Pranjal mishra at 14:43, 29 March 2026

2026-03-29T14:43:46Z

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{{short description|Letter "Ṝ" in Indic scripts}}
{{Infobox Indic letter |letname = Ṝ
|mainimg = Devanagari rii.svg
|bengcp = 09E0
|tibtcp = 0F62;ཱ&#x0F80
|mlymcp = 0D60
|sinhcp = 0D8E
|brahcp = 1100C |ashokaimg = Brahmi rii.svg
|devacp = 0960
| hbchar = ר
| grchar = Ρ
| lachar = R
| cychar = Р
|ipa = ɻ̩ː |iast = Ṝ |
}}

'''Ṝ''' is a vowel-like letter of Indic abugidas, often referred to as a "vocalic R̄". In modern Indic scripts, Ṝ is derived from the early "[[Ashoka]]" Brahmi letter [[Image:Brahmi rii.svg|13px|ng]]. As an ostensible Indic vowel, Ṝ comes in two normally distinct forms: 1) as an independent letter, and 2) as a vowel sign for modifying a base consonant. Bare consonants without a modifying vowel sign have the inherent "A" vowel.

==Āryabhaṭa numeration==
{{further|Āryabhaṭa numeration}}
[[Aryabhata]] used Devanagari letters for numbers, very similar to the [[Greek numerals]], even after the invention of [[Indian numerals]]. The ॄ sign was used to modify a consonant's value {{e|6}}, but the vowel letter ॠ did not have an inherent value by itself.<ref name="Ifrah">{{cite book|last=Ifrah|first=Georges|title=The Universal History of Numbers. From Prehistory to the Invention of the Computer|year=2000|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|location=New York|isbn=0-471-39340-1|pages=447–450}}</ref>

==Historic Ṝ==
There are three different general early historic scripts - [[Brahmi script|Brahmi]] and its variants, [[Kharosthi|Kharoṣṭhī]], and [[Tocharian alphabet|Tocharian]], the so-called ''slanting Brahmi''. Ṝ was not found as an independent vowel in Brahmi, only as a vowel mark for modifying a base consonant. Like all Brahmic scripts, Tocharian Ṝ [[Image:Tocharian letter rii.gif|18px|Ṝ]] has an accompanying vowel mark for modifying a base consonant. In Kharoṣṭhī, the only independent vowel letter is for the inherent A. All other independent vowels, including Ṝ are indicated with vowel marks added to the letter A.

===Brahmi Ṝ===
The Brahmi letter Ṝ was a simple modification of the [[Ṛ (Indic)#Brahmi Ṛ|Brahmi Ṛ]], and as such is [[Brahmi script#origin|probably ultimately derived]] from the Aramaic [[Resh]] [[File:Resh.svg|13px]], and is thus related to the modern Latin [[R]] and Greek [[Rho]].<ref name="Buhler">{{cite web |last1=Bühler |first1=Georg |title=On the Origin of the Indian Brahmi Alphabet |url=https://archive.org/details/onoriginofindian00bhuoft/page/n3/mode/2up |website=archive.org |year=1898 |publisher=Karl J. Trübner |accessdate=10 June 2020}}</ref> Several identifiable styles of writing the Ṝ vowel sign can be found, most associated with a specific set of inscriptions from an artifact or diverse records from an historic period.<ref>[[:File:Brahmi script consonants according to James Prinsep March 1838.jpg|Evolutionary chart]], Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal Vol 7, 1838 [https://archive.org/stream/journalofasiatic775asia#page/n101]</ref> As the earliest and most geometric style of Brahmi, the letters found on the [[Edicts of Ashoka]] and other records from around that time are normally the reference form for Brahmi letters, but given the lack of Ṝ vowel signs in early Brahmi, the reference image is normally back-formed to a geometric form of later styles, and the independent letter for Ṝ [[File:Brahmi rii.svg|13px]] is derived from the short Ṛ [[File:Brahmi ri.svg|13px]].

===Tocharian Rii===
The Tocharian letter [[Image:Tocharian letter rii.gif|25px|Ṝ]] is derived from the short [[Ṛ (Indic)#Brahmi Ṛ|Brahmi Ṛ]] [[Image:Gupta allahabad ri.svg|13px|]]. The Tocharian Ṝ was very infrequently used, and only appears in the corpus in combination with a few base consonants.
{|class="wikitable"
|+Tocharian consonants with Ṝ vowel marks
|-
! Kr̄ !! Khr̄ !! Gr̄ !! Ghr̄ !! Cr̄ !! Chr̄ !! Jr̄ !! Jhr̄ !! Nyr̄ !! Ṭr̄ !! Ṭhr̄ !! Ḍr̄ !! Ḍhr̄ !! Ṇr̄
|-
| [[File:Tocharian letter krr.gif|37px]] ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
! Tr̄ !! Thr̄ !! Dr̄ !! Dhr̄ !! Nr̄ !! Pr̄ !! Phr̄ !! Br̄ !! Bhr̄ !! Mr̄ !! Yr̄ !! r̄r !! Lr̄ !! Vr̄
|-
| [[File:Tocharian letter trr.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter thrr.gif|37px]] ||  || [[File:Tocharian letter dhrr.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter nrr.gif|37px]] || [[File:Tocharian letter prr.gif|37px]] ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || 
|-
! Śr̄ !! Ṣr̄ !! Sr̄ !! Hr̄
|-
|<br /><br /> ||  ||  || 
|}

===Kharoṣṭhī Ṝ===
The Kharoṣṭhī letter Ṝ is indicated with the [[Ṛ (Indic)#Kharoṣṭhī Ṛ|Ṛ]] vowel mark [[File:Буква складове R (залежний знак). Письмо кхароштхі. Kharoshthi vowel sign vocalic R.svg|15px|Ṛ]] plus the vowel length mark [[File:Довгий голосний (залежний знак). Письмо кхароштхі. Kharosthi vowel length mark.svg|15px]]. As an independent vowel, Ṝ is indicated by adding the vowel marks to the independent vowel letter [[A (Indic)#Kharoṣṭhī A|A]] [[File:Буква А (незалежний знак). Письмо кхароштхі. Kharoshthi letter A.svg|15px|A]].

==Devanagari Ṝ==

{{multiple image
| width = 100px
| image1 = Devanagari rii.svg
| alt1 = Ṝ vowel
| image2 = Devanagari rr sign.png
| alt2 = Ṝ vowel sign
| footer = Devanagari independent Ṝ and Ṝ vowel sign.
}}
'''Ṝ''' ('''ॠ''') is a vowel of the [[Devanagari]] [[abugida]]. It ultimately arose from the [[Brahmi]] letter [[Image:Brahmi rii.svg|13px|Ṝ]]. Letters that derive from it are the [[Gujarati script|Gujarati]] letter '''ૠ''', and the [[Modi alphabet|Modi]] letter 𑘇.

===Devanagari Using Languages===
The Devanagari script is used to write the [[Hindi language]], [[Sanskrit]] and the majority of [[Indo-Aryan languages]]. {{Dubious span|text=In most of these languages, ॠ is pronounced as {{IPA|hi|riː}}|date=August 2024}}. Like all Indic scripts, Devanagari vowels come in two forms: an independent vowel form for syllables that begin with a vowel sound, and a vowel sign attached to base consonant to override the inherent /ə/ vowel.

==Bengali Ṝ==
{{multiple image
| width = 100px
| image1 = Bengali Letter Vocalic Rr.svg
| alt1 = Ṝ vowel
| image2 = Bengali Rr vowel sign.svg
| alt2 = Ṝ vowel sign
| footer = Bengali independent Ṝ and Ṝ vowel sign.
}}
'''Ṝ''' ('''ৠ''') is a vowel of the [[Bengali script|Bengali]] [[abugida]]. It is derived from the [[Siddhaṃ]] letter [[Image:Siddham rii.svg|13px|Ṝ]], and is marked by the lack of horizontal head line and less geometric shape than its Devanagari counterpart, ॠ.

===Bengali Script Using Languages===
The Bengali script is used to write several languages of eastern India, notably the [[Bengali language]] and [[Assamese language|Assamese]]. In most languages, ৠ is pronounced as {{IPA|bn|ṝ|}}. Like all Indic scripts, Bengali vowels come in two forms: an independent vowel form for syllables that begin with a vowel sound, and a vowel sign attached to base consonant to override the inherent /ɔ/ vowel.

==Gujarati Ṝ==
{{multiple image
| width = 100px
| image1 = Gujarati vowel Rr.svg
| alt1 = Ṝ vowel
| image2 = Gujarati vowel sign Rr.svg
| alt2 = Ṝ vowel sign
| footer = Gujarati independent Ṝ and Ṝ vowel sign.
}}
'''Ṝ''' ('''ૠ''') is a vowel of the [[Gujarati script|Gujarati]] [[abugida]]. It is derived from the Devanagari Ṝ [[Image:Devanagari rii.svg|13px|rr]], and ultimately the [[Brahmi]] letter [[Image:Brahmi rii.svg|13px|rr]].

===Gujarati-using Languages===
The Gujarati script is used to write the [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] and [[Kutchi language|Kutchi]] languages. In both languages, ૠ is pronounced as {{IPA|gu|ṝ|}}. Like all Indic scripts, Gujarati vowels come in two forms: an independent vowel form for syllables that begin with a vowel sound, and a vowel sign attached to base consonant to override the inherent /ə/ vowel.

==Telugu Ṝ==
{{multiple image
| width = 100px
| image1 = Telugu vowel Rr.svg
| alt1 = Telugu independent vowel Ṝ
| image2 = Telugu Rr vowel sign.svg
| alt2 = Telugu vowel sign Ṝ
| footer = Telugu independent vowel and vowel sign Ṝ.
}}
'''Ṝ''' ('''ౠ''') is a vowel of the [[Telugu script|Telugu]] [[abugida]]. It ultimately arose from the [[Brahmi]] letter [[Image:Brahmi rii.svg|13px|Ṝ]] Ṝ. It is closely related to the [[Kannada script|Kannada]] letter '''ೠ'''. Like in other Indic scripts, Telugu vowels have two forms: and independent letter for word and syllable-initial vowel sounds, and a vowel sign for changing the inherent "a" of Telugu consonant letters. Ṝ is a non-attaching vowel sign, and does not alter the underlying consonant or contextually shape itself in any way.
[[File:Telugu Rr matra.svg|thumb|center|550px|Telugu Ṝ vowel sign on క, ఖ, గ, ఘ & ఙ: Kṝ, Khṝ, Gṝ, Ghṝ and Ngṝ.]]

==Malayalam Ṝ==
{{multiple image
| width = 100px
| image1 = Malayalam vowel Rr.svg
| alt1 = Malayalam independent vowel Ṝ
| image2 = Malayalam vowel sign Rr.svg
| alt2 = Malayalam vowel sign Ṝ
| footer = Malayalam independent vowel and vowel sign Ṝ.
}}
'''Ṝ''' ('''ൠ''') is a vowel of the [[Malayalam script|Malayalam]] [[abugida]]. It ultimately arose from the [[Brahmi]] letter [[Image:Brahmi rii.svg|13px|Ṝ]], via the [[Grantha script|Grantha]] letter [[Image:Grantha vowel Rr.svg|x15px|Ṝ]] ''rr''. Like in other Indic scripts, Malayalam vowels have two forms: an independent letter for word and syllable-initial vowel sounds, and a vowel sign for changing the inherent "a" of consonant letters. Vowel signs in Malayalam usually sit adjacent to its base consonant - below, to the left, right, or both left and right, but are always pronounced after the consonant sound. Some vowel signs, such as Ṝ, can also form a ligature with some consonants, although this is much more common in old-style ''paḻaya lipi'' texts than in the modern [[Malayalam script#Orthography reform|reformed]] ''paḻaya lipi'' orthography.
[[File:Malayalam Rr matra.svg|thumb|center|550px|Malayalam Ṝ vowel sign on ക, ഖ, ഗ, ഘ, & ങ: Kṝ, Khṝ, Gṝ, Ghṝ and Ngṝ in ''paḻaya lipi''.]]

==Odia Ṝ==
{{multiple image
| width = 100px
| image1 = Odia vowel rr.svg
| alt1 = Odia independent vowel Ṝ
| image2 = Odia vowel sign rr.svg
| alt2 = Odia vowel sign Ṝ
| footer = Odia independent vowel and vowel sign Ṝ.
}}
'''Ṝ''' ('''ୠ''') is a vowel of the [[Odia script|Odia]] [[abugida]]. It ultimately arose from the [[Brahmi]] letter [[Image:Brahmi rii.svg|13px|Ṝ]], via the [[Siddhaṃ script|Siddhaṃ]] letter [[Image:Siddham rii.svg|x15px|Ṝ]] ''rr''. Like in other Indic scripts, Odia vowels have two forms: an independent letter for word and syllable-initial vowel sounds, and a vowel sign for changing the inherent "a" of consonant letters. Vowel signs in Odia usually sit adjacent to its base consonant - below, to the left, right, or both left and right, but are always pronounced after the consonant sound. No base consonants are altered in form when adding a vowel sign, and there are no consonant+vowel ligatures in Odia.

==Tirhuta Ṝ==
{{multiple image
| width = 100px
| image1 = TIRHUTA LETTER VOCALIC RR.svg
| alt1 = Tirhuta independent vowel Ṝ
| image2 = TIRHUTA VOWEL SIGN VOCALIC RR.svg
| alt2 = Tirhuta vowel sign Ṝ
| footer = Tirhuta independent vowel and vowel sign Ṝ.
}}
'''Ṝ''' ('''𑒈''') is a vowel of the [[Tirhuta script|Tirhuta]] [[abugida]]. It ultimately arose from the [[Brahmi]] letter [[Image:Brahmi rii.svg|13px|Ṝ]], via the [[Siddhaṃ script|Siddhaṃ]] letter [[Image:Siddham rii.svg|x15px|Ṝ]] ''rr''. Like in other Indic scripts, Tirhuta vowels have two forms: an independent letter for word and syllable-initial vowel sounds, and a vowel sign for changing the inherent "a" of consonant letters. Vowel signs in Tirhuta usually sit adjacent to its base consonant - below, to the left, right, or both left and right, but are always pronounced after the consonant sound. No consonants are altered in form when adding the ''Ṝ'' vowel mark, although there are some consonant+vowel ligatures in Tirhuta.

{{clear}}

==Comparison of Ṝ==
The various Indic scripts are generally related to each other through adaptation and borrowing, and as such the glyphs for cognate letters, including Ṝ, are related as well.
{{Indic glyph |letname = Ṝ
|devacp = 0960
|bengcp = 09E0
|telucp = 0C60
|oryacp = 0B60
|kndacp = 0CE0
|mlymcp = 0D60
|gujrcp = 0AE0

|brahcp = 1100C |ashokaimg = Brahmi rii.svg
|siddcp = 11587 |siddimg = Siddham rr.svg
|grancp = 11360
|tibtcp = 0F62;ཱ&#x0F80
|newacp = 11407
|bhkscp = 11C07
|shrdcp = 1118A
|mymrcp = 1053
|sinhcp = 0D8E
|saurcp = A889
|modicp = 11607
|nandcp = 119A7
|tirhcp = 11488
|dogrcp = 11832
| armiimg = Resh.svg
| ranjimg = Ranjana rii.svg
}}

==Character encodings of Ṝ==
Most Indic scripts are encoded in the [[Unicode Standard]], and as such the letter Ṝ in those scripts can be represented in plain text with unique codepoint. Ṝ from several modern-use scripts can also be found in legacy encodings, such as [[ISCII]].
{{Indic encoding |= Ṝ
|devacp = 0960 |devaimg = Devanagari rii.svg
|bengcp = 09E0 |bengimg = Bengali Letter Vocalic Rr.svg
|telucp = 0C60
|oryacp = 0B60
|kndacp = 0CE0
|mlymcp = 0D60
|gujrcp = 0AE0

|brahcp = 1100C |ashokaimg = Brahmi rii.svg
|siddcp = 11587 |siddimg = Siddham rr.svg
|grancp = 11360

|newacp = 11407
|bhkscp = 11C07
|shrdcp = 1118A
|mymrcp = 1053
|khmrcp = 17AC
|sinhcp = 0D8E
|saurcp = A889
|modicp = 11607
|nandcp = 119A7
|tirhcp = 11488
|balicp = 1B0C

}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Devanagari_abugida}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rr (Indic)}}
[[Category:Indic letters]]

Ṝ - Revision history

Pranjal mishra at 14:43, 29 March 2026