Sharada script
| Sharada script Śāradā 𑆯𑆳𑆫𑆢𑆳 | |
|---|---|
The word śāradā in Sharada script | |
| Script type | |
Period | 700 CE –present (almost extinct) |
| Direction | Left-to-right |
| Region | India, Pakistan, Central Asia |
| Languages | Sanskrit, Kashmiri |
| Related scripts | |
Parent systems | |
Child systems | Takri Landa |
Sister systems | Siddham, Tibetan, Kalinga, Bhaiksuki |
| ISO 15924 | |
| ISO 15924 | Shrd (319), Sharada, Śāradā |
| Unicode | |
Unicode alias | Sharada |
| U+11180–U+111DF | |
| Brahmic scripts |
|---|
| The Brahmi script and its descendants |
The Śāradā, Sarada or Sharada script is an abugida writing system of the Brahmic family of scripts. The script was widespread between the 8th and 12th centuries in the northwestern parts of Indian Subcontinent (in Kashmir and neighbouring areas), for writing Sanskrit and Kashmiri. Although originally a signature Brahminical script created in the valley, it was more widespread throughout northwestern Indian subcontinent, and later became restricted to Kashmir, and is now rarely used, except by the Kashmiri Pandit community for religious purposes.
It is a native script of Kashmir and is named after the goddess Śāradā or Saraswati, the goddess of learning and the main Hindu deity of the Sharada Peeth temple.