Siddham Vowel Sign Aa

Use Unicode input for one mark or a Siddham transliterator for a passage.

For one character, enter U+115AF with an input method that accepts Unicode code points; the keystrokes depend on your system and app. For longer Sanskrit text, bonji-input accepts ASCII aa for this long vowel and outputs Siddham. Siddham consonants carry an inherent a, a vowel understood even when unwritten; this sign changes it to a held-longer a, written ā in Sanskrit transliteration. For example, 𑖎𑖯 is a complete consonant-plus-vowel syllable, while 𑖯 alone is unattached.

Where did Siddham come from?

It developed from Gupta writing into a tradition for Sanskrit.

North Indian inscriptions show forms called Siddhamātr̥kā or Kuṭila from the sixth to about the tenth century, developing from Gupta writing. Later regional forms include Sharada, Proto-Bengali or Gauḍī, and Nāgarī.

Siddham was used to write Sanskrit. Through Buddhist traditions it also entered manuscripts and ritual practice in China, Japan, and Korea. Chinese and Japanese scholars gave its letters linguistic and esoteric interpretations; ritual uses included mantras, sacred single-syllable signs, statues, and amulets.

Why does 𑖯 look different across fonts?

A Siddham-capable font determines how the sign is drawn.

Regional and calligraphic styles can draw the same encoded sign differently. A font without Siddham coverage may show a blank space or a box.