Siddham script

Origin The Siddham script is a descendent of the Brahmi script and an ancestor of the Devanagari script. The name Siddham comes from Sanskrit and means "accomplished or perfected" The Siddham script is mainly used by Shingon Buddhists in Japan to write out mantra and sutras in Sanskrit. It was introduced to Japan by Kukai in 806 AD after he had studied Sanskrit and Mantrayana Buddhism in China. In Japan the Siddham script is known as (bonji). Notable features Type of writing system: syllabic alphabet

Writing direction: left to right in horizontal lines. Used to write: Sanskrit

Siddham script
Vowels

Vowel diacritics with ka

Consonants

Sample text in Sanskrit in the Siddham alphabet

Transliteration

Sarve mnav va an ra am pann var an e ap c a a ravadr ad radr ca amn eva var an e e arve ce an-tarka- a b y ampann an Ap ca arvep band va-b vanay para para vyavaharantu. Source: http://www.visiblemantra.org/human-rights.html
Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. (Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights) Links Information about the Siddham script p://en w ped a or /w /S dd a_alp abe http://www.visiblemantra.org/siddham.html http://www.mandalar.com http://www.siddham-sanskrit.com http://www1.plala.or.jp/eiji/BONJI.htm Siddham fonts http://tongphuockhai.wordpress.com/2011/01/29/software-siddham-lantsa/ Writing system used to write Sanskrit Br m , Devan ar , Grantha, K aro , rad, Siddham, Thai, Tibetan

ai

au

a anusvra (nasalised)

a visarga (aspirated)

Extra Vowels

unvoiced plain Velar aspirated

voiced plain

nasal

ka palatal

kha

ga

gha

ca retroflex

cha

* ja

jha

a dental

ha

ha

ta labial

tha

da

dha

pa semivowels

pha

ba

bha

ya spirants

ra

la

va

a conjuncts

sa

ha

k a

See also how to write double and conjunct consonants

Alternative forms

ja

Vowels combined with k

Main consonant-vowel combinations

k virama (no vowel)

ki

ku

kai

ko

kau

ka

ka

Alternate vowel marks

u used with ra

Combining Consonants
unvoiced plain Velar aspirated plain voiced

aspirat

ka

kha

ga

gha

palatal

ca retroflex

cha

ja

jha

a dental

ha

ha

ta labial

tha

da

dha

pa

pha

ba

bha

semivowels

ya spirants

ra

la

va

a
top

sa

ha

Examples of Common Conjuncts

rma

Rva

ja

jra

kya

ddha

ttva