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Brahmi
Many examples of Brahmi are found during the period of 3rd or 4th century B.C., but Brahmi lipi had a long history in India even before king Piyadasi Ashoka caused his edicts to be incised in the various provinces of his large empire. Brahmi letters were found inscribed from right to left (Boustrophedon style)in a seal from Mohenjodaro and the Indus Civilization which was older than 2400 B.C.
In one of the inscriptions - Ashoka has justified, the engravings on stone, last longer in comparison with the writing on other perishable mediums such as cloth, leather, wood etc. The Brahmi letters are given in comparison with the devnagri forms in the bottom figure.
2500 B.C.
Indus Valley Civilization
B lack is s in B r form
tte The le
King Asoka 304 - 232 B.C.
i, and rahm e the on k in pin n pariso or com own f r i ( Sh anaga is Dev ).
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2200 B.C.
Chronology B.C. 1600 B.C.
1300 B.C.
1000 B.C.
700 B.C.
Vedic Period
400 B.C.
100 B.C.
A.D. 100 A.D.
400 A.D.
Proto-Brahmi Script ( c 1700-600 B.C. )
Pre-Mauryan Brahmi Mauryan Brahmi Script Script (c 600-350 B.C. ) ( c 350-150 B.C. )
Girnar Inscription, Gujrat, 3rd century B.C.
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1000 A.D.
1300 A.D.
Gupta Period
Ashokan Period Main Brahmi Edicts started during this period.
4 Stages of Brahmi
700 A.D.
Post Mauryan Brahmi Script ( c 150 B.C.-600 A.D.)
Nagari Script & other Brahmi descendents were developing
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Construction of
(Om)
(Om/Aum) is a mystical or sacred syllable in the Indian religions, i.e. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It is from a Dravidian origin, having the meaning of "yes", "It is" or "Will be".
According to Walawalkar, the letter (Om) is a phonograph written in linear Brahmi ( a, u , m ). The graphic representation of three sounds is a phonetic notation showing three distinct graphemic units.
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This symbol is engraved on some of the ancient coins published by James Princep(the first epigraphist 1799 – 1840) and others. The symbol on the left according to Walawalkar, resembles the devnagri (Om) turned on its left side. Whereas Princep suggested that it may be Buddhist Chaitya, flame of Mount Meru or Mount Abu.
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