Grantha letter Pha

It writes Sanskrit pha in the Grantha script.

Pha is a p sound released with a puff of breath. A Grantha consonant has an inherent vowel: 𑌫 by itself includes a; a vowel sign changes that vowel, and a virama removes it. Alone, it can be a letter sample or a clue to a Sanskrit spelling.

Grantha is an evolving tradition, not a one-person invention. Intermediate forms appear in early Pallava inscriptions from the fourth century CE; the modern form represented here belongs after the thirteenth century CE.

Grantha’s use spread beyond Sanskrit texts

Tamil writing has fewer consonant letters than Sanskrit needs. Grantha let Tamil-region writers distinguish Sanskrit sounds such as pha in inscriptions, manuscripts, and texts of the Vedic religious tradition.

Classical manuscripts and commentaries could switch between Tamil and Grantha; early print often blurred the distinction. Grantha also contributed to the development of modern Malayalam script. In a text, 𑌫 can mark Sanskrit material in a Tamil–Grantha mixture.

How do I type Grantha letter pha?

Use a Grantha-capable font and input method together.

On supported systems, a Grantha INSCRIPT layout enters this letter and the joiners used to build conjuncts. A complete Sanskrit spelling may need the vowel sign or virama required by the word.