Siribhoovalaya.

This Wikipedia article sounds completely mad, but apparently the book actually exists, and I leave my readers to sort out whatever kernels of truth might reside in this description:

The Siribhoovalaya (Kannada: ಸಿರಿಭೂವಲಯ) is a unique work of multi-lingual literature written by Kumudendu Muni, a Jain monk. The work is unique in that it employs not alphabets, but is composed entirely in Kannada numerals.[1] The Saangathya metre of Kannada poetry is employed in the work. It uses numerals 1 through 64 and employs various patterns or bandhas in a frame of 729 (27×27) squares to represent alphabets in nearly 18 scripts and over 700 languages.[2] Some of the patterns used include the Chakrabandha, Hamsabandha, Varapadmabandha, Sagarabandha, Sarasabandha, Kruanchabandha, Mayurabandha, Ramapadabandha, Nakhabandha, etc. As each of these patterns are identified and decoded, the contents can be read.

There is much, much more at the link; it clearly needs serious pruning and revision, if there is anyone with both the requisite knowledge and the inclination. The link was sent me by the estimable Conrad; I don’t know if “thanks” is exactly the right word, but he certainly gets the credit.

Comments

  1. Well, that seems to have scared them away!

  2. They’ll all be sorry when the demons show up and devour them; they could have avoided their fate if they’d just taken the trouble to learn the Chakrabandha pattern.

  3. Being of course most careful to put the emphásis on the right sylláble, as my Latin teacher used to say.

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