3. Matras (मात्राएँ / Vowel-Signs)

As we have discussed, for every swar we have marks called matras. These matras are applied over consonants to form syllables. To distinguish these matras from vowel modifiers we will call these as 'Mukhya' Matras. Mukhya (मुख्य) means 'main' or 'prime'.

Some of these marks are applied above consonants, some are applied below consonants, some are applied before consonants, while rest are applied after the consonants. The last type of matras are the easiest as they follow normal pronunciation naturally.

The matras which are applied before the consonants require care while writing manually. Fortunately computers now-a-days can re-order characters in a syllable automatically hence we are required to type naturally, irrespective of where the matra is to be applied. Also there is only one such matra in DevaNagari - ि ('chhote EE ki matra').

In the following figure you can see swars (vowels and diphthongs) and their respective matras. The dotted circles represent a placeholders for consonants (or base-letters), so we can understand the relative position of these matras.

For every vowel (except 'a' ) or diphtong we have a matra in DevaNagari.

To pronounce two consonants (of a word) seperately we need at least one vowel between them!

Every consonant of DevaNagari has inherent vowel 'a'. So when we simply write consequtive consonants in a word, we pronounce 'a' inbetween these consonants.

Eg. 'कम' (Akshar-Ka Akshar-Ma) is pronounced as 'Kam' (simillar in pronunciation to English word 'come'). In DevaNagari the last 'a' is not pronounced, so we don't pronounce 'कम' as 'Kama'!

When we apply a matra to a consonant, the inherent vowel/swar 'a' is dropped and the vowel related to the matra is pronounced. So if we apply a matra 'ु' (Matra-u) on 'क' (Akshar-Ka) and write a word 'कुम' (Akshar-Ka Matra-u Akshar-Ma) then we pronounce this word as as 'Kum'.

We generally need to remember which matra is applicable in a spelling. We have to be a bit careful while using ि and ी; ु and ू.

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