2026-09-19 Sat

Ongoing festive celebrations of Ganpati, the powerful symbolism of the elephant takes on a special resonance. Revered as the mount of Indra, associated with strength, wisdom and royal authority, the elephant has occupied an important place in India’s religious, artistic and political traditions. This enduring symbolism is also vividly reflected in the coinage of the Vijayanagara Empire, where powerful animal motifs were used to convey ideas of strength, courage and royal might. Vijayanagara coinage is known for a wide range of animal and divine motifs, including the elephant, which appears on several issues.

Among the more striking examples is the Gaja-Sardula type, represented by this copper coin weighing 8.52 g. The term Gaja-Sardula combines gaja (elephant) and sardula (lion), referring to the dramatic combat between the two animals. On the obverse of this coin, a lion is depicted attacking an elephant, leaping over its back. The energetic composition captures a moment of confrontation and creates a striking visual representation of the triumph of one powerful creature over another. The lion-and-elephant combat motif has a long history in Indian art and literature, where the lion overcoming an elephant could serve as a metaphor for courage and victory.

Animal combat imagery was particularly suited to the visual language of medieval Indian coinage. The elephant itself was an important symbol of royal power and military strength, and Vijayanagara rulers were especially associated with elephant imagery. Coins of the empire include several elephant types, while historical sources also connect Devaraya II with elephant hunting and the title Gajabentekara or Gajagandabherunda.

The reverse of the present coin carries an inscription in early Nagari script. Nagari and its regional forms were used on Vijayanagara coinage, and inscriptions in Nagari are an important feature of the empire's numismatic tradition. The Archaeology Department of Tamil Nadu, for example, records Vijayanagara coins bearing Nagari legends, including issues of Krishnadevaraya.