Editing Grantha script (section)

==History==
In [[Sanskrit]], ''grantha'' is literally 'a knot'.<ref name=macdonnell>{{cite book |last1=Macdonell |first1=Arthur Anthony |title=A History of Sanskrit Literature |date=31 December 1997 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ. |isbn=978-81-208-0035-9 |page=15 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8wM-dNOa7fMC |access-date=22 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref> It is a word that was used for books, and the script used to write them. This stems from the practice of binding inscribed palm leaves using a length of thread held by knots. Grantha was widely used to write Sanskrit in the Tamil-speaking parts of [[South Asia]] from about the 5th century CE into modern times.<ref name=britgrantha/><ref name="salomon1998"/>

[[File:9th century Tamil Grantha script Sanskrit Chera era font.jpg|thumb|left|A Chera era Grantha inscription.]]
The Grantha script was also historically used for writing Manipravalam, a blend of Tamil and Sanskrit which was used in the exegesis of Manipravalam texts. This evolved into a fairly complex writing system which required that Tamil words be written in the Tamil script and Sanskrit words be written in the Grantha script. By the 15th century, this had evolved to the point that both scripts would be used within the same word – if the root was derived from Sanskrit it would be written in the Grantha script, but any Tamil suffixes which were added to it would be written using the Tamil script. This system of writing went out of use when Manipravalam declined in popularity, but it was customary to use the same convention in printed editions of texts originally written in Manipravalam until the middle of the 20th century.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

In modern times, the [[Tamil-Grantha script]] is used in religious contexts by Tamil-speaking [[Hindu]]s. For example, they use the script to write a child's name for the first time during the naming ceremony, for the Sanskrit portion of [[South Asian wedding card|traditional wedding cards]], and for announcements of a person's last rites. It is also used in many religious almanacs to print traditional formulaic summaries of the coming year.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

[[File:8th Century Grantha script Sanskrit language Velvikudi Grant, LINES 8-14.jpg|thumb|upright=2.5|8th century [[Velvikudi inscription|Velvikudi grant inscription]] in the Grantha script (Sanskrit language).]]