2022-10-13 Thu

Banavasi is the oldest town in the Karnataka state. It has grown up around the Madhukeshwara Temple built in the 5th century and dedicated to Shiva the supreme God in Shaivism, a major branch of Hinduism.

5th-century copper coin was discovered here with an inscription in the Kannada script, one of the oldest such coins ever discovered. Adikavi Pampa, the first poet of Kannada, wrote his epics in Banavasi.

The town once was the capital of the Kadamba rulers, an ancient royal dynasty of Karnataka. They established themselves there in A.D. 345 and ruled South India for at least two centuries. There are several legends regarding the origin of the Kadambas. According to one such legend the originator of this dynasty was a three-eyed four-armed warrior called Trilochana Kadamba (the father of Mayurasharma) who emerged from the sweat of the god Shiva under a Kadamba tree.

The obverse of the coin depicts Elephant which is moving towards right side. And the reverse depicts Brahmi legends. The shape of the coin is round and made up of potin metal.

Image Courtesy: Mintage World