The Bhujimol script (or ''Bhujinmol'', Devanagari: or ) is the most ancient form of

Nepal script Nepalese scripts ( Nepal Lipi: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑐮 𑐁𑐏𑐮, Devanagari: नेपाल आखल) are alphabetic writing systems employed historically in Nepal Mandala by the indigenous Newars for primarily writing Nepal Bhasa. It is also ...

. It is also one of the most common varieties of the Nepal alphabet. 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.

Characteristics

File:Devimahatmya Sanskrit MS Nepal 11c.jpg,

Bhujimol script, palm-leaf MS of the

Devimahatmya The ''Devi Mahatmya'' or ''Devi Mahatmyam'' ( sa, देवीमाहात्म्यम्, devīmāhātmyam, Glory of the Goddess) is a Hindu philosophical text describing the Goddess as the supreme power and creator of the universe. It is ...

, Bihar or Nepal, 11th century.

File:Bhujimol and Devanagari.jpg,

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 The swastika (卐 or 卍) is an ancient religious and cultural symbol, predominantly in various Eurasian, as well as some African and American cultures, now also widely recognized for its appropriation by the Nazi Party and by neo-Nazis. It ...

marks at the two ends of the upper face with a

Chakra Chakras (, ; sa , text=चक्र , translit=cakra , translit-std=IAST , lit=wheel, circle; pi, cakka) are various focal points used in a variety of ancient meditation practices, collectively denominated as Tantra, or the esoteric or ...

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. 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

Alphabets Nepalese culture Newar Writing systems of Newar language {{Writingsystem-stub