Kaithi Anusvara

It makes the Kaithi vowel itself sound nasal. Hindi written in Devanagari, the script used for Hindi, can use anusvara for a nasal consonant that matches the next consonant; Kaithi writes that consonant together with the next one as a combined consonant form.

The mark sits centered over its base letter, or over the top of a descender when the letter has one. Its position changes to fit the letter, not its reading.

Where did Kaithi anusvara come from?

Kaithi evolved as a writing system, and this mark belongs to its orthographic tradition. A copper-plate inscription attributed to around 1090 is a possible early attestation of Kaithi. Later examples include manuscripts preserving a work first written in 1503 and a temple-and-library testament dated 1665.

Kaithi served Bhojpuri, Magahi, Maithili, Urdu, and other languages in courts, business, correspondence, private records, and religious or literary works. In the 19th century, standard forms and metal type developed. After 1913, Devanagari became preferred in Bihar, shifting Kaithi's institutional setting.

Is Kaithi anusvara the same as candrabindu?

No; they are separate signs with different jobs. A typeface made for the Calcutta Bible Society in 1851 set an anusvara-like sign beside a small open circle used for nasal consonants that match the following consonant.

Kaithi typefaces vary. Some use a horizontal top stroke and letter forms resembling Devanagari; others omit that stroke. The mark's outline alone may not identify the script, so the surrounding letters and spelling matter.