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Brahmi syllabic orthography
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Image source for Brahmi: vocalized consonant
http://www.ancientscripts.com/brahmi.html See also:
http://www.payer.de/exegese/exeg03.htm#5.2.2.
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Hieroglyph-multiplex on Rakhigarhi seal.
A review of the evolution of Brahmi syllable ka seems relatable to the Indus Script hieroglyph, which signified rebus the gloss: kaṇḍa, 'arrow' as explained in the decipherment of the Rakhigarh seal.
The Brahmi script symbol is almost analogous to the hieroglyph used on Indus Script, thus the orthography of ka- syllable was possibly identified as ka- for kaṇḍa, 'arrow'
S. Kalyanaraman
Sarasvati Researh Center
November 19, 2015
Brahmi syllabic orthography
Image source for Brahmi: vocalized consonant
http://www.ancientscripts.com/brahmi.html See also:
http://www.payer.de/exegese/exeg03.htm#5.2.2.
On the Rakhigarhi seal, a fine distinction is made between two orthographic options for signifying an arrow with fine pronunciation variants, to distinguish between an arrowhead and an arrow: kaNDa, kANDa. The word kANDa is used by Panini in an expression ayaskANDa to denote a quantity of iron, excellent iron (Pāṇ.gaṇ) i.e., metal (iron/copper alloy). This expression ayas+ kāṇḍa अयस्--काण्ड is signified by hieroglyphs: aya 'fish' PLUS kāṇḍa, 'arrow' as shown on Kalibangan Seal 032. An allograph for this hieroglyph 'arrowhead' is gaNDa 'four' (short strokes) as seen on Mohenjo-daro seal M1118.
Rebus: ayaskāṇḍa ‘a quantity of iron, excellent iron’ (Pāṇ.gaṇ) aya = iron (G.); ayah, ayas = metal (Skt.)
Thus, the arrowhead is signified by the hieroglyph which distinguishes the arrowhead as a triangle attached to a reedpost or handle of tool/weapon.
As distinct from this orthographic representation of 'arrowhead' with a triangle PLUS attached linear stroke, an arrow is signified by an angle ^ (Caret; Circumflex accent; Up arrow) with a linear stroke ligatured, as in the Rakhigarhi seal. To reinforce the distinction between 'arrow' and 'arrowhead' in Indus Script orthography, a notch is added atop the tip of the circumflex accent. Both the hieroglyph-components are attested in Indian sprachbund with a variant pronunciation: khANDA. खााडा [ kāṇḍā ] m A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon) (Marathi)
It is thus clear that the morpheme kANDa denotes an arrowhead, while the ^ circumflex accent hieroglyph is intended to signify rebus: kāṇḍā 'edge of tool or weapon' or a sharp edged implement, like a sword. In Indian sprachbund, the word which denotes a sword is khaṁḍa -- m. ʻswordʼ(Prakritam).
In the hieroglyph-multiplex of Rakhigarhi seal inscription, the left and right parentheses are used as circumscript to provide phonetic determination of the gloss: khaṁḍa -- m. ʻswordʼ (Prakritam), while the ligaturing element of 'notch' is intended to signify खााडा [ kāṇḍā ] 'A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon)' Rebus: kaNDa 'implements' (Santali).
Hieroglyph-multiplex on Rakhigarhi seal.Thus, the hieroglyph-multiplex is read rebus as kaNDa 'implements' PLUS khaṁḍa ʻswordʼ. The supercargo is thus catalogued on the seal as: 1. arrowheads; 2. metal implements and ingots; 3. swords.
The hieroglyph 'rhinoceros is: kANDA rebus: kaNDa 'implements/weapons'.
The entire inscription or metalwork catalogue message on Rakhigarhi seal can be deciphered:
kaNDa 'implements/weapons' (Rhinoceros) PLUS खााडा [ kāṇḍā ] 'weapons' PLUS mūhā 'cast ingots'(Left and Right parentheses as split rhombus or ellipse).
Thus, the supercargo consignment documented by this metalwork catalogue on Rakhigarhi seal is: metal (alloy) swords, metal (alloy) implements, metal cast ingots.
http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/11/rakhigarhi-seal-evidence-for.htmlA review of the evolution of Brahmi syllable ka seems relatable to the Indus Script hieroglyph, which signified rebus the gloss: kaṇḍa, 'arrow' as explained in the decipherment of the Rakhigarh seal.
The Brahmi script symbol is almost analogous to the hieroglyph used on Indus Script, thus the orthography of ka- syllable was possibly identified as ka- for kaṇḍa, 'arrow'
S. Kalyanaraman
Sarasvati Researh Center
November 19, 2015