The Kadamba script is the first writing system devised specifically for writing Kannada and Telugu. It is a descendant of the Brahmi script. The Kadamba script is also known as Pre-Old-Kannada script.

Kadamba
Script type	Abugida
Time period	5–7th century CE[1]
Direction	left-to-right
Languages	Kannada, Telugu, Sanskrit, Konkani
Related scripts
Parent systems	Brahmi script Bhattiprolu script[2][3] Kadamba
Child systems	Kannada-Telugu alphabet, Goykanadi,[4] Pyu script[5]
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 Kadamba script is one of the oldest of the southern group of Brahmic scripts that evolved from the Brahmi script. By the 5th century CE it became distinct from other Brahmi variants and was used in southern Indian states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It evolved into the Old Kannada script by the 10th century CE and was used to write Kannada and Telugu.[6] It is also related to the Sinhala script.[7]

History

Kadamba coinage

Coin of Kadamba king Sri Manarashi, name written in Kadamba script

Sri manarashi written in Kadamba script on Kadamba coin

Coin of the Kadambas written in Kadamba script as sri dosharashi and other side Shri shashankaha

Sri dosharashi written in Kadamba script on Kadamba coin

During the rule of Kadamba dynasty (325-550), major change in the Brahmi script resulted in the Kadamba Kannada script, letters were shorter and round in shape. During (325 to 1000 AD) the rule of the Western Ganga dynasty in the southern parts of Karnataka the Kannada script used differently (also known as Ganga script) in rock edicts and copper plate inscriptions. During 6th to 10th century, the Kannada-Telugu alphabet stabilized during the rule of the Chalukyas of Badami from 500-1000[8] and Rastrakutas.^{[citation needed]}

Inscriptions in Kadamba script

• Gudnapur Inscription on 20-foot-long stone pillar written in Kadamba script[9]
• Copper plate inscriptions in Kadamba (Pre - Chalukya) script, Kadamba-Pallava script, Kannada-Telugu script are available at Chennai museum[10]
• Halmidi inscription
• Talagunda pillar inscription[11]

See also

• Ancient Philippine scripts
• Kalinga script
• Kannada script
• Palaeography-Kannada
• Telugu script

References

External links

• Evolution of Kannada script
• ||The story of Indian scripts - Evolution
• Chalukya Kannada script 690 AD
• Chalukya Kannada script 578 AD
• Vengi Kannada script 4th century AD
• Pyu script Pallava a Pyu equivalent script
• Ancient scripts timeline - Kadamba scripts
• Indus writing is multilingual: a part-syllabic system at work
• Indian Scripts -Brahmi to Devanagari
• South Asian Writing Systems
• Development of Brahmi script, second column is Kadamba script
• Coins of Kadambas os Banavasi
• Comparison of Brahmi and Kadamba-Pallava script (Salankayana script)
• Evolution of Telugu Character Graphs
• Important Discoveries in the recent past Andhra Pradesh