Banavasi is a tiny town on the border of north Karnataka and Shimoga districts. It is mentioned in inscriptions and literature as Vanavasa, Vanavasaka, Vanavasi, Banavase, and Banavasi. It is stated in Mahavamsa that Asoka’s emissary Buddha Rakshita was deputed to Vanavasi. Banavasi has grown around the Madhukeshwara temple built in the 9^th century, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It also appears to have been the southern headquarters of the Satavahanas. The town was the capital of the Chutus and the Kadamba rulers.

There are both inscribed and uninscribed coins which have been attributed to the Kadambas of Banavasi. The inscribed coins are mostly of a later date issued by the few last rulers. One of the most common themes in these coins is the presence of the chakra. Kannada characters are inscribed in the space between the spokes of the chakra. The epigraphs of Banavasi kingdom begin with an invocation of Siva or Vishnu indicating their Vishnu faith.

 

Amongst the uninscribed coins, variations of the chakra are observed with four, five and six spokes. Coins with geometrical devices and lotus-like symbol are also seen. Various forms of conch on different denominations are frequent. The wide die variations seen on these symbols indicate their use for a prolonged period of time. The chronology of these coins according to K. Ganesh is uncertain. The attribution of these coins to the Kadambas of Banavasi is based on the presence of some of these symbols such as conch shell. There is a frequent usage of the term rasi (Doharasi and Manarasi) on the inscribed coins along with the wheel. Rasi symbol means a sign of Zodiac, thus the chakra is probably depicted as a time-wheel.

 

With legend Sri Dosharasi: The coins of Krishnavarma II sported the title of Sri Dosharasi, where dosha could probably be attributed to moon and darkness. Coins with mint epithet Sasamka are also found.

With legend Sri Manarasi: Since the legend “Sri Manarasi” is not encountered in any inscription, their attribution could be imprecise. However, the following things need to be considered before making a tentative attribution:

1. Coins with the legend Sri Manarasi show the influence of Pallavas, some of the Pallava coinage do have similar attributes such as the conch and chakra
2. As already stated, the Triparvata branch of rulers seems to have the blessings of Pallava kings
3. Krishnavarma II minted coins with the legend Sri Dosharasi and Dosharasi. There is a similarity in the obverse of these coins and coins with the legend Sri Manarasi
4. Amongst the inscribed coins of Kdambas of Banavasi, 70% of the inscribed coins had the legend Sri Manarasi, thus indicating that the coins were minted over a long period
5. Some of the coins with legend Sri Manarasi are executed in crude characters, indicating deterioration of power.Hence it could be concluded that in all probability, the coins were either minted by Ravivarma or by Krishnavarma II

Reference: Coins of Banavasi by K. Ganesh