Telugu: Consonant Clusters & Conjuncts

= oT (!5^D0 Tuesday
= aS'oS' the dark fortnight kka kka TT|^ kkr
1 = 8D (j|5 cOu C5 oSjO Wednesday kta kta TiP kti ktu §V)
9^1 = 8^rC) oT(!5o5DO Saturday ktya ktya TP C
I = cKl) jj^ToT (5<xD0 Friday ktra J]
g)|| = $06)<5x> the light fortnight ktva 0^ ktva TP^
rO | or rO^ [ * year kna kno
rOO | or rOO |(!50 = rOOo5^5\^(!5c500 year kpa kpa TPP^
rO O I gj oJJ = rO Oo5{5\<5oj j of a year kya §£ kyaT^ g>
3o lltroo = So^Npoo years (pi.) kra |^f kra (TP^ kri
I = rCfoSj o3°(!5^03 Monday kla klelf

ro ro
klya
- Weights & Measures
II =sj)o h, or <xT) (j3 a Candy (or ‘Indian ton’) ksa

• t « 1
ksa
• t . \
ksu ,§0 kso r
fill = /W a Garise or Garce
r44 CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS TELUGU
k*my5I^ gla A
CO
kWa ^ k^5S^ gva A^

gvi A
ksva C
%/ v/
ghna cpj-^ ghnu qXQ-^ ghno "5^°^
t/
khya c£)^ khyai c|j)^ ghya <£OC ghya ghyau 35°^
ghra c*X>J) ghra qXTj) ghre ~^£)J

gda 7V
O
gdha A gdhi A gdho A* nka 2o|^ _<%_ nka <5°^_ j5^_ rikl 2o| nku
W © 0 J
gdhrl Aj nkr <jo|^ nke 2Aj^
gna A^ gna gne\ nkte ) [“ntke”]

V
gnya A& nksa &

&
nksi 2o
S
nkse %
s
OOk.
gbha A \ riksya <£> C

T-'
gma A^ gmu AjO nkha & nkhi 2o
gya A^ nkhya 2o C nkhya 2o°C

t)
gra Âj gra nga 2o nga ^5° ngi
<5 o s o o
grya ngya
146 CONSONANT CLUSTERS &: CONJUNCTS
TELUGU
ngha 2o ngha nghi 2o nghe 2o

<vO oÔ jra jra jrl jre
<£>
nghya
jva 2o^ jva
nghra 2o °)
os
nghri 2S 1
<£>/
nma
nca of^ nci of\ nee
ncha of^ nchi
cca 1cca cci rryt nr§

nja of jaii of nje
& £>
ccha ccha STA
cchra c5^J) cchrl b^J

cchi £)\
cchru
cche ~o) \
SO\J
n'ya in
cchre ~S)
?
V cchro tka (jO|^ tka
cchva cchva
tta 6)
cya cya cyu e50^

TELUGU I49
tta {S^ tta tti tte tto <5"
(-tt- in other conjuncts is usually reduced to -1-)
ttha {S ttha 83^

(3 Q
tna {S^ tnl tne
nta S3 tnya 6^ mya tnyo 5^
ntha 83 tpa {S^ tpi 03^ 1:pu {SO \ {S'? tpu {$0^0 {5
O
oJ oj oJ oO
nda 83 ndi S^ tpra {S^J) tpra
G G 1^3
ndha 83
(5
tpha {S^ tphu {So
<
tphu {Ssr* 3^ 67
nna 83 tma {S^ tma tmi
£9
nma 83. nma ST,
tmya {S^ ^
i
tya {S^ tya Ou£ tyu {SO^ tyo {S"6^
nva tra {S tri tri|{j) trai ^ J

trya {S^J) [=“tyra”] trya iuT^ jj
tva {S^ tve tvo {5"^
tsa {S^ tsu {So^ tsai 3^
tska
TELUGU
dbha £) ^ dbha GT* ^ dbhi £) ^
dbhya 6)^^ dbhyo (3*
dbhra
dma £),
dya <5^ dya CT C (5 C“ dy
dra |£5 dru CXF'J di

drau
dva dva (2T^ dvi
dvya dvya
dhna dhna
dhma dhma
!52
TELUGU
nyo
Pta Pte ptarPcxT
pna <x)^ _ r<\6

Pnu oT)^ pne <x)^ pno oJ^
v<"
ppa ppu oJO cO ^[ ppu So \
C\ )
pya pya
r py-^9\
§
pra x)j ôJ pra tTj prl |c0 hj
orYS
pro (oJj
pla oJ pi u oJO
00 00
9
psa psi psu
J54 CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS TELUGU
*55
psya 3^
bja 85 bja 85"

& &
bda 85 bda 85" bde 8?
Q O Q
bdha 8^ bdhi 8) bdhai 8?
Q Q c2_
bdhva 85C bdhva 85" C
QcO OoJ
bra |85 (^85j bra bru 850^
s )
bhya 8jS^ bhya 8j5"^ bhyu <£0^ bhyo Sp^60
bhra £j5^ bhra J bhrQ $J°j)
mna SO^ mna Sj^ mm
mno ~o5CT^
mpa SX^ mpu cOOJ° \ SO

oj <
mpra oX)\^J mpra SO"0
mba SO^ mbi oOD^ mbu

TELUGU
rma (5^ rma rmi 0^ rmu

6i
rya rya
6h \ l
rla 6 rlo 5"
n 00
rva rva TT rve“3c rvai]3^
rvr<5^
c l
rvya 6^ rvya
^ rvyQ
rsa rse~(3^
*
rsva rsve
rsa 6 rsi 6 Jxe- rse

Q^- oi.
rsna (5 rsni 0
cCX
S3 S3
rha 6 o?E" rha rhi 0 rh5 (5*
cJ" oT1 oT°
lkya
i58
CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS TELUGU
r59
Ima lmai
A sla $ sla W° sli §> sle
n n n m
lya lya 0"°^( lyu QO^ lye sve 8^ C :

cS "
11a O ssa (for -h s-)
ro
lva
lha O lha
oT3 oT
ss" \ v/
ska ckk|^_ ska oXj^_ sku oYOj^ skr oXj^ (vowelposition!)
vya o5^ vya o8Y^ vyu cxk)^ vye 08)^ skra o8k|^J) skra ~oS^J
vra ôSj vra vrl |o8) vre ^xY, sta ckk sta oY sti cek stu oYO stau oX
G9 eo " eo eo
stya Sic stya <xY^
eoyj
sea sea cP^ sci 8^ see ^ scai stra si1;! stra oYJj stre 08k J stro
e)/ 69.
scyu 8 stva Si^; stva xY C
kya GOoJ) " eooj
v^* 9 —z£
sna sna cP^ snl 8^ snu cKl)^ stha 08k stha 8xY sthi 08k sthe 08k
0 O O G
*X
_ < \6
sma 8^
*1 sna 08k
89
snu 08Y8)
89
sno ckl
89
snauxY
89
sya sya
^ iyS Syai
snya ckkC
89k)
v/ \ 3 1/ v/
sra sra (Wj sri (^J (also sr) spa 08k Y spa 08k Y spi 08k Y spu 08YO Y 08k 9
oJ oJ oJ oJ oJ
t/ —ZD
srl
L* @** sru^Dj sre J srd spu ckkVJ0 Y
oJ
08k f
oJ
spai 08k Y
Q oJ
i6o CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS
TELUGU
spra oX\^J spra c
sma aX sma oX
sya oX^ sya
sva oX^ sve oX^
v-"'
ska rO) ska
skha rO
»/
v< _ v.--'
sta rO sta 7\5° s
stau r\)“
stya fo ^ stya~1x^ styo C

Stra str* (^) Str^ {r^J
strya rO^J)^
. 9
stva rOC stvi rO C
stha rd sthi r\) sthu rOXT3 sthe rO sthai rO

$ $ Q O ($_
sthau 7\)u
Q
_S
sthya rOC sthye rOC
Q<d
Kannada: Basic Characters & Ligatures

hya oT°^ hya oJ6^ hyo
hra hri
Vowels Initial Diacritic
hla & hla 3* a (□ )

n m
hva oj^ hva oJ6^ hvi oT’C a □~c)
i o| □ &B
T (& CDl/c) yl) □? &

KANNADA
i65
ka ta &} pa dJ & ek) sa 3 &£?
kha 20 tha gJ pha cp & ep sa & e*J\ & cti &
ga ri da ci ba 20 sa rO
gha 4? & ep3 & c0O dha bha 2*3 & 3C) & <5? & $l3
na © na ma 2d & 2d
Palatal Dental Sonoran ts Other
ca 23 ta 3 cd
ya ha OO & od & 2d
cha tha 0 ra d Ja $ (substituting da or la)
ja £ da (3 la 0 &© la 69
jha dp dha 0 va d & d ra 69
na op na 0
KANNADA 167
k- Sc) kh- SO SJ0 p- oJ & dJ0 &cd0 ph- cp & ep cp0

g- rt ruD gh-c^Sc cpJ cp^c) b- 20 200 2*00
n- 20 20^)
m- a$J & PO <dJ0
c- 23c) ch- e^&2^ epc) y- Ol) ol©

k 2d 83c) jh- dp dp0 r- tj 00
n- 'Sp 'SP0 1- O & <2> ej0
t- 6i 1© th- d 0c)
v- <d & o30
d- (3 £30 dh- 0 d0 s- d & 3* 00
n- & Sc) s- dJ\& ekh&odt&eZSt d>\0
t- 3 ^0 th- 0 s- rv) f\J0

Cj)0
d- d £30 dh- Cjj £>30 h- OO & a/^ & eZo cfc>0 i- d $0
n- rd rv)0
1- 09 09^ r- 09 09=^
i68 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES KANNADA 169
i/-I
k. a a? kh- cD SD? p- oJ OJ? ph- qJ <b?

g- A A? gh- 4^ 4J*? b- 20 a? bh- 2*) 0?
n- & ®9? m- oDO <bo?
c- 23 23? ch- (£) 0? y- (DO CfLQ
j- 2a S3? jh- CCp Ap? r- 0 0?
onn9
n- •ST? l- O O?
t- §0
V- cD <3?
db? th- g) A?
d- a 0? dh- S- §) 8?
9
n- £§ e§? S- 6J\ <ih?
S- f\J A?
t- Q th- <A?
d- (C) a? dh- 0 0? h- &> <3o? 1- 0 <5?

n- rv) -a? !- es? es?? r- es? es??
KANNADA
k- to too kh- 300 80uO p- djJ cOjO ph- toj 4J/3

g- to too gh- to too b- 200 2070 bh- 2}l0 8,1/3
n- 200 2070 m- too toro
c- 2to 2^00 ch- Cpb

y- tooo otoo r- ClO d73
j- OO 350 jh- topo topoo 1- 00 070 V-
h- ZTJ 0370
s- to too
t- to too th- to too s- dJvO dJvTO
d- too CtoO dh- CjlO too s- rOO rUTO
n- 230 23lO
h- ado toro 1- $0 <&73
t- to too th- CflO too 1- e90 eaTO r- 600 69.73
d- too too dh- CjlO cjtoo
n- <to0 rtoo
172 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES KANNADA
J73
r/-r
... etc.
kh- 20^ 1
k-
g- % gh- ^
n-
- ^ ch- ^ <%
jh- dp\^
mr\
n- ^
!h- % %>
d-
%> dh-
n- S8^
" % % th- ^ %>

d- dh-
n- ^ ... etc.
J74 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES
-e/ -ai
k- 3 kh- cD
g- A gh- cp>
n- ffi9 0^9
e)
c- 23 ch- (£)
®<d
i- 2? jh- Gcp Cep
n- "ST®
t- h th- <S
d- a
% dh- a
%
n-
*4
t- ^
th- a
d- a dh- (J)
n- rv)
*4
Reinhold Griinendahl Reinhold Griinendahl
South Indian Scripts in Sanskrit Manuscripts and Prints South Indian Scripts in Sanskrit Manuscripts and Prints
Grantha Tamil — Malayalam — Telugu — Kannada — Nandinagari Grantha Tamil - Malayalam - Telugu - Kannada - Nandinagari
ISBN 3-447-04504-3 ISBN 3-447-04504-3
Harrassowitz Verlag • Wiesbaden Harrassowitz Verlag • Wiesbaden
The Kannada characters on pages 174-177 were printed wrongly. The pages should be pasted over The Kannada characters on pages 174-177 were printed wrongly. The pages should be pasted over
with the corrected version enclosed here. with the corrected version enclosed here.
*74 basic CHARACTERS & LIGATURES KANNADA I75
-e/ -ai
kh- ol5 p- dJ ph- 'cp
gh- ^
b- bh- :$
4)
m-
ch- Cj y- do
_9
jh- dp r- d Sanscrit -e □
also rendered as -e □ :
1- d
d
V-
ke khe
th- d
ge f\2 ghe cp^
dh- d s- $ 3 s
pj ne a3?
s- oJ\
rt
... etc.
_D
s- rO —
th- rp
dh- d h- 50 1- 's?
%
1- es*3 r- «es3
176 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES KANNADA !77
-0/ -au
k- &33 s’3 kh- Sl>33 SO3 P- sP ph- djj1Jz) op
g- A-73 A3 gh- cp>'-/a) 4?® b- 24.73 a?3 bh- $33 2^

ryyPc) in- 3173 alj3
ii- 231/3
c- 23,73 xl3 ch- Ojs e,?3 y- CCL/3 (1173
j- £L/3 af3 jh- £4)33 cqJ3 r- 0-73 (5s
rrpr'c) ej3
n- 1- ©33
V- o4>^/3 a!3
t- b.js &J3 th- x^>
d- £>33 cf3 dh- <^33 q?3 s- &73 A3
n- $33 gp S- oJ\v-/c) 33?
s- r\Jv7c) 3J3
t- .§33 th- §33 §P
d- £)33 cP dh- §33 qp h- &33 50s !- 0-73 S?3
n- r\}33 F53 1- esP-73 r- es3^) es^

Reinhold Griinendahl Reinhold Griinendahl
South Indian Scripts in Sanskrit Manuscripts and Prints South Indian Scripts in Sanskrit Manuscripts and Prints
Grantha Tamil - Malayalam — Telugu - Kannada - Nandinagari Grantha Tamil - Malayalam - Telugu - Kannada - Nandinagari
ISBN 3-447-04504-3 ISBN 3-447-04504-3
Harrassowitz Verlag • Wiesbaden Harrassowitz Verlag • Wiesbaden
The Kannada characters on pages 174-177 were printed wrongly. The pages should be pasted over The Kannada characters on pages 174-177 were printed wrongly. The pages should be pasted over
with the corrected version enclosed here. with the corrected version enclosed here.
176 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES KANNADA 177
-0/ -au -o / -au
_zr^> _D
k- djd g* kh- so33 P' coys dJ ph- dfjz) -VfS)
g- rf3 gh- o^-Jz) 47s b- ap3 zf3 hh- qp3
n- gf3 m- oP/3 criT3
_9
C- ?Ajz) s’3 ch- ($Jz) CsT3 y- 0^73 cdP3 Sanscrit -o □v/e)
also rendered as □7a)^:

) - 2ov7c) af3 jh- (5f)Jz) OQT3 r- cP
-0
ko ^77^ kho ot^vTc)^

n- ^nU) crp?c)
1- dos eT3
V- o5j3 go f\jz)^ ... etc.

a?3
t- (j3-7c) if3 th- (3jz) cp1
special forms:
d- U^Jz) cP dh- (^7c) q?3 s- 2x73 ?P _
p5 pho
n- &)J^> ra3 s- oJ\-Jz) a?
vo ad_/a)^ (cf p. XXI)
c_ ddJz) 7p
no)
J3 ($Jz) qp
4
th-
—)
1
d- CL/c) TP dh- ($Jz) qp h- 3073 So3 !- $73 d3
11- rO-Jc) TP 1' edos (73^ r- es3^

KANNADA 179
Additional Graphs
□ -d-, e.g., -bda-\ 20
0 O
□^ & □ virama e.g. alam\
□ -dh-, e.g., -bdha-\ 20
Q Q
£=~ -n, e.g., dhaman:
□ -n-, e.g., -ghna-\
d
o -■rn (anusvara)
□ -p-, e.g.,
OJ oO
oo
-A (visarga)
□ -/’A-, e.g., -tpha~:
qj qj
X -A {jihvdmuliya)
□ -A-, e.g., -dba d
eo eo
OO -h (upadhmamya)
□ -AA-, e.g., -dbha-\ d
2P 2P
S avagraha (only in prints; avagraha not documented
-w-, e.g. -nma-\
in mss.!) \ %
-y-, e.g., -iya-:

**
Conjunct Forms
Qy & post-consonantal -r-, e.g., -sra
□
6
-hr* e.g., -tka-' 3
6
□F pre-consonantal -r-, e.g., darsana-: d$Fr3
□ d
-g-3 e.g., -dga-: □ e.g. -g/a-: rt
A A on m
□ -c-, e.g., -era-: d
ecr □ \ & -v-, e.g. -/wz-: S 1
oJ cO d (0
□ & n -cA-, e.g., -ccha □ & n -A, the latter only for -f^sa
ep ep ep ep oJ\
□ -A, e.g., -A/A-:
as -s-, e.g. -tsa-\
ai
□ e.g., -\ta-\
i8o BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES
Kannada: Consonant Clusters & Conjuncts
Numerals (cf pp. 138, 204)
o_9^.%,^fe.a.e3€ o
&
n_D^-V3?eL\AF O
123456 789 0
Fractions
I II III _ = =
*/! 16 2/16= V8 V16 V16= 'A 8/l6='/2 ,2/l6 = 3/4
Abbreviations & Contractions
samvat
S- Jz) ^ | sloka
m
KANNADA
l83
ksmya Sc)
grya ^
ksya 5^ ksya 5c)^ gla A gla 73c)
no m
ksva d
P gva A^
gVi ôS
khya cD^ khyai ol5 ghna cp\ ghnu cpA ghno cpOc)
c( a, cl
ghya 4?^ ghya 4-AA, ghyau 4?^ ^
gda He)
Q
ghra 4Jy ghra cp'Ay ghre 4J^
gdva He)
O P
gdha A gdhl A ^ gdho d vJc)
Q Cf) Q
2 consonant clusters n- is usually represented by anusvara.
gdkrt A^ y ka 2PJ-
gna /I gna He) gne^? 5 rigi ?If

<A
A A
gnya A^
gbha A
ep cca 2/^ cca 23cP cci 23
gma A, gmu AP,

CP ccha 2^ 23 ccha 23c) cchi 23 cche P
ep ep ep ep ep
gya A^
cchra 23^^y cchri 23^,^ cchru 230^j cchre 23 P
ep
gra Aiy gra He) cchro 2^cPc)
tbJ
KANNADA 185
tsu 6ft)
thya ft.
dga ft dgi ft dgi ft^ ^

n f
dya ft n
dhya ft,
In consonant clusters n- is usually represented by anusvara.
nta Ec)in \
ntha Ec)
O
nda E3 ndi E^
Q Q
ndha Ec)
nma E3. nma E9c),

e. ‘ k.
KANNADA
|
nya nyai tya tya 33» tyu tyo i^)

$ f t
nva £c)^ tra ^S^y tri tri ^ ^y^ trai ^y^
wya ^ trya 33
tka ^ tkai 3 5
tv a
6 tve tvo -3§3c)^
6 e)
tkra ^ i tkra 3c) i tkri , tsa 3^j tSU ^}j

tJ 6J 6J tsa'
tksa 6 tska S \
Kj<J\
rO 6
tta ^ tta 33 tti 3 tte <*§ P tto 3jz) tstha ^ \
_D -° -o -o x _D
rJCp
ttra ^
tsna 33j
tsna
ttha ^ ttha 33
0) Cf) tsyalu tsya^H tsysJJ^
tna ^ tn! ^ P tne ^ P
cl cl cl tsva^J
tnya S. n tnya 33_^ tnyo -^33 „
cl$
tpa ^ tpi ^ tpu tpu Sjo) , thya 0,,

oJ CO cO cO VJ
tpra ^ . tpra 33 ,
0.3 y oJ_y |
tpha ^ tphu tphu Ôc) dga C)
qj dgl £)^ dgu C)0
qJ qj 8 a A
tma tma 33, tmi § , dgra £3 .
e* * AJ
tmya <3. „ dda GJ ddr C3 \ ddai £) )
Q c>3 oq)
KANNADA 189
ddra d ,
qJ
ddva d c ddvi d r
OoJ OoJ
ddha d ddha Gdc) ddhi d ddhr d

4> Q 4
ddhya d „ ddhya C5c) *
dhva d^^J
dba d dbl d P
20
dbra oJ
aora d .
2od
dbha d dbha CJc) dbhi d dbhu d/c)
20 2 5M o
dbhya dO20 $ dbhyo C5vVc)
dbhra d
20^
,
dma d,
&
^ya d^ dya Qc)^ dye d^ ^
dra dru d/<Dy drau dP^y
drya d ,«
dva dva COcO^ dvi dve
dvya d^j^ dvya

190
KANNADA
pna oO Pnu SjJ^ pne oJ , 2 pno dJvJa) ,

cl Oy cl
ppa oO ppu dod ppu doJz)
cO OJ oJ
_D
pya oO« pya dJc) 0 pyai dJ^^
^ _D
pra dJy pra <SJq)j pn oO^y
0
pro doJo^j
pla dJ plu djO

on no
. 9
psa dJ^j psi oJ^j psu djjj
psyadJj^
bia 2*3 bja 2Jc)

£ as
bda 2*3 bda 2Jc3 bde 2*3 P
O O O
bdha 2*3 bdhi 2D bdhai 2*3 *
Q Q qq)
bdhva 2*3 ( bdhva 2Jc) (
Q oJ QoJ
bra 2*3y bra 2Jc)j bru 2OuQ^y
bhya 2*3^ bhya bhyu 2*1)^ bhyo
bhra bhra 2{Jc)j bhru Z$Jq)j

KANNADA
(r -ligatures are frequently built with f~ )

KANNADA
rpa dJF lga O IgU 03

n r\
rbra 20 Fy lpa O
oJ
rbha 2j3f rbhu 2{i/c)F lbhya O^ ^ lbhye ^3^ ^ ^
rma O. <xX)F rma 0(3, lma O.

e. O e.
rya CL rya OO^ ryo dOc)^ lya O^ lya OO^ lyu 03^ lye
rla OF rlo OSoOF 11a O

no
rva (J f F rvT oO F ^ Fa O^
oJ
o3 n F lha O
OO
rsa c^F
vya o3 n vya oJO » vyu vye o3^ ^

<Q
rsa cQ\F rse dj\(^F vra <x)j vra oJo)y vrl oO vre o3
rsna cx>\
83
rha <30F sea <2!) sea 00 sci see 3 ? s

eo
scya c?3 n scyu ^1)
Ika O lkl 0 P sna sna 00 snl A ^ snu

6 6 v a,
lkya O n sma <$.
6 &
KANNADA
198 CONSONANT CLUSTERS & CONJUNCTS KANNADA
strya rv) ssva rv) ssve rv)

ku
stva rv)
d stvl ^ J
stha rv) sthi rv) sthu rUTc) sthe rv) P hna SO hna 00 S hni So hne
Q <?> 0> £8 £3 £3
sthai rv) ^ sthau rO^ hna SO hni So . hne So , P
(po cp cl d d
—» __£>
sthya r\J_^ sthye rv) hrna SO, hma SOc). hmo S3v/d,
e. e.
• 9,
sna rv) sna rv)c) sni rv) hya SO, hya SOc)„ hyo SOJc) n
c( cl cl $
spa rv) spr rv) \ hra SDy hri So^
OJ OJ S
spha rv) sphi rv) sphu rvD sphu rdJz) hla SO hla Sod
qJ qJ G Qj on no
spho r\JOc) hva SO^( hva SOc)^ hvi So ^
sma rv), smi rv), smr rv), v smai r\J

e- e- e*.
smya rv), „
_D
sya rv)o sya rv)d)n sye rv) 0 P
£
_D
syo rv)dc) o
_D
sra r\J sra rv)c)^y sro rvXTc)^
• 9
sva rv)^ sva rv)c)^ svi rv)^ sve r\J
ssa rv)^j ssu rvO^j sso r\JOc) ■

rv
Appendix: Distinctive Features of Nandinagari
Vowels Initial Diacritic k -Ligatures
a ^1 & & y\
a ^n&5TI&3^1 □1
i ^ &? fn & *□ & □ PR & &
I 3 & a □1 ^1
u 5 & 3 □
5
u & 3> □
%
r \ (=“rr”) □
\
r \ <=“rf”) □
\
1 (tzo/ documented)
I (not documented)
e V & V □
\\
ai P □ %
o 5^&50 dl *£i
au 3l $i
NANDINAGARI 203
ka ta cL & cL & d Pa sa 71 &
kha tha (5 & 33 & 0 {cf dha) pha q\&uv sa ^ ^
ga da e> & ^ ba sa n &î
gha ^ & xc| dha <5> bha rl & f\
na* r na m ma ft
Palatal Dental Sonorants Other
ca ^ ^ ta ya 1/1 & VI & ^ ^ & °l ha
cha 33 & Cq & fb (cf ccha) tha ra 1 la C'vd
ja & 5n da la rf\ &
jhaf it dha va
na (not documented) na a
* interpolated from conjunct.r
f to be distinguished from J ru
204 APPENDIX
Conjuncts
Additional Graphs
kka ft gga -^T
o -m (anusvara)
kca f. gna
g_9 -h (anundsika)
kta $ gya VI
2 & C -h (visarga)
ktya gra
3 avagraha
ktra $ gla
□ &□, virama, e.g. -t -t /\ &
ktva * f
Di & n
r\
& □1 Vedic accents (preceding accented syllables)
ktha $ ghna
5°o om
kya 371
kra J> n- usually appears as anusvara
Numerals (cf pp. 138, 180)

kla Jo Jo nmu
9
O c? & ^ ^ ksa ksu ^

J) 8 K & X
1 2 3 4 5 ksma VI cca 5
E_ & t_ F & <* O ksmya wn ccha ck> (cf cha) Sp
6 7 8 9 0 ksya VI cchr (also for cchru)
cchva
206 APPENDIX NANDINAGARI 207
Os^
cyu dhva tv a i dhva
era g tsa
nya m m tsya ^71 nta
jjha nva H3 tsva nma <351
jna 3? < nya nyu <51^
jnya Vi tka a, tku dga £ nva <5^
jya VI Wl tta rl dda ddu
jyo ^n7fl tna ddha V V pta
jva tpa <VI dba \ pna £
tpra dbra 1 pno rfl
n- is usually appears as anusvara tpha dma pra q q
tma dya VI dyu

n
tya «l tmya <WI dra 5 bda
tv a
£ tya fTI dva 3 bra
a
tra
dya 51 trya dhya w\ bhya

208 APPENDIX NANDINAGARI 209
bhra (3 vya ^1 sna H sma ?5\
vra snu sya w\

- 5
mpa aq snva n sra a
mya m sea sma ¥1 sva 3
mra a sna sya *V\
sya TVd sva 1 hna
yya Wf VY\ sra 3 hma
srT sru ^ ska hya Z/l
rda < sva sta hla
rma af stra m hva %

rya vf ska ¥ ’ll stha 3
rsa skr \
rse sta 3
rsya stra 3
stva 3?
lkya stha 3 3
Checklist of Conjunct Components
Conjuncts listed in the sequence of their second component
kk rgh tt ttv
nk rghy nt
rikt St nty
nktv kc §ty ntr
riky cc str ntv
iikr he stv nts
nks ncy Pt
nksy rc tth ptv
tk rcy nth rt
tkr sc sth rtth
tks rty
rk cch dd rtr
lk cchr nd st
sk cchv ndy sty
skr nch ndr str
sk sch stv
ddh
kkh gj ndh kth
tkh ii tth
skh jjn nn nth
d) nny rth
njy rn rthy
gg
dg dj §n sth
dg bj hn
dg r) gd
dgr kt dd
j)h kty ddy

rg
ktr ddr
rgy
cri ktv nd
Ig
jd tt ndy
jdy tty ndr
ggh
dgh ttr ndv
212 CONJUNCT COMPONENTS
CONJUNCT COMPONENTS
bd sny mbh chy

jhr jl thv ksl
rd hn rbh jy tr tl dv ksv
hny
ty thr thl dvy rs
gdh km thy
dr dhl nv rsn
gdhr tP khm dy nr nl pv
ddh tpr gm dhy
tr P1 phv ks
ddhn ghm
PP py try phi bv ts
ddhy mp rim
ty thr bl bhv tsth
ddhr rp cm thy
dr bhl mv tsn
ddhv •P chm dy
dhr ml rv tsny
ndh
ipy jm dhy
nr rl lv tsy
ndhy dm ny
5P
ndhr Pr 11 sv tsv
spr tm
py phr si sv ns
bdh sp tmy phy
br si sv ps
bdhv spy thm by
bhr si hv psth
rdh dm bhy
mr hi psm
rdhn tph dhm my
Ir ns psy
rdhv pph nm yy vr kv rs psv
mph pm
ry sr khv rsv ss
kn sph phm ly sr gv ss
kny bm vy
hr ghv nh
khn db bhm sy
chv ks nhy
gn dbr mm ?y kl )v ksn nhv
gny nbr mmy sy khl thv ksny nh
ghn bb rm hy
g1 dv ksm mh
tn mb lm
ghl dhv ksmy rh
tny rb sm kr ril Pv ksy
dn lb sm khr
chi tv ksr
dhn sm gr
nn gbh hm gfy
pn gbhy ghr
phn dbh ky ghry
bhn dbh khy cr
mn dbhy
gy chr
sn dbhr
ghy chry
sn bbh cy V
%
214 CONJUNCT COMPONENTS I CONJUNCT COMPONENTS 2I5
Conjuncts listed in the sequence of their third component Reverse index of conjuncts
jny sty spr kk sth dn dm

jjn
sny str rik dd dhn dhm
ficy
njy spy tk nd nn nm
ksn
ndy smy ktv tk ndh pn pm
ksny
nny hny ksv Ik nn bhn lm
rsn
nhy nhv sk rn mn sm
tty ktr ttv sk sn vn sm

rikt
tny ksr tsv kkh ksn sn ksm
riktv
tmy rikr ddhv rikh hn sn sm
try cchr ntv skh kt tsn hm

tsth
ndv nkt hn ky
psth tsy ndr ftg
rtth ddy tkr ptv dg tt tp khy
ddhy ttr psv dg nt mp rikhy
tsn dbhy tpr bdhv 'g Pt rP gy

tsny dvy dgr rdhv righ St IP rtgy
ddhn nty ddr rsv dgh kth ?P ghy
rdhn ndy gdhr stv riri tth sp righy
ddhr stv cc nth tph rghy

ndhy
kty psy dbr ric sth sph cy
kny mmy dbhr riks rc gd db scy
ntr riksy sc dd bb chy

ksy rgy
ndr tks cch nd mb iy
g°y rghy
gbhy rcy ndhr rich bd gbh jriy
nbr nts j) rd dbh ty
gry rty
rtr nj gdh bbh sty
ghry rthy
ddh mbh thy
riky ipy skr b)
nddh km sthy
chry sty str })h
cri ndh gm dy
bdh ghm dhy
jn kn rim py
Conjuncts listed in the sequence of their fourth component
tt khn cm sny
nt gn jm ty
ksny riksy riktv
St ghn nm kty
ksmy tsny
nth tn tm tty
216 CONJUNCT COMPONENTS
nty ly ndhr stv The Brhaspati Cycle

pty kly gdhr dv
sty vy
According to the South Indian Calendar (1207-1986 A.D.)
nr ddv
thy dvy Pr dhv
sthy svy mpr gdhv
00
OO
dy I Prabhava 1207 1267 1327
rn
sy *447 1507 1627 1687 1867
*<1
O
spr '567 r747 l927
ddhv
ddy ?y br bdhv
2 Vibhava 1208 1268 1328 1388 1448 1508 1568 1628 1688 1748 1808 1868 1928
dhy nksy dbr nv 3 Sukla 1209 1269 1389 ■449 1509 1629 1689 1809 1869
*329 >569 ■749 r929
ddhy sy bhr bhv 4 Pramoda 1210 I27O I33° I39° 1450 1510 I57° 1630 1690 1750 1810 1870 I93°
ndhy tsy mr yv 5 Prajapati 1211 1271 r331 1391 1451 1511 I57I 1631 1691 I75I 1811 1871 l931
ny hy vr rv 6 Arigiras 1212 1272 I332 1392 1452 1512 1572 1632 1692 1752 1812 1872 1932
gny kr sr Iv
7 SrTmukha 1213 I273 >333 *393 [453 l5l3 >573 1633 i693 ■753 1813 l933
tny skr sr sv
i873
8 Bhava I214 1634 1694 1814 1874

nny skr hr sv
I274 I334 1394 M54 I5I4 1574 >754 1934
tsny gr kl ksv 9 Yuva 1215 I275 •335 1395 J455 1515 •575 i635 i695 r755 1815 r875 *935
py ngr gJ nksv
10 Dhatr 1216 1276 '336 1396 M56 1516 1576 1636 1696 1756 1816 1876 1936
phy dgr Pi sv II Isvara 1217 I277 l337 *397 •457 I5I7 1577 1637 1697 I757 1817 i877 1937
by ghr ml tsv 12 Bahudhanya 1218 1278 1338 1458 1518 1638 1698 1758 1818 1878
i398 r578 1938
mby rtghr 11 hv 13 Pramathin I219 1279 r339 r399 1459 I5I9 ‘579 1639 1699 !759 1819 i879 >939
bhy chr si ns
14 Vikrama 1220 1280 I34° I4OO 1460 1520 1580 1640 1700 1760 1820 1880 J94°
gbhy cchr hi ks
r5 Vrsa 1221 1281 1341 I4OI 1461 1521 1581 1641 1701 1761 1821 1881 1941
dbhy )r kv nks
l6 Citrabhanu 1222 1282 1402 1462 1522 1582 1642 1702 1762 1822 1882
my str rs
*342 x942
gv
tmy thr r7 Subhanu 1223 1283 x343 I4°3 1463 1523 1583 1643 '7°3 1763 1823 1883
cchv ss 1943
ksmy dhr ts 18 Tarana I224 1284 *344 !4°4 1464 1524 i584 1644 1704 *764 1824 1884 1944
iv
smy tr ip ts 19 Parthiva 1225 1285 >345 I4°5 r465 1525 1585 1645 1825 1885
*7°5 x765 1945
yy ktr tv nts 20 Vyaya 1226 1286 ■346 1406 1466 1526 1586 1646 1706 1766 1826 1886 1946
ry ttr stv ns 21 Sarvajit 1227 1287 ‘347 i4°7 1467 1527 1587 1647 1707 1767 1827 1887 x947
kry ntr dhv ps 22 Sarvadharin 1228 1288 1348 1408 1468 1528 1588 1648 1708 1768 1828 1888 1948
gry str nv ss
23 Virodhin I229 1289 r349 1409 1469 T529 t589 1649 *7°9 x769 1829 1889 1949
stry dr ktv rh
24 Vikrta 123° I29O 1350 I4IO 1470 1530 1650 1710 1770 1830 1890 195°
try ddr rtktv lh
159°
dry ndr tv 25 Khara I23I I29I '35i I4I I 1471 1531 1591 1651 I7I I 1771 1831 1891 1951
sry dhr ttv 26 Nandana I232 1292 i352 1412 >472 1532 [592 1652 1712 1772 1832 1892 1952
27 Vijaya I233 1293 *353 I4I3 1473 l533 1593 1653 I7I3 1773 1833 1893 1953
28 Jaya 1234 I294 r354 T4i4 1474 r534 1594 i654 1714 x774 i834 1894 •954
2l8 THE SOUTHERN BRHASPATI CYCLE, I207— 1986 A.D.
29 Manmatha 1235 1295 1355 1415 [475 1535 1595 1655 i7i5 *775 1835 1895 r955 Bibliography1
30 Durmukha 1236 1296 1356 1416 1476 1536 1596 1776 1836 1896 t956
31 Hemalamba I237 H«7 [477 1537 1597 1777 1837 1897 1957 General
1238 1418 1478 1538 1598 1658 1718 1778 1838 1898 1958
I239 I299 I359 I4I9 1599 1659 I7I9 1779 H 1899 l959 Buhler, Georg
I24O 1300 1360 1420 1480 1540 1600 1660 1720 1780
m i960 1896.1 Indische Palaeographie : von ca. 350 A. Chr. - ca. 1300 P. Chr. -
35 Plava 1241 1301 1361 1421

m m E29 1961
Strassburg : Triibner, 1896. (Grundriss der indo-arischen Philologie
36 Subhakrt
37 Sobhana
1242 1302 H62 1422
BS m ra
1783 1843 >9°3 19G
1962
und Altertumskunde ; 1,1)
1896.2 Siebzehn Tafeln Indische Palaeographie. - (Grundriss der indo-ari¬
schen Philologie und Altertumskunde ; 1,2)
38 Krodhin I244 I3°4 [364 t424 t484 ■544 1604 1664 1724 1784 1844 *9°4 1964
39 Visvavasu 1245 I3°5 a 3 m 1965

Kannaiyan,
i960
V.
Scripts in and around India. — Madras : Government Museum.
40 Parabhava 1246 1306 1366 1786 1846 1966
41 Plavanga m !967
42 Kllaka 1248 1308 1368 1428 1488 1548 1608 1668 1728 1788 1848 1908 1968
Dani, Ahmad Hasan
43 Saumya 1669 l729 r789 1849 19°9 1969 1963 Indian Palaeography. — Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1963.
44 Sadharana
13 1970
Daniels, Peter T. & Bright, William
45 Virodhakrt
31 1971
1996 The World’s Writing Systems. — New York : Oxford Univ. Press.
1252 IS 1972
1253
u3 1433 1493 *973
Falk, Harry
1993 Schrift im alten Indien : ein Forschungsbericht mit Anmeif ungen. —
48 Ananda 1254 >434 1494 EH 1794 !974
Tubingen : Narr (ScriptOralia ; 56).
49 Raksasa 1255 *435 1495 EH r795 !975
E EE a a 1976
Gai, Govind Swamirao
1986 Introduction to Indian Epigraphy : [with Special Reference to the
I257 m m a 1977 Development of the Scripts and Languages], - Mysore : Central
n a 31 n 1918 >978
Institute of Indian Languages. (Occasional Monographs Series,
1259
u || m p m
a
1919 T979 Central Institute of Indian Languages ; 32)
Bil | 1920 1980

Gupta, P. L. [ed.]
31 1801 1861 1921 1981
1985 Ancient Indian Numerals (Praclna bhdratiya atnka). — Delhi : All
1802 1862 1922 1982
India Educational Supply Company.
57 Rudhirodgarin 1383 1443 iEH b§ 1983
1 With one exception, only printed works are listed. For manuscripts consulted see the
58 Raktaksa 1:384 r444 I5°4 1564 1624 1684 r744 1804 1864 1924 r984
Bm
descriptions in my forthcoming edition of the Sivadharmasastra, and Gerhard Ehlers:
59 Krodhana I5°5 I5f>5 1625 1685 1745 1805 1865 > 925 1985 Indische Handschriften, Teil 12 : Die Sammlung der Niedersachsischen Staats- und Universitats-
60 Ksaya 1386 1446 1506 1566 1626 1686 1746 1806 1866 1926 1986 bibliothe\ Gottingen. Stuttgart : Franz Steiner Verlag 1995. (Verzeichnis der orientalischen
Handschriften in Deutschland ; II,12), especially the South Indian Mahabharata mss.
220 BIBLIOGRAPHY BIBLIOGRAPHY 221
Salomon, Richard Grantha Tamil

i 998 Indian Epigraphy : a Guide to the Study of Inscriptions in Sanscrit,
Prakrit, and the Other Indo-Aryan Languages. — New York ; Oxford Pakavatlftai. T. Cuntararaja Carma (ed.). - Cennai : Vetantapotinl Pres
University Press, 1998 (South Asia research). 1909.
Stevens, John Sri Pakavatlftai : Srimat Paramahamsa Iramaccantirananta Carasvati Cuvami-

1995 Sacred Calligraphy of the East. — 3rd ed, rev. and expanded, Boston : pal Ceytaruliya Tatparya Cahitam. — Madras : B. Irattina Nayakar
Shambhala, 1995. Antu Cans, Thirumagal Vilasam Press 1923.
South Indian Paleography [Barth, August (?)]

Alphabet Grantha.1
Bright, William [This is a handwritten list deposited in the library of the Kern Insti-
1998 “The Dravidian Scripts”, in: Steever, Sanford B. [ed.]: The Dravi- tuut, Leiden, which seems to circulate in several generations of
dian Languages. — London : Routledge (Routledge Language Family photocopies. I am especially endebted to the comprehensive collec¬
Descriptions). tion of conjuncts, comprising five of a total of ten pages.]
Burnell, Arthur Coke Beythan, Hermann

1878 Elements of South-Indian Paleography from the Fourth to the Seven¬ 1943 Praktische Grammatf und Ubungsbuch der Tamilsprache, 1: Gram-
teenth Century A.D. : Being an Introduction to the Study of matil{- — Leipzig : Harrassowitz (Sprachkundliche Lehr- und
South-Indian Inscriptions and Mss. — 2nd enlarged and improved Worterbiicher, 42).
edition, London : Triibner.
Krishnamoorthi Sastry, R.
Harkness, Henry 1989 Grantha Bala Pathah (Kranta Pala Pdtamdld). - Madras : Heritage
1837 Ancient and Modern Alphabets of the Popular Hindu Language of the India Education Trust.
Southern Peninsula of India. — London : Royal Asiatic Society.
MacLean, C.D.
SlVARAMAMURTI, C. 21989 Manual of the Administration of the Madras Presidency, vol. 2, Appen¬
1966 Indian Epigraphy and South Indian Scripts. - Repr. of the 1. ed. 1948, dices. New Delhi, Madras : Asian Education Services (Reprint of the
Madras : Government of Madras (Bulletin of the Madras Govern¬ 1885 edition).
ment Museum. New series ; 3,4)
Subramanian, P.R., & Ramakrishnan, S.
1992 Knyavin tarf{dlat Tamil akardti : Tamil-Tamil-Ahbilam (Dictionary of
Contemporary Tamil, Tamil-Tamil-English) . — Reprinted with cor¬
rections, Madras : Kriya (Cre-A).
2 This list is mentioned in: Willem Caland, Kleme Schriften, ed. Michael Vîtzel, Stutt¬
gart (Glasenapp-Stiftung ; 27), p. xxxiii, no. 55a as Ecriture Grantha.
222 BIBLIOGRAPHY
BIBLIOGRAPHY 223
Venugopalan, K.
Kunjan Pillai, Suranad (ed.)
1983 A Primer in Grantha Characters. - St. Peter, Minn. : James H. Nye
1965- Malayalam Lexicon : a Comprehensive Malayalam-Malayalam-English
(also available from: www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/su/southasia/grantha).
Dictionary on Historical and Philological Principles (Malaydla Mahd-
Winslow, Miron nighantu). - Trivandrum : Government Press.
1862 A Comprehensive Tamil and English Dictionary of High and Low
Mangalam, S. J.
Tamil. — Madras : P.R. Hunt.
1988 Palaeography of Malayalam Script. — Delhi : Eastern Book Linkers.
ZlEGENBALG, BaRTHOLONLEUS
Pisharoti, K.R.
1716 Grammatica Damulica : quce pervaria paradigmata, regulas & necessari-
I928-3o“Sanskrit and Prakrit in the Arya Eluttu - a Note”. Bulletin of the
um vocabulorum apparatum, viam brevissimam monstrat ... — Hals
School of Oriental Studies, 5 (1928—1930), pp. 307—310.
Saxonum : Orphanotropheum.
Ravivarmma, L. A.
2i97i Pracina Kerala Lipinal (Ancient Kerala Scripts). — Tiruvananta-
Grantha Malayalam puram : Kerala Sahitya Akkadami (Srlramavarmma Granthavall).
Retnamma, Kalathivilakom
Snmadbhagavadgita. — Trssivaperur : Vidyavinddini 1909. r994 Early Inscriptional Malayalam. — Thiruvananthapuram : DLA Publi¬
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Cakko, I. C.
1955 Pamniya pradyotam : a Commentary in Malayalam on Panini's Vya-
karana-sutras Containing Sutrapatha, Dhatupatha, Ganapatha, Indices
Telugu
of Roots and Terminations and Alphabetical Index of the Text (Panini-
yapradyotam athava Paninisutrahhaluke malaydlavyalfiydnam). — Erna-
kulam : P. C. Devassia & M. M. Varkey. Srlbhagavadgita, Venketasesa [ed.]. — Cennapura : Srlramavilasa 1901.
[Visnudharma, (edition in Telugu script; no title page, no date; c. 1900)]
Amaduzzi, Giovanni Cristoforo [Amadutius, Iohannes Christophorus]
1772 Alphabetum Grandonico-Malabaricum Sive Samscrudonicum. —

Arden, Albert Henry
Romae : Sac. Congregatio de Propaganda Fide.
1955 A Progressive Grammar of the Telugu Language. - 4. ed., repr.,
Bendall, Cecil Madras : Christian Literature Society.
1896 “On a System of Letter-numerals used in South India”, Journal of
Brown, Charles Philip
the Royal Asiatic Society, pp. 789—792.
1854 A Dictionary of the Mixed Dialects and Foreign Words Used in Telugu :
Gundert, Hermann With an Explanation of the Telugu Alphabet. - Madras : Christian
21868 A Grammar of the Malayalam Language (Malaydla Bhdsdvya\ara- Knowledge Society Press.
nam). - Mangalore : Stolz
1872 A Malayalam and English Dictionary. — Mangalore : Stolz.
224 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mahadevasastri, Korada
1969 Historical Grammar ofTelugu : with Special Reference to Old Telugu
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Sankaranarayana, Paluri
1953 A Telugu-English Dictionary. — Revised and enlarged ed., Madras :

Sastrulu.
The Sanskrit Primer (Sanskrit - Telugu) [Samskrta-Balasiksa]. - Madras :

Ramaswamy Sastrulu & Sons 1962
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Bhagavadgita
1920? Snmadbhagavadgita (no bibliographical data available).
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Hosakere [ed., comm.]. — Bengaluru : Es. Es. En Buk Dipo.
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Jensen, Hans
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Kittel, Ferdinand
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Three Dialects of the Language (Ancient, Mediceval and Modern). -
Mangalore : Basel Mission Book and Tract Depository.

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ERRATA

Harrassowitz Verlag Wiesbaden

Please correct the following errata and defective font changes:

p. 16, line 5: c 2d>&c_gi /'

pp. 17, lines 5/6; 76: O -h (jihvamulTya) <8> -h (upadhmaniya)

p. 49, lines 8/9: e G□ e G□

p. 146, line 9: righra 23 1

p. 179, line 10: ppu od3T° ^

p. 178, lines 6/7: OO -h (jihvamulTya) X -h (upadhmaniya)

p. 208, line 10: rse %

p. 229, line 17: for Venketasesa read Venkatasesa

interchange diacritics for jihvamuhya and ripadhmaniya;

pp. 17, 76: for -h read -h (jihvamuhya)

pp. 1], 76, 92, 178: for -h read -h (upadhmaniya)

South Indian Scripts

Terms and Symbols . xii

Basic Characters & Ligatures . i

Prepausal Consonants .16

Additional Graphs .17

Conjunct Forms of Sonorants .17

Consonant Clusters & Conjuncts .18

© Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 2001

Consonant Clusters & Conjuncts .95

Conjunct The graphic connection of a consonant with another

- Consonants without headmark add diacritic -<z/-z/-z7-[diphthong] to the

Exceptions: Several Telugu characters (alternatively) denote -o/-o by combining their

Nandinagari a <S> □fT

i 6tf) & 6111(5 □6[ff)

e 6U0T & 9/01 Qn&@)n

0 6cj> & 6^ Qofr

au 6<c) 61T □ 6TT&Q am

Consonants: Velar Retroflex Labial Sibilants

ka c9f> ta U— & L, pa 6LJ sa UT) & ID

gha 6UJ dha bha 61T) & 6Ff) & 2f)

Palatal Dental Sonorants (conjuncts p. ij) Other

ca PLI ta ya UJ ha 6UT) & CUT)

cha PLO &^)X> tha U_9 ra nr & p la 6Q_tk6^~

ja 89 da &£> la \for (CD) la]

jha fcFO & dha uu va 6U

na na IF) & JT) & ITS

4 BASIC CHARACTERS & LIGATURES GRANTHA TAMIL 5

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c- 7JXI j^i® ch- 7)1]^' -2TT® y-UJ^&UJ ILT®^

j- fg™ £S® jh- f?cra HU®

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k- c9tTJ & c9u^ kh- 6^g 6^0

s- J53 & m gh- <aig 6^3

-e/ -ai -e/ -ai

c- 0 _2J 00_OI ch- Q q>n 00 O) n y- 0UJ 00UJ

j- 083 0083 jh- 0I3U 00130 r- 0nr 00nr

n- 0(§> 00^5 1- 0@) 00(03)

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