2025-04-23 Wed

The arched hill, an ancient symbol found in Indian coinage, is often considered a representation of a Buddhist Chaitya, which gained prominence during the Mauryan Empire. This symbol later appeared on the coins of Taxila, the Satavahanas, the Western Kshatrapas, the Kunindas and the Traikutakas.

In Jainism, "Trikuta" (???????) is a very important symbol and refers to a concept with multiple meanings:

A mountain: Trikuta is a mountain mentioned in Jain scriptures, often described as having three peaks. It's a significant location in Jain cosmology and mythology.

A type of temple: A Trikuta temple is a type of Jain temple characterized by having three distinct sections, often dedicated to different Tirthankaras or deities.

The Three Jewels (Tri-Ratna): This refers to the core tenets of Jainism: right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.

The symbol of the arched hill appears in various forms in Indian coinage, including three arches, three arches with a crescent above, and six arches. On the coins of the Western Kshatrapas, the three-arched hill is depicted with a river flowing below, a crescent moon to the left, and a sun to the right.