Ranjana Alphabet - Lanydza

When Rañjanā was introduced to Tibet, it was referred to as Lanydza (Tib. ལཉྫ་), which simply derives from the Sanskrit word Rañja. This script varies slightly from the standard Rañjanā. In Tibet, the Lanydza variant is used to write original texts of Sanskrit. Examples of such texts include the Mañjusrinama-samgiti, the Diamond Sūtra (Skt. Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra), and the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra. The Lanydza script is also found in manuscripts and printed editions of some Sanskrit-Tibetan lexicons like the Mahāvyutpatti.

However the most frequent use for this script today is on the title pages of Tibetan texts, where the Sanskrit title is often written in Lanydza, followed by a transliteration and translation in the Tibetan script. The script is also used decoratively on temple walls, on the outside of prayer wheels, and in the drawing of mandalas.

Numerous alternative spellings of the term Lanydza exist, including the following:

• Lanja
• Landzha
• Lantsa
• Lantsha
• Lentsa
• Lendza