Sanskrit · Devanagari · InScript
Sanskrit InScript keyboard
Sanskrit needs more than Hindi: vocalic ऋ ॠ ऌ ॡ, the avagraha ऽ, ॐ, ॥ and Vedic accent marks. The InScript AltGr layer has them all.
Press keys on your keyboard, or click the keys below. Ctrl+Space switches to English and back.
Hold Shift or AltGr (right Alt) on your keyboard to see the other layers. ◌ marks a sign that attaches to the letter before it.
01 · Why InScript
One standard layout for Sanskrit, and every other Indian script.
Sanskrit is typed on the Devanagari InScript layout, so what you learn here also works with the InScript keyboard in Windows or Linux. The sign keys below make it practical for editing shlokas without hunting through a character map.
02 · Sanskrit on this layout
What to know when typing Sanskrit.
- 01
Vocalic vowels
ऋ is Shift+=, ऌ is AltGr+Shift+F, ॠ is AltGr+Shift+=. Their matras: ृ is =, ॄ is AltGr+=, ॢ is AltGr+f.
AltGr+fॢ
- 02
ऽ, ॐ and ॥
Avagraha is AltGr+Shift+. (>), ॐ is AltGr+Shift+X and the double danda is AltGr+. (period). The single danda is Shift+. (>).
AltGr+Xॐ
- 03
Vedic accents
Anudatta ॒ is AltGr+d and udatta ॑ is AltGr+e; they attach to the previous letter.
AltGr+d॒
- 04
Compound conjuncts
Type the first word of the Gita, धर्मक्षेत्रे: ध, र, halant, म, then Shift+7 for क्ष, े, Shift+6 for त्र, े.
O j d c & s ^ sधर्मक्षेत्रे
03 · Key chart
Every key on the Sanskrit InScript layout.
Generated from the same table the keyboard above uses. Letters in the top-left of each key are what a US keyboard prints; ◌ marks a sign that attaches to the letter before it.
Without Shift
With Shift
With AltGr (right Alt)
With AltGr + Shift
04 · Practice
Common Sanskrit words, and the keys that type them.
Each sequence was generated from the layout and typed back through it when this page was built. “Try” puts the word in the box above.
- संस्कृतम्mxmdk=lcd
- धर्मक्षेत्रेO$c&s^s
- कुरुक्षेत्रेkgjg&s^s
- ॐAltGr+X
- ऋग्वेद+idbso
- विद्याbfod/e
- वसुधैवbmgOwb
- कुटुम्बकम्kg'gcdykcd
- सत्यमेवmld/csb
- जयतेp/ls
- अग्निमीळेDidvfcrNs
- श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता*rcodYibodirle
Keys shown are the characters on a US keyboard, with “AltGr+” before keys that use the right Alt key.
05 · Exercises
Vowel signs and conjuncts, drilled in Sanskrit.
Every row was generated from the Sanskrit layout table and typed back through it when this page was built, so the keys shown always give the text shown. Press the keys in order; the display reorders vowel signs that are drawn before their consonant.
Every vowel sign on the letter ष
- षॊ< `
- षृ< =
- षौ< q
- षै< w
- षा< e
- षी< r
- षू< t
- ष़< ]
- षॉ< \
- षो< a
- षे< s
- षि< f
- षु< g
- षॆ< z
- षं< x
- षॅ< @
- षः< _
- षँ< X
- षॄ< AltGr+=
- ष॑< AltGr+e
- षॣ< AltGr+r
- ष॒< AltGr+d
- षॢ< AltGr+f
Words with conjuncts
धर्मक्षेत्रे
O $ c & s ^ s
7 keystrokes. Conjuncts: र्म, क्ष, त्र (consonant, halant, consonant). Signs: ◌े.
सत्यमेव
m l d / c s b
7 keystrokes. Conjunct: त्य (consonant, halant, consonant). Signs: ◌े.
ब्रह्म
y # u d c
5 keystrokes. Conjuncts: ब्र, ह्म (consonant, halant, consonant).
शान्तिः
M e v d l f _
7 keystrokes. Conjunct: न्त (consonant, halant, consonant). Signs: ◌ा ◌ि ◌ः. Includes a vowel sign that is typed after its consonant but drawn before it.
सङ्गच्छध्वम्
m U d i ; d : O d b c d
12 keystrokes. Conjuncts: ङ्ग, च्छ, ध्व (consonant, halant, consonant).
06 · FAQ
Questions about Sanskrit InScript
Are these the same marks as in Unicode’s Vedic Extensions block?
The basic accent marks on the AltGr layer (udatta U+0951, anudatta U+0952, and a few more) are in the main Devanagari block. Marks from the separate Vedic Extensions block (U+1CD0–1CFF) are not on this layout; use a character map for those.
Why does AltGr not work on my keyboard?
AltGr is the right Alt key on most PC keyboards. If yours has none, hold Ctrl and Alt together, or use the on-screen AltGr button.
What is InScript?
InScript (“Indian Script”) is the standard keyboard layout for Indian scripts, defined by C-DAC and standardised by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Every script uses the same logical arrangement: vowels and vowel signs on the left, consonants on the right, and the halant key for conjuncts.
How do I add InScript to my own computer?
On Windows, open Settings, then Time & language, then Language & region. Add the language and choose its InScript (or standard) keyboard from the keyboard list, then switch with Win+Space. Linux desktops include InScript variants in the keyboard settings too. This page needs nothing installed.
Can I use this on a phone?
Yes. Tap the on-screen keys; they work in the same layout. On touch devices the phone’s own keyboard is hidden so it does not interfere, and there is a link to bring it back.
Is my text sent anywhere?
No. Typing, copying and the Word download all happen in your browser. The text you typed is kept only in this tab’s session storage so a refresh does not lose it.