Epigraphical Hybrid Sanskrit (EHS) was a hybridized dialect of Prakrit and Sanskrit used in Indian inscriptions from the 1st century CE to the 4rd century CE.
It is particularly associated with Mathura, and areas of Indo-Scythian and Kushana rule. It eventually gave way to Sanskrit proper, with which it previously coexisted along with Monumental Prakrit.
Characteristics
Epigraphical Hybrid Sanskrit inscriptions exhibited a spectrum of hybridization, from "Prakrit influenced by Sanskrit" on the one hand to "Sanskrit influenced by Prakrit" on the other.
Generally, it exhibited Sanskritic orthography / phonology (including unassimilated consonant clusters) together with Prakritic morphology and syntax.
Typical morphology: Nominative singular masculine ending for a-stems in -o instead of Sanskrit -aḥ Genitive singular masculine ending in -sya instead of Prakrit -ssa, also extended to non a-stems for which Sanskrit would use other endings Nominative singular masculine ending in -i for -in-stems Instrumental plural suffix -ehi instead of Sanskrit -bhis Preservation or restoration of Sanskrit-type consonant clusters in forms whose Middle Indo-Aryan equivalents show assimilation, sometimes producing hyper-Sanskrit forms.
Sample
A sample inscription from the Kankali Tila torana in Mathura:
bhadata-jayasenasya āṃtevāsinīye dhāmaghoṣaye dān[o] pāsādo
See also Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit
References