Calligraphy: Writing in Manuscripts

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1 Calligraphy: Writing in Manuscripts J. Lalitha Librarian The Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute The ancient Manuscripts have a link between the past and the present. Naturally, the question rises when the first manuscript have been written. This leads to the problem of antiquity and origin of writing. The study of writing is itself a very vast field. Writing in various style or decorative lettering comes to be called Calligraphy and the study of writing in ancient times is Palaeography. The word Calligraphy itself is derived from the Greek words meaning beauty and writing. The word Calligraphy looks like a much better place when you stand in environments with beautiful interiors, well-articulated themes and especially, serene calligraphy. A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is the art of giving from to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skilful manner. The story of writing is one of aesthetic evolution framed within the technical skill, transmission speed (s) and materials limitations of a person, time and place. The origin of calligraphy finds its roots over a thousand years ago way back to the 600 B.C. period. These old calligraphy styles were practised in Italy, Rome and East Asian countries. Indian Calligraphy In many parts of ancient India, inscriptions were carried out in palm-leaves. This tradition dates back to over two thousand years. Even after the Indian languages were put on paper in the 13 th century palm leaves were considered a preferred medium of writing owing to its longevity. Apart from temples, astrologers and pandit s houses, the ancient art of writing on palm leaf still survives. Religious texts continue to be read out from the palm leaf manuscripts rather than from printed books. Horoscopes, too, are traditionally written on palm leaves by professional horoscope makers. Palm leaf considered so sacred that even after printing presses began. 1

2 Writing Materials Palm leaves as writing material are referred to by Husan-Chuang (7 th cent. A.D.), but their use seems to go back to a much earlier period. The pal-leaf Mss of India are made from the leaves of Corypha umbraculifera or Borassus flabellifera; the former is indigenous in India but the latter was probably introduced from Africa, The numerous pal-leaf Mss. from the Horiuzi Manuscript downwards prove that since ancient times they were written on with ink all over Northern, Eastern. Paper Manuscripts are generally not older than the thirteenth century A.D. It is very doubtful if any of the ancient Manuscript from Kashgar which are written on a peculiar paper covered with a layer of gypsum, are of Indian origin. Writing in Manuscripts The general name of an instrument of writing; is lekhani which includes the stilus, pencils, brushes, reed and wooden pens. All the manuscripts, whether palm leaf or paper and written in any part of the land, adopt a definite and almost a uniform system of writing. It is possible to formulate the principles of writing in manuscripts. In earlier days, paper and birch-bark were written with a pen while palm- leaves were mostly incised. There are also a few instances of palm leaf being written with pen and ink. The writing is always horizontal lengthwise and in perfect straight lines whatever may be the script and howsoever long the leaf may be. Central and Western India; in the Dravidian districts and in Orissa, the letters were, and still are, incised with a stilys and afterwards blackened with soot or charcoal. During early times, writing i.e. incising letters on palm leaf with an iron stylus was a part of general education and nobody was a stranger to its practice, though everybody might not develop into an expert or a professionalist. For writing on a palm leaf that leaf along with a few more, intended to form a firm base, is held in the left hand, level to the chest, support at the back by the three middle fingers and held in position by the thumb and the little finger on the front. The writing is done exactly at the spot where the left is firmly held. And as each letter is 2

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7 Writing on palm leaf with an iron style to produce a readable writing was an art, an arduous task, requiring a delicate hand and long practice. Say an adage: Bhugnaprsthakatigriva tuladrstiradhomukha / Dukhkhena likhitam grantham putravat paripalayet // Bending the back, waist and neck, with the face stooping and the eyes fixed (on the writing leaf), the manuscripts has been written and extreme strain. Preserve it with care like a sons. Sambhusyam sad-apatyavat Parakara samraksyam ca suksetravat Samsodhyam vranitangavat pratidina Viksyam ca sanmitravat Babhyam badhyavad aslatham drdhagunaih Smaryam harer namavat Naivam sidati pustakam khal Kadapy etad gurunam vacah The Manuscript should be dressed as one s good offspring (is dressed), be guarded from (miss) handling of others like a fertile land, be thoroughly cleaned everyday like a wounded limb, be visited (i.e. handled) (everyday) like a dear friend, be bound fast with a strong thread like a prisoner, be remembered always like the name of the Lord; such a book get never deteriorated. So say the Masters. 7