118. 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 梵字 (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 mānavāḥ svatantratāḥ samutpannāḥ vartante api cha, gauravadr̥śā adhikāradr̥śā ca samānāḥ eva vartante. Ete sarve cetanā-tarka-śaktibhyāṁ susampannāḥ santi. Api ca, sarve’pi bandhutva-bhāvanayā parasparaṁ 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
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddhaṃ_alphabet
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/