अकार

/əkɑːrə/ akāra

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the letter a, (अ) inclusive of all its eighteen kinds caused by shortness, length, protraction, accentuation and nasalization in Pānini's grammar, in cases where a(अ) is not actually prescribed as a termination or an augment or a substitute. cf. अणुदित्सवर्णस्य चाप्रत्ययः P. I.1.73.

The letter is generally given as the first letter of the alphabet (वर्णसमाम्नाय) in all Prātiśākhya and grammar works except in the alphabet termed Varṇopadeśa, as mentioned in the Ṛk Tantra cf. ए ओ ऐ औ आ ॠ लॄ ई ऊ ऋ लृ इ उ आः । रयवलाः । ङञणनमाः । अः≍क≍पाः । हुं कुं खुं गुं घुं अं आं एवमुपदेशे etc. R. T.I. 4.