114 N. N. Vasu— Nagaras and the Nagari-alphabet. [No. 2, 
The Origin of the Nagaras and the Nagari-alphabet.— By 
NaAGENDRANATHA VASU. 
[Read April, 1896.] 
A vehement discussion is going on amongst antiquarians and 
Sanskrit scholars concerning the origin of the Nagari-alphabet. Dr. 
Fitz-Edward Hall, the late Principal of the Benares Sanskrit College, 
was the first to raise the question. With the view of ascertaining the 
date of the Nagari-alphabet and the origin of its name, he has sent 
letters to the best Indian Pandits and oriental scholars requesting them 
to acquaint him with their individual views upon the points in question. 
Having had the honour of being consulted by two of the gentle- 
men addressed by him, I now venture to lay the following suggestions 
before the Society, in the hope that they may give rise to further 
inquiries. 
I surmise that the following are the main points to be noticed 
in order to gain an idea of the origin of the Nagari-alphabet :— 
1. What is the cause of the name Nagara ? 
2. Where did the name arise from ? 
3d. Who gave the name, and have they any connection with the 
alphabet ? 
4, Date of its origin. 
5. Development and progress of the Nagaraksara. 
Some Indian Pandits derive the name from nagara (a city). The 
letters received by Pandit Cambhucandra Vidyaratna from Pandit 
Vamanacirya and others of Benares are to the same effect. The other 
Pandits of Benares explain the word déva-nayara as ‘born in a divine 
city.’ Others say that this alphabet was originally used in the dévaloka 
and hence its name déva-nagara. In my humble opinion, the above 
conjectures cannot be taken as accurate. For if the explanation of the 
expression be such as “qat wq (born in a city)” the word @a<t may 
mean any city,—and there can be no certainty as to what city is meant. 
According to the rules of rhetoric, we are, when pointing to a particular 
alphabetic designation required to mention the exact place or person it 
