Sankha Lipi Shell-script Inscriptions Along Passageway, Udayagiri Caves, Vidisha, India Editorial Photo

Sankha Lipi is a term used by scholars to describe presently undeciphered ornate spiral characters assumed to be Brahmi derivative that resemble conch shells shankhas. The Udayagiri Caves, one of India`s most important archaeological sites, are twenty rock-cut caves in Madhya Pradesh, about 57 km from Bhopal, dating from the 5th century CE. They are notable for their ancient iconography of Vaishnavism Vishnu, Shaktism Durga & Matrikas and Shaivism Shiva. Udayagiri contains the largest deposit of these 5th century CE inscriptions.