Bhujimol script
{{Short description|Abugida}}
{{refimprove|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox writing system
|name = Bhujimol
|type = Abugida
|fam1=Proto-Sinaitic script
|footnotes=
|fam2=Phoenician alphabet
|fam3=Aramaic script
|fam4=Brāhmī
|fam5=Gupta
|fam6=Siddham{{cite book |last1=Masica |first1=Colin |title=The Indo-Aryan languages |date=1993 |page=143}}
|fam7=Nepalese
}}
{{brahmic}}
The Bhujimol script (or Bhujinmol, Devanagari: {{script|Deva|भुजिमोल}} or {{script|Deva|भुजिंमोल}}) is the most ancient form of Nepal script. It is also one of the most common varieties of the Nepal alphabet.Lienhard, Siegfried (1992). Songs of Nepal: An Anthology of Nevar Folksongs and Hymns. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas. {{ISBN|81-208-0963-7}}. Page 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.{{cn|date=May 2017}}
Characteristics
File:Devimahatmya Sanskrit MS Nepal 11c.jpg|
File:Bhujimol and Devanagari.jpg|
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.{{Cite web |title=Renovation work may prove Indian emperor built Nepal monastery {{!}} ThingsAsian |url=http://thingsasian.com/story/renovation-work-may-prove-indian-emperor-built-nepal-monastery |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=thingsasian.com}}{{Cite web |title=Charumati: The Princess and the Stupa |url=http://ecs.com.np/features/charumati-the-princess-and-the-stupa |access-date=2022-09-03 |website=ECS NEPAL |language=en}}
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
{{Reflist}}
{{Newar}}
{{list of writing systems}}
Category:Abugida writing systems
Category:Writing systems of Newar language
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