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About Tiro Devanagari Sanskrit.

Tiro Devanagari Sanskrit has its origins in a typeface designed for the Murty Classical Library of India book series, so is especially suited to traditional literary publishing but also made with the needs of today’s multiple print and screen media in mind. The Tiro Devanagari design applies a contemporary approach to the traditional styling of 19th and 20th Century metal types exemplified in those of the renowned Nirnaya Sagar Press, and is characterised by broader proportions, more generous counters, and strong diagonal strokes and terminals. The Sanskrit font favours traditional forms of conjuncts. For the Open Font License release, Tiro Devanagari Sanskrit has been extended to support additional characters, including signs for Vedic texts, and features a new italic companion. Each font also includes a Latin subset including diacritics for transcription of Indian languages.

Tiro Devanagari Sanskrit was designed by John Hudson and Fiona Ross. The italic was adapted by Paul Hanslow.

To contribute, see github.com/TiroTypeworks/Indigo.

To learn more, read Modern Tiro Indic collection for classical South Asian texts.

Designer
Tiro Typeworks, John Hudson, Fiona Ross, Paul Hanslow
Classification
Serif
Coverage
415 languages
Package release
v7
Updated
Mar 12, 2026
Monthly usage
  • npm667 downloads last month
  • jsDelivr2,363 requests last month
License
OFL-1.1

Style and character

Visual characteristics associated with this family.

  • Business
  • Competent
  • Sincere
  • Transitional

The story

Tiro Devanagari Sanskrit has its origins in a typeface designed for the Murty Classical Library of India book series, so is especially suited to traditional literary publishing but also made with the needs of today’s multiple print and screen media in mind. The Tiro Devanagari design applies a contemporary approach to the traditional styling of 19th and 20th Century metal types exemplified in those of the renowned Nirnaya Sagar Press, and is characterised by broader proportions, more generous counters, and strong diagonal strokes and terminals. The Sanskrit font favours traditional forms of conjuncts. For the Open Font License release, Tiro Devanagari Sanskrit has been extended to support additional characters, including signs for Vedic texts, and features a new italic companion. Each font also includes a Latin subset including diacritics for transcription of Indian languages.

Tiro Devanagari Sanskrit was designed by John Hudson and Fiona Ross. The italic was adapted by Paul Hanslow.

To contribute, see github.com/TiroTypeworks/Indigo.

Modern Tiro Indic collection for classical South Asian texts

The beauty and challenges of bridging the old and the new

Two type designers separated by an eight-hour time difference, an ocean, and pandemic travel bans collaborated over video calls and email to make a cohesive set of fonts in 8 South Asian languages. In 2012, Harvard University Press commissioned Fiona Ross and John Hudson, through Tiro Typeworks, to design typefaces for the Murty Classical Library of India book series. The publisher needed to reprint ancient Indian literary, historical, and religious texts, including Vedic and early Sanskrit works. Since these old texts had been printed using traditional letterforms and early Indian typography techniques, the new fonts needed to retain some of the traditional style of the old texts, yet be clear and legible in modern print and digital media.

In 2019 Google Fonts approached Tiro to make an extended and updated version of the Murty Fonts to be released as open source fonts in the Tiro Indic collection, offering users traditional text styles suitable for a variety of uses.

Study the classics and language structure

Before designing the typefaces, it was important to research classical texts and understand the unique characteristics of the languages.

“We looked at very lovely manuscripts or early Indian printed materials from the 18th or 19th Centuries,” said John Hudson.

To learn more, read Modern Tiro Indic collection for classical South Asian texts.

Characters and features

What this family includes and how its files are structured.

Explore glyphs →

Language and character coverage

Devanagari is the primary writing system.

  • AfarQafar · Latin
  • AchineseBahsa Acèh · Latin
  • Saint Lucian Creole French, Latin
  • Achuar-ShiwiarLatin
  • AfrikaansLatin
  • AguarunaLatin
  • Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, Latin
  • Ainu (Latin)
  • AlagoLatin
  • Gheg AlbanianGegnisht · Latin
  • AmahuacaLatin
  • YaneshaʼLatin
  • AmisLatin
  • AmarakaeriLatin
  • AragoneseAragonés · Latin
  • AnaangAnaañ · Latin
  • Uab MetoUab Metô · Latin
  • Sudanese ArabicLatin
  • MapucheMapudungun · Latin
  • ArapahoLatin
  • Artificial languages, World (Latin)
  • AsuKipare · Latin
  • AsturianAsturianu · Latin
  • WaoraniLatin
  • Awadhiअवधी · Devanagari
  • AwakLatin
  • AymaraAymar · Latin
  • BalineseBali · Latin
  • Bantawa (Devanagari)
  • Batak TobaLatin
  • Banda, West CentralLatin
  • BenchLatin
  • BedawiyetLatin
  • BembaChibemba · Latin
  • BetawiLatin
  • BenaEkibena · Latin
  • BislamaLatin
  • BikolPandan Bikol · Latin
  • KanaujiDevanagari
  • BanjarLatin
  • BengaLatin
  • BapukuLatin
  • Bodoबरʼ · Devanagari
  • Bodo (Latin)
  • BangwinjiLatin
  • Rinconada BikolPandan Bikol · Latin
  • BokobaruLatin
  • Bhujel (Devanagari)
  • BilenLatin
  • CatalanCatalà · Latin
  • GarifunaLatin
  • ChachiLatin
  • Chavacano, Philippines (Latin)
  • Cashibo-CacataiboLatin
  • CashinahuaLatin
  • Candoshi-ShapraLatin
  • CebuanoBinisaya · Latin
  • DikakaLatin
  • Chin, FalamLatin
  • ChigaRukiga · Latin
  • ChamorroChamorru · Latin
  • Chinantec, OjitlánLatin
  • ChuukeseChuuk · Latin
  • Chantyal (Devanagari)
  • ChickasawChikashshanompa' · Latin
  • ChokweLatin
  • Chin, HakaLatin
  • AsháninkaLatin
  • CorsicanCorsu · Latin
  • ColoradoLatin
  • Cofán, Latin
  • CaquinteLatin
  • Ashéninka, PichisLatin
  • SãotomenseLatin
  • Seselwa Creole FrenchSeselwa · Latin
  • Tedim ChinLatin
  • KwereLatin
  • Cuyonon (Latin)
  • DanishDansk · Latin
  • TaitaKidawida · Latin
  • GermanDeutsch · Latin
  • DelawareHuluníixsuwaakan · Latin
  • Dhimal (Devanagari)
  • Dhanwar, Nepal (Devanagari)
  • Dogri𑠖𑠵𑠌𑠤𑠮 · Devanagari
  • C’LelaLatin
  • Central DusunLatin
  • Dotyaliडोटेली · Devanagari
  • ChidurumaLatin
  • DrungLatin
  • DawroLatin
  • EmbuKiembu · Latin
  • EnglishLatin
  • SpanishEspañol · Latin
  • Ese EjjaLatin
  • EstonianEesti · Latin
  • BasqueEuskara · Latin
  • ExtremaduranLatin
  • West Albay BikolPandan Bikol · Latin
  • FinnishSuomi · Latin
  • FilipinoLatin
  • FijianVakaviti · Latin
  • Finnish, KvenLatin
  • FuliiruLatin
  • FaroeseFøroyskt · Latin
  • GalloLatin
  • FrenchFrançais · Latin
  • Old FrenchLatin
  • ArpitanLatin
  • Northern FrisianLatin
  • FriulianFurlan · Latin
  • Western FrisianFrysk · Latin
  • IrishGaeilge · Latin
  • AlekanoGahuku · Latin
  • Guadeloupean Creole French, Martinique (Latin)
  • Guianese Creole FrenchLatin
  • Scottish GaelicGàidhlig · Latin
  • GilberteseKiribati · Latin
  • Gelao, KlauLatin
  • Gujari (Devanagari)
  • GalicianGalego · Latin
  • Middle High GermanLatin
  • GamoLatin
  • GofaLatin
  • Old High GermanLatin
  • Goan Konkaniगोवन कोंकणी · Devanagari
  • Swiss GermanSchwyzerdütsch · Latin
  • WayuuWayuunaiki · Latin
  • GusiiEkegusii · Latin
  • ManxGaelg · Latin
  • 'AleQale · Latin
  • GyeleLatin
  • GuarayuLatin
  • HarariLatin
  • HadiyyaHadiyyisa · Latin
  • Hmong, Northern QiandongHmong (Latin) · Latin
  • Hindiहिन्दी · Devanagari
  • HiligaynonIlonggo · Latin
  • Chin, MatuLatin
  • Hmonghveb Hmub · Latin
  • Hmong, Southern QiandongLatin
  • ChhattisgarhiDevanagari
  • HaniLatin
  • Hmong NjuaLatin
  • Hindustani, SarnamiLatin
  • HoDevanagari
  • HopiHopilàvayi · Latin
  • Haitian CreoleKreyòl Ayisyen · Latin
  • Huastec, San Luís PotosíLatin
  • InterlinguaLatin
  • IndonesianIndonesia · Latin
  • Interlingue (Latin)
  • IlokoIlokano · Latin
  • IdoLatin
  • RigweLatin
  • IraqwLatin
  • IcelandicÍslenska · Latin
  • ItalianItaliano · Latin
  • IzereLatin
  • Jamaican Creole EnglishJamiekan · Latin
  • Lojban (Latin)lojban (Latin)
  • Shuar, Ecuador (Latin)
  • MachameLatin
  • JavaneseJawa · Latin
  • AdaraLatin
  • JjuLatin
  • KambaKikamba · Latin
  • TyapLatin
  • KalangaLatin
  • KutuLatin
  • MakondeChimakonde · Latin
  • KabuverdianuLatin
  • QʼeqchiʼLatin
  • KongoKikongo · Latin
  • Gamale Kham, Devanagari
  • KhasiKa Ktien Khasi · Latin
  • Kharia (Devanagari)
  • KikuyuGĩgĩkũyũ · Latin
  • KuanyamaOshikwanyama · Latin
  • KalaallisutLatin
  • KalenjinMarkweta · Latin
  • KimbunduLatin
  • KonkaniDevanagari
  • KonjoLatin
  • KaondeLatin
  • KarelianKarjala · Latin
  • KurukhDevanagari
  • ShambalaKishambaa · Latin
  • KitubaLatin
  • KunamaLatin
  • CornishKernewek · Latin
  • Latin
  • Ladino (Latin)
  • LuxembourgishLëtzebuergesch · Latin
  • Lingua Franca Nova, Latin
  • Lhomi (Devanagari)
  • LigurianLigure · Latin
  • LeleLatin
  • LombardLatin
  • LongudaLatin
  • OtuhoLatin
  • Luba-LuluaTshiluba · Latin
  • LuvaleLatin
  • LundaLatin
  • LuoDholuo · Latin
  • Mizo (Latin)
  • LuyiaLatin
  • LuwoLatin
  • MadureseMadhurâ · Latin
  • Maithiliमैथिली · Devanagari
  • Matsés (Latin)
  • MeruKîmîîrû · Latin
  • Mauritian CreoleKreol Morisien · Latin
  • Makhuwa-MeettoImeetto · Latin
  • Maorite reo Māori · Latin
  • MinangkabauBaso Minangkabau · Latin
  • MískitoLatin
  • InnuInnu Aimun · Latin
  • MohawkKanien’kéha · Latin
  • Marathiमराठी · Devanagari
  • Maranao (Latin)
  • Mixe, TotontepecLatin
  • Musi (Latin)
  • MuscogeeMvskoke · Latin
  • MirandeseMirandés · Latin
  • ManyikaLatin
  • MozarabicLatin
  • MasaabaLatin
  • Mazatec, IxcatlánLatin
  • Mambila, NigeriaLatin
  • NeapolitanNapulitano · Latin
  • CahungwaryaLatin
  • Norwegian Bokmålnorsk bokmål · Latin
  • NyembaLatin
  • North NdebeleisiNdebele · Latin
  • NdauLatin
  • NdambaLatin
  • Low GermanNiedersächsisch · Latin
  • Nepaliनेपाली · Devanagari
  • NewariDevanagari
  • NdongaLatin
  • LomweLatin
  • NguluLatin
  • NiueanNiuē · Latin
  • Ao NagaLatin
  • DutchNederlands · Latin
  • Norwegian Nynorsknynorsk · Latin
  • Wancho Naga, Devanagari
  • NgindoLatin
  • NorwegianNorsk · Latin
  • Old Norse, Sweden (Latin)
  • NomatsiguengaLatin
  • NovialLatin
  • South NdebeleisiNdebele · Latin
  • NaraLatin
  • Jèrriais, Latin
  • Northern SothoSepedi · Latin
  • KombeLatin
  • Nupe-Nupe-TakoLatin
  • NyankoleRunyankore · Latin
  • NyoroLatin
  • OccitanLatin
  • OgbahLatin
  • OkiekLatin
  • OromoAfaan Oromoo · Latin
  • OroqenLatin
  • Otomi, MezquitalLatin
  • Tenango Otomi, Latin
  • Old Welsh, Latin
  • PampangaKapampangan · Latin
  • PapiamentoPapiamentu · Latin
  • PáezLatin
  • Paite Chin, Latin
  • PijinLatin
  • Pintupi-LuritjaLatin
  • PökootMarkweta · Latin
  • PiedmontesePiemontèis · Latin
  • PohnpeianPohnpei · Latin
  • Crioulo, Upper GuineaLatin
  • PogoloLatin
  • PipilLatin
  • Old ProvençalLatin
  • Ashéninka PerenéLatin
  • PortuguesePortuguês · Latin
  • Punuyipunu · Latin
  • KʼicheʼQatzijob'al · Latin
  • Kichwa, Unified QuichuaLatin
  • Chimborazo Highland QuichuaRuna Simi · Latin
  • Quechua, South BolivianLatin
  • Quechua, AyacuchoLatin
  • Quechua, CuscoRunasimi · Latin
  • Quechua, Ambo-PascoLatin
  • Quechua, CajamarcaLatin
  • Quechua, Huamalíes-Dos de Mayo HuánucoLatin
  • Quechua, Margos-Yarowilca-LauricochaLatin
  • Quechua, North JunínLatin
  • Quechua, Huaylas AncashLatin
  • Quechua, Northern Conchucos AncashLatin
  • Quechua, Arequipa-La UniónLatin
  • Camling (Devanagari)
  • Cook Islands MāoriMāori Kūki 'Āirani · Latin
  • Rapa (Latin)
  • Réunion Creole FrenchLatin
  • RejangLatin
  • RendilleLatin
  • ResheLatin
  • RomagnolLatin
  • Rohingya (Latin)
  • RomanshRumantsch · Latin
  • RundiIkirundi · Latin
  • RongaLatin
  • RomboLatin
  • LuguruLatin
  • KinyarwandaLatin
  • RwaLatin
  • Sanskritसंस्कृतम् · Devanagari
  • SandaweLatin
  • SamburuSampur · Latin
  • SasakLatin
  • Santali (Devanagari)
  • SanguShisango · Latin
  • SardinianSardu · Latin
  • SicilianSicilianu · Latin
  • ScotsScots Leid · Latin
  • Sassarese SardinianSardu · Latin
  • SenaCisena · Latin
  • SeriCmiique Iitom · Latin
  • SecoyaLatin
  • SangoSängö · Latin
  • Old IrishLatin
  • ShillukLatin
  • Shipibo-ConiboLatin
  • Arabic, Chadian SpokenLatin
  • SidamoLatin
  • SlovenianSlovenščina · Latin
  • SalarLatin
  • SamoanSāmoa · Latin
  • Southern SamiÅarjelsaemiengïele · Latin
  • ShonaChishona · Latin
  • SomaliSoomaali · Latin
  • AlbanianShqip · Latin
  • Sranan TongoLatin
  • SwatiSiswati · Latin
  • SahoLatin
  • Southern SothoSesotho · Latin
  • Saterland FrisianLatin
  • SundaneseBasa Sunda · Latin
  • SukumaKisukuma · Latin
  • SwedishSvenska · Latin
  • SwahiliKiswahili · Latin
  • Swahili, CongoLatin
  • SubaLatin
  • Eastern Tamangतामाङ‎ · Devanagari
  • Tetun DiliLatin
  • TetumLia Tetun · Latin
  • Tajik (Latin)
  • Thangmi (Devanagari)
  • Thakali (Devanagari)
  • TivLatin
  • Tiwi (Latin)
  • Southern TujiaLatin
  • TakwaneLatin
  • TokelauLatin
  • Klingon (Latin)
  • Talinga-BwisiLatin
  • TswanaSetswana · Latin
  • TongaLatin
  • Totonac, PapantlaLatin
  • Tok PisinLatin
  • TsongaXitsonga · Latin
  • TsamaiLatin
  • PurepechaLatin
  • TooroLatin
  • TulaLatin
  • TsuvadiLatin
  • TahitianReo Tahiti · Latin
  • Tzeltal, OxchucLatin
  • Tzotzil, ChamulaLatin
  • Uyghur (Latin)Uighur
  • UmbunduÚmbúndú · Latin
  • Mundari (Devanagari)
  • Munda (Devanagari)
  • ut-Hunu̱t-Hun · Latin
  • VepsVepsä · Latin
  • VidundaLatin
  • MakhuwaEmakhuwa · Latin
  • VolapükLatin
  • VõroLatin
  • VunjoLatin
  • WalloonWalon · Latin
  • WalserWalscher · Latin
  • Wolaytta (Latin)
  • WarayWaray-Waray · Latin
  • WarlpiriLatin
  • WendatLatin
  • MwaniLatin
  • XavánteA’uwẽ · Latin
  • XhosaisiXhosa · Latin
  • SogaLusoga · Latin
  • SherpaDevanagari
  • YapeseWaab · Latin
  • Yakha (Devanagari)
  • YasaLatin
  • YucatecoMàaya t'àan · Latin
  • ZhuangLatin
  • ZaghawaLatin
  • Zapotec, MiahuatlánLatin
  • ZayseLatin
  • Comorian, NgazidjaLatin
  • ZigulaLatin
  • Malay (Latin)
  • ZandeLatin
  • ZáparoLatin
  • Zapotec, GüiláLatin
  • ZuluisiZulu · Latin

Styles and weights

1 weight in italic and normal styles.

Each weight is provided as a separate font file.

  • Regular 400

OpenType features

Typographic behaviors that adjust character forms, spacing, and positioning. Availability can vary between files.

  • ABVMApplies the font’s abvm behavior during text shaping.abvm
  • ABVSApplies the font’s abvs behavior during text shaping.abvs
  • AKHNApplies the font’s akhn behavior during text shaping.akhn
  • BLWFApplies the font’s blwf behavior during text shaping.blwf
  • BLWMApplies the font’s blwm behavior during text shaping.blwm
  • BLWSApplies the font’s blws behavior during text shaping.blws
  • Small capitals from capitalsReplaces capital letters with forms designed to match small capitals.c2sc
  • Contextual alternatesChooses alternate forms that work better beside the surrounding letters.calt
  • Case-sensitive formsAdjusts punctuation and symbols to align with capital letters.case
  • Glyph compositionBuilds or separates glyphs so letters and marks shape correctly.ccmp
  • CJCTApplies the font’s cjct behavior during text shaping.cjct
  • DISTApplies the font’s dist behavior during text shaping.dist
  • DenominatorsUses denominator figures designed for fractions.dnom
  • FractionsBuilds diagonal fractions from ordinary numbers.frac
  • HALFApplies the font’s half behavior during text shaping.half
  • KerningFine-tunes the space between specific pairs of characters.kern
  • Standard ligaturesReplaces common letter sequences with standard ligatures.liga
  • Lining figuresUses figures that align with the height of capital letters.lnum
  • NUKTApplies the font’s nukt behavior during text shaping.nukt
  • NumeratorsUses numerator figures designed for fractions.numr
  • PRESApplies the font’s pres behavior during text shaping.pres
  • PSTSApplies the font’s psts behavior during text shaping.psts
  • RKRFApplies the font’s rkrf behavior during text shaping.rkrf
  • RPHFApplies the font’s rphf behavior during text shaping.rphf
  • Small capitalsReplaces lowercase letters with small capitals.smcp
  • Stylistic set 4Activates a coordinated set of alternate character designs.ss04
  • Stylistic set 5Activates a coordinated set of alternate character designs.ss05
  • SuperscriptUses glyphs designed to sit above the text baseline.sups

License

Complete terms and attribution for this font.

View license source →
Attribution

Copyright 2020 The Indigo Project Authors (https://github.com/TiroTypeworks/Indigo)

Copyright 2020 The Indigo Project Authors (https://github.com/TiroTypeworks/Indigo)

This Font Software is licensed under the SIL Open Font License, Version 1.1.
This license is copied below, and is also available with a FAQ at:
http://scripts.sil.org/OFL


-----------------------------------------------------------
SIL OPEN FONT LICENSE Version 1.1 - 26 February 2007
-----------------------------------------------------------

PREAMBLE
The goals of the Open Font License (OFL) are to stimulate worldwide
development of collaborative font projects, to support the font creation
efforts of academic and linguistic communities, and to provide a free and
open framework in which fonts may be shared and improved in partnership
with others.

The OFL allows the licensed fonts to be used, studied, modified and
redistributed freely as long as they are not sold by themselves. The
fonts, including any derivative works, can be bundled, embedded, 
redistributed and/or sold with any software provided that any reserved
names are not used by derivative works. The fonts and derivatives,
however, cannot be released under any other type of license. The
requirement for fonts to remain under this license does not apply
to any document created using the fonts or their derivatives.

DEFINITIONS
"Font Software" refers to the set of files released by the Copyright
Holder(s) under this license and clearly marked as such. This may
include source files, build scripts and documentation.

"Reserved Font Name" refers to any names specified as such after the
copyright statement(s).

"Original Version" refers to the collection of Font Software components as
distributed by the Copyright Holder(s).

"Modified Version" refers to any derivative made by adding to, deleting,
or substituting -- in part or in whole -- any of the components of the
Original Version, by changing formats or by porting the Font Software to a
new environment.

"Author" refers to any designer, engineer, programmer, technical
writer or other person who contributed to the Font Software.

PERMISSION & CONDITIONS
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining
a copy of the Font Software, to use, study, copy, merge, embed, modify,
redistribute, and sell modified and unmodified copies of the Font
Software, subject to the following conditions:

1) Neither the Font Software nor any of its individual components,
in Original or Modified Versions, may be sold by itself.

2) Original or Modified Versions of the Font Software may be bundled,
redistributed and/or sold with any software, provided that each copy
contains the above copyright notice and this license. These can be
included either as stand-alone text files, human-readable headers or
in the appropriate machine-readable metadata fields within text or
binary files as long as those fields can be easily viewed by the user.

3) No Modified Version of the Font Software may use the Reserved Font
Name(s) unless explicit written permission is granted by the corresponding
Copyright Holder. This restriction only applies to the primary font name as
presented to the users.

4) The name(s) of the Copyright Holder(s) or the Author(s) of the Font
Software shall not be used to promote, endorse or advertise any
Modified Version, except to acknowledge the contribution(s) of the
Copyright Holder(s) and the Author(s) or with their explicit written
permission.

5) The Font Software, modified or unmodified, in part or in whole,
must be distributed entirely under this license, and must not be
distributed under any other license. The requirement for fonts to
remain under this license does not apply to any document created
using the Font Software.

TERMINATION
This license becomes null and void if any of the above conditions are
not met.

DISCLAIMER
THE FONT SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT
OF COPYRIGHT, PATENT, TRADEMARK, OR OTHER RIGHT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
COPYRIGHT HOLDER BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY,
INCLUDING ANY GENERAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING
FROM, OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE FONT SOFTWARE OR FROM
OTHER DEALINGS IN THE FONT SOFTWARE.

Provenance

Where the files came from and what Fontsource distributes.

View upstream project →
Provider
Google Fonts
Source files
2
Formats
TTF
Revision
8b0a1d0f59