Punctuation As we see in printed books, punctuation marks are also seen in manuscript. In Sanskrit manuscript, we can find Daṇḍa(।) or stroke. Both the single and double are used in Sanskrit verses. In prose also single Daṇḍa is use at the end of sentence and double is used at the end of a…
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Usually manuscripts will have an end note which is termed as colophon. In some instances, manuscripts without colophon were also seen. A colophon may be as simple as to mention only title of the work or may provide information about the poet/author, his titles, patronage etc. Usually colophons are seen in the end of sections/cantos…
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The leaves of a manuscript might be stitched or unstiched. Usually palm leaves and Bhūrja patras will be bound by a cord that passes through a hole made for the purpose. Even handmade paper are also not stitched. Daśavaikālika sūtra mentions the following types of Manuscripts. Gaṇḍī Kacchapī Sampuṭa phalaka Muṣṭī Gaṇḍi is a manuscript…
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The scribe is a professional copyist who copies a manuscript or document for others. He is sometimes confused with the author. Lipikara, Lipikāra, Lekhaka are the Sanskrit terms for scribe. Official scribes were also there in the past. They were called as Karaṇika, Kāyastha, Rājalekhaka and Rājalipikara. The keeper of records were called as…
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Ink is necessary for writing on materials like paper and Bhūrja patra. The same is required to view the incised letters on a palm leaf. The lexicons give the names viz Mela, Maṣījala, Patrāñjana. Of these Patrāñjana is a paste used to blacken the letters on a palm leaf. The ink pots are referred as…
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There some other materials that are used for Manuscripts. Compasses or bow pen are used to draw lines and circles. Rāyapaseṇiya sutta lists some of the names of instruments that are used for manuscripts. Burnishing stones and conch are used for polishing. The pen box is also used for stylus and pens. Sometimes ink…
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According to the nature of the instruments, the writing instruments are divided into three types. Instruments with hard and sharp tip to incise Instruments with soft tips to write and Brush to paint 1.The stylus is called as “Loha Kaṇṭaka” or “śalākā” in Sanskrit. It is a rod made up of iron with 10-30…
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Cloth was also used for writing. Since it is not durable books were not copied into it. A layer of rice or wheat pulp is spread on the surface to write on it. This type of cloth is called as Paṭa, Paṭikā and Kārpāsika paṭa. Yājñavalkya smṛti too speaks of writing on Paṭa. …
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We have seen the material leather for writing manuscripts. Now other materials like bricks, ivory and Shells are discussed. BRICKS Most of the Bricks containing writing on it have been discovered from Uttara Pradesh and they are kept at Mathurā museum. Brick tablets from Gopālapura, Gorakhpur district have Buddhist sūtras and dated as…
Continue readingSince leather was considered as impure in olden India except tiger and deer’s skin, the usage was very rare whereas it is seen as one of the important material for manuscripts in other countries like Egypt. Leather was used as black-board for drawing plans and to make a draft. Subandhu, 5th CE poet…
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