Bhujimol script

Bhujimol
A folio from a Book of Charms written in Classical Newar and the Bhujimol script from the 16th century.
Script type	Abugida
Direction	Left-to-right
Languages	Newar, Sanskrit
Related scripts
Parent systems	Proto-Sinaitic script Phoenician alphabet Aramaic script Brāhmī Gupta Siddham Gaudi Nepalese Bhujimol
Sister systems	Ranjana Pracalit

The Bhujimol script (or Bhujinmol, Devanagari: भुजिमोल or भुजिंमोल) is the most ancient form of Nepal script. It is also one of the most common varieties of the Nepal alphabet. The Bhujimol script has been used to write Newar language and Sanskrit.

Etymology

The word Bhujimol comes from Newar language, where Bhuji or Bhojini means housefly and Mol means head. The "head" of this script, instead of being a horizontal line above each letter, resembles the forewing of a housefly, hence it is called Bhujimol, meaning "housefly-headed script."

History

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 35.5 cm x 23 cm x 7 cm and weighs 8.6 kg. The brick may date to as early as the 3rd century BC. The inscription is interpreted to refer to Charumati, a daughter of emperor Ashoka.

Gallery

• 
  Bhujimol script, palm-leaf MS of the Devimahatmya, Nepal, 11th century.
• 
  Chart of Bhujimol script vowel letters, with Devanagari and Latin correspondences.