Anga Lipi | Ang Lipi | Ang Script | अंग लिपि | by Kundan Amitabh

Anga & Anga Script

Anga referred to a region in what is now Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal states of India, and Lipi meant script. [1] 

 

Anga Script is mentioned in an ancient Sanskrit language Buddhist book "Lalitvistar" (ललितविस्तर), which says Anga Lipi was one of the most important scripts among 64 other scripts of that time. The script was specific to the Anga region, or Anga Mahajanapada, and was among those known to Buddha.[2] 

 

The script was mentioned as the fourth most important script of Ancient India, and was used to write Anga Desh-Apbhramsa or Aangi, now Angika, around 640 BC.[3] 

 

Some of the sixty four scripts mentioned in "Lalitvistar" were mythical, but some, including Dravid, Anga and Banga, were real.[4]

Characteristics of Anga Lipi & its Comparison

Anga Lipi and Banga Lipi might have been derived from Brahmic, with some regional characteristics.[5] 

 

This supports the belief that the development of local characteristics in alphabets, was continuing from earlier times.It reflects the early development of local variants of Indian alphabets.[6]

 

Evidences of Anga Lipi

A crack near the Vishwanath temple on Mandar Hill, named Saubhagya Kund, has a type of script engraved on it. This script is different from Brahmi, Bangla, Devanagari, Pali, Mithila, Kaithi, Tirhutia, Oriya, Tibetan, Kannada, Telugu and other known scripts. It has been described as Anga Lipi or Ang Lipi or  Anga Script or अंग लिपि.[7]

Evidence of Anga Lipi (अंग लिपि) at Mandar Hill, Bounsi, Banka, Bihar, India [8]

References for the article Anga Lipi (अंग लिपि) :

1. Olivelle, Patrick (2006). Between the empires: society in India 300 BCE to 400 CE. Oxford University: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-530532-9.

2. Wilson, John (2005). Indian Caste. Adamant Media Corporation. ISBN 1-4021-7996-0.

3. "Angika.com".

4.Coke Burnell (1878), Arthur. Elements of South-Indian Palabography. Bibliobazaar,LLC.

5.Sircar, D.C. (1986). Journal of ancient Indian history. University of Calcutta,Dept. of Ancient Indian History and Culture.

 

6.K.L.M., Firma (2002). The people and culture of Bengal, a study in origins.

 

 7. Jha, Meera (2017). Angika - Khortha (Pandit Anup Kumar Bajpayee Sein Sakshhatkar Samvad). Sameeksha Prakashan. ISBN : 978-93-86181-93-0 [Page No.-101]

 

 8. Jha, Meera (2017). Angika - Khortha (Pandit Anup Kumar Bajpayee Sein Sakshhatkar Samvad). Sameeksha Prakashan. ISBN : 978-93-86181-93-0 [Page No.-103]

 

Article Publication:

First Published : 29/11/2004

Latest Edit :  7/9/2020