Ranjana script

Infobox Writing system
name=Ranjana
type=Abugida
languages=Nepal Bhasa
Sanskrit
Tibetan
time=c. 1100–present
region=Nepal and India
fam1=Proto-Canaanite alphabet ^[a]
fam2=Phoenician alphabet ^[a]
fam3=Aramaic alphabet ^[a]
footnotes= [a] The Semitic origin of the Brahmic scripts is not universally agreed upon.
fam4=Brāhmī
fam5=Gupta
fam6=Nepal
fam7=Mol
sisters=Prachalit
Litumol
children=Soyombo
sample=ज्वजलपा.svg
image_size=200px

The Ranjana script (syn: "Kutila", "Lantsa" [ [http://www.omniglot.com/writing/ranjana.htm Omniglot] ] ) is an abugida writing system developed as a derivate of Brāhmī in 11th century [ [http://www.jwajalapa.com/lipi/index.php Jwajalapa] ] . It is primarily used for writing Nepal Bhasa but is also used in monasteries of India, Tibet, coastline China, Mongolia, and Japan [ [http://www.jwajalapa.com/lipi/index.php Jwajalapa] ] . It is usually written from left to right but the Kutakshar form is written from top to bottom [ [http://www.jwajalapa.com/lipi/index.php Jwajalapa] ] . It is considered to be the calligraphy form of Nepal scripts.

Development

It is a Brahmic script [ [http://www.omniglot.com/writing/ranjana.htm Omniglot] ] and shows similarities to the Devanagari script of northern India and Nepal. The script is also used in most of the Mahayana and Vajrayana monasteries [ [http://www.jwajalapa.com/lipi/index.php Nepal Lipi : The Nepalese Scripts ] ] . Along with the Prachalit script, it is considered as one of the scripts of Nepal [ [http://www.asianart.com/articles/inscriptions/index.html Asian art] ] .

The holy book Arya Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita Sutra, lettered in gold ink, written by Bhiksu Ananda of Kapitanagar [ [http://nagarjunainstitute.com/bs_hiranya.htm Nagarjuna Institute : Buddhist Sites of Nepal - Hiraynavarna Mahavihara ] ] and dating back to the Nepal Sambat year 345 (1215 A.D.), illustrates the glorious history of the script.

It is the formal script of Nepal duly registered in the United Nation while applying for the free Nation. Therefore, it is vital script to all Nepalese as well.

Use

The script is used primarily to write Nepal Bhasa, though sometimes also used to write Sanskrit. In Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist traditions, it is famously used to write various mantras including the "Om mane padme hum" [ [http://www.teachingsofthebuddha.com/om_mani_padme_hum.htm Teachings og Buddha] ] [ [http://www.dharma-haven.org/tibetan/meaning-of-om-mani-padme-hung.htm Dharma Haven] ] mantra of Aryawalokirteshwar, the Mantra of Arya Tara "Om tare tuttare ture svaha", and the mantra of Manjushree "Om ara pa cana dhi" [ [http://www.geocities.com/ranjanafont/introduction.htm Ranjana font] ] . The script is also used in Hindu scriptures [ [http://www.asianart.com/exhibitions/svision/i49.html Asian art] ] .

In Tibet, the script is called Lantsa and used to write the original texts of Sanskrit [ [http://www.omniglot.com/writing/ranjana.htm Ranjana script and Nepal Bhasa (Newari) language ] ] .

Recent Developments

After falling into disuse in the mid-20th century, the script has recently seen dramatically increased use. It is used by many local governments such as those of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City, Bhaktapur Municipality, Thimi Municipality, Kirtipur Municipality, Banepa Municipality, in signboards, letterpads, and such. Regular programs are held in the Kathmandu Valley to promote the script and training classes are held to preserve the language. The script is being endorsed by the Nepal Bhasa movement and is used for headings in newspapers and websites.

A Nepalese-German project is trying to conserve the manuscripts of Ranjana script [ [http://malaiya.tripod.com/ranjana/ Ranjana Script ] ] .

A Unicode block for the script has also been proposed by Evertype [ [http://www.evertype.com/standards/tai/newari.pdf Everton] ] .

ee also

*Newa people
*Newa scripts
*Nepal Bhasa
*Brahmi Script

External links

* [http://malaiya.tripod.com/ranjana/ Ranjana script]
* [http://www.omniglot.com/writing/ranjana.htm Newari/Ranjana script page on Omniglot]
* [http://www.evertype.com/standards/tai/newari.pdf Proposal for encoding Newari in Unicode]
* [http://www.jwajalapa.com/lipi/index.php Jwajalapa]
* [http://malaiya.tripod.com/ranjana/ranjanacomb.gifExample of script]
* [http://www.geocities.com/ranjanafont/manuscripts.htm Manuscripts in Ranjana]
* [http://www.lantsha-vartu.org/ranjanascript/index.html Ranjana script]

References