Pothi

Sanskrit word for a book form which uses palm leaves or wooden slats as the writing support.

Sanskrit word for a book form which uses palm leaves or wooden slats as the writing support. These are stacked on top of one another in sequence. Holes are bored through on one or both sides to string a cord to hold the leaves together. The cord is long enough for the reader to slide the slats up and down as the book is read. The length of the cord allows the reader to consult more than one slat at a time. The form itself resembles a venetian blind. Fan books are a book form similar in concept to the pothi. A fan book has a hole on one end of the slat. The cord is tied off, permitting the reader to "fan out" the leaves and/or flip them in a circle.