Ranjana alphabet
| Rañjanā |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | |
| Languages |
Newar Sanskrit Tibetan |
|
Time period
|
c. 1100–present |
|
Parent systems
|
|
|
Child systems
|
Soyombo |
|
Sister systems
|
Prachalit Litumol |
The Rañjanā script (syn: Kutila, Lantsa) is an abugida writing system which developed in the 11th century. It is primarily used for writing the Newar language but is also used in Buddhist monasteries in India, China, Mongolia, and Japan. It is normally written from left to right but the Kutakshar form is written from top to bottom. It is also considered to be the standard Nepali calligraphic script.
Rañjanā is a Brahmi script and shows similarities to the Devanagari script of North India and Nepal. The script is also used in most of the Mahayana and Vajrayana monasteries. Along with the Prachalit Nepal alphabet, it is considered as one of the scripts of Nepal. 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.
The Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra lettered in gold ink by Bhiksu Ananda of Kapitanagar and dating back to the Nepal Sambat year 345 (1215 CE) is an early example of the script.
These are the rules for vowel diacritics in Ranjana script. There are altogether three rules where the vowel diacritics of क, ग and ब are given.
The Rañjanā script is used primarily to write Newari, though sometimes it is also used to write Sanskrit. In Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist traditions, it is famously used to write various mantras including the "Om mani padme hum" mantra of Avalokiteśvara, the mantra of Tara: "Om tare tuttare ture svaha", and the mantra of Manjusri: "Om ara pa cana dhi." The script is also used in Hindu scriptures.
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