Kaula Jnana Nirnaya (Calcutta Sanskrit Series)

other found on rare occasions in the Kaula (e.g., in folio 34 b, line 4 of the facsimile), though triangular in form, has the top slightly opened. If the top had been joined, it would have been similar to the e found in the Cambridge manuscript of the 9th century A.D., but its open top indicates a later age.

kh The right side of the kh in the two Cambridge manuscripts is closed, whereas in our manuscript it is open and thus has a form which is found in manuscripts of the close of the 12th century A.D. Cf. manuscript 1686 of Bendall’s list, dated 1165 A.D.

gh The appearance of this letter is old and similar to that of the two Cambridge manuscripts.

j It has lost the form of the Roman E, which is still discernible in the two Cambridge manuscripts. In our manuscript, the middle stroke of the letter projects downwards, giving it an appearance which is not found before the 11th century A.D. Cf. manuscripts of 1008 and 1065 A.D. respectively.

th It is not semicircular as in the Cambridge manuscripts but has a distinct bend in the middle—a characteristic not met with before 1015 A.D.

bh It is similar to the bh found in the Cambridge manuscript of 859 A.D., but the top is slightly different.

n, l, ś, and ṣ all occur under their later forms, which are found in the manuscripts of 1065 and 1139 A.D.

Of the medial vowels, it will be seen that in our manuscript ā is represented by the full vertical stroke and not by half-strokes which are found in the two Cambridge manuscripts; and e occurs under the form of a wavy line terminating in a dot hanging slightly below the line, as is generally found in the manuscripts of the 11th and 12th centuries A.D.

Of the numerals, it will be seen that in our manuscript, 3 has an extremely slanting shape. 4 is represented by a letter of which the top is closed and not open, as is characteristic with that letter.