2026-08-03 Mon

Celebrating the first Monday of the sacred month of Shravan (Shravana Masa), we present another masterpiece copper coin. This piece beautifully depicts Lord Rama and Sita alongside Shri Rama’s most revered deity, the Shiva Lingam, issued by the lesser-known South Indian kingdom of Sivaganga.

The historic Ramnad kingdom, ruled by the Sethupathi dynasty, was eventually divided following internal conflicts. With the support of the Raja of Thanjavur and Kattaya Thevan, Sasivarna defeated the usurper Bhavani Sankaran at the Battle of Ooriyur. As a result, he was granted two-fifths of the northern territory of Ramnad, including regions around present-day Sivaganga district, Thirupathur, and Piranmalai. The name “Sivaganga” itself is derived from Shiva and Ganga, reflecting the region’s strong spiritual associations, particularly a sacred local spring.

On the obverse of the coin,Lord Rama and Sita are shown standing and facing forward. The reverse features a Shiva Lingam placed on a high pedestal (peetha), with the Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra bhagas adorned with a garland. This copper coin weighs 9.95 grams.