Bhujimol script

Bhujimol
Script type	Abugida
Direction	Left-to-right
Languages	Newar, Sanskrit
Related scripts
Parent systems	Proto-Sinaitic script[a] Phoenician alphabet[a] Aramaic script (?)[a] Brāhmī Gupta Siddham[1] Nepalese Bhujimol
Sister systems	Ranjana Pracalit
[a] The Semitic origin of the Brahmic scripts is not universally agreed upon.
This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.

The Bhujimol script (or Bhujinmol, Devanagari: भुजिमोल or भुजिंमोल) is the most ancient form of Nepal script. It is also one of the most common varieties of the Nepal alphabet.^[2]

The Bhujimol script has been used to write Nepal Bhasa and Sanskrit.

Etymology

The term Bhujinmol means "fly-headed", from the Nepal Bhasa words "bhujin", meaning "housefly", and "mol", meaning "head". The "head" is the horizontal line that is put above each letter, and Bhujimol refers to its rounded shape.^{[citation needed]}

Characteristics

• 
  Bhujimol script, palm-leaf MS of the Devimahatmya, Bihar or Nepal, 11th century.
• 
  Chart of Bhujimol script vowel letters, with Devanagari and Latin correspondences.

Recent findings

In 2003, a brick was discovered in Chabahil, in the course of reconstruction of the Chabahil Stupa or Dhando Chaitya, bearing inscriptions in both Brahmi and Bhujimol: The upper face is inscribed with Cha Ru Wa Ti in Brahmi, and with Cha Ru Wa Ti Dhande / He Tu Pra Bha in Bhujimol script. There are Swastika marks at the two ends of the upper face with a Chakra mark in between. The brick measures 35.5cm x 23cm x 7cm and weighs 8.6kg. The brick may date to as early as the 3rd century BC.^[3][4]

The previously earliest known inscription in the Kathmandu Valley dates from the 6th century and is installed at Changu Narayan. The inscription is interpreted to refer to Charumati, a daughter of emperor Ashoka.

References

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