Signs and conjunct forms
अं and अः show anusvar and visarg in a teaching context. क्ष, त्र, ज्ञ, श्र are conjunct forms, not four extra basic consonants. Charts differ in what they include, so we do not claim one universal letter total.
Swar and matras
आ is an independent vowel; ा is its dependent sign. Adding it to क makes का. Compare the forms in the barakhadi chart.
A five-minute activity
- Choose just अ and आ.
- Say their example words, then point to the first letters.
- Cover the word and find the same letter again.
- Try one vowel worksheet. Stop before it becomes a test.