Bhujimol script

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]

Bhujimol
Script type
Directionleft-to-right Edit this on Wikidata
LanguagesNewar, Sanskrit
Related scripts
Parent systems
Sister systems
Ranjana
Pracalit
[a] The Semitic origin of the Brahmic scripts is not universally agreed upon.
Brahmic scripts
The Brahmi script and its descendants
Northern Brahmic
Southern Brahmic

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

Etymology
Bhujimol compared to other historical scripts of Nepal.

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.

Characteristics
  • Bhujimol script, palm-leaf MS of the Devimahatmya, Bihar or Nepal, 11th century.
    Bhujimol script, palm-leaf MS of the Devimahatmya, Bihar or Nepal, 11th century.
  • Chart of Bhujimol script vowel letters, with Devanagari and Latin correspondences.
    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
  1. Masica, Colin (1993). The Indo-Aryan languages. p. 143.
  2. Lienhard, Siegfried (1992). Songs of Nepal: An Anthology of Nevar Folksongs and Hymns. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas. ISBN 81-208-0963-7. Page 2.
  3. "Renovation work may prove Indian emperor built Nepal monastery | ThingsAsian". thingsasian.com. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
  4. "Charumati: The Princess and the Stupa". ECS NEPAL. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
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