Sharada script

Sharada script
Śāradā
𑆯𑆳𑆫𑆢𑆳
Śāradā script chart divided into 14 Sanskrit origin vowels, 8 new vowel diacritics for modern Kashmiri, 37 consonants, 14 vowel diacritics, 11 special diacritic marks,10 numerical digits and 8 punctuation marks with the end sign Oksangor (𑇚)
Script type
Period
700 CE –present (almost extinct)
DirectionLeft-to-right Edit this on Wikidata
RegionIndia, Pakistan, Central Asia
LanguagesSanskrit, Kashmiri
Related scripts
Parent systems
Child systems
Takri
Landa
Sister systems
Siddham, Tibetan, Kalinga, Bhaiksuki
ISO 15924
ISO 15924Shrd (319), ​Sharada, Śāradā
Unicode
Unicode alias
Sharada

The Śāradā (also spelled 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.

The Gardez Ganesha, a 6th-century marble Ganesha found in Gardez, Afghanistan, now at Dargah Pir Rattan Nath, Kabul. The Sharada inscription says that this "great and beautiful image of Mahāvināyaka" was consecrated by the Turk Shahi king Khingala.