2016-09-19 Mon

Animals are revered in Indian tradition. The sacred animal of Chalukya has found its special place on their coins.

The Chalulyan dynasty was divided into three branches- Kalyani(Hyderabad), Vatapi (Bijapur) and Vengi. The reign of the Kalyani Chalukyas(9th-10th Century AD) has been called Golden age in Kannad literature.

One such gold coin of Kalyani Chalukya bears Boar standing in profile to right on a pedestal, sun and crescent moon above and floral motives around and Three-line legend in old Kannada Shri Nanniya Gokajaga in reverse. This particular coin is Very Fine and Extremely Rare.

The Boar was the royal emblem of the Chalukyas. Varaha is the third of the ten incarnations of Vishu. Varaha is one-tusked wild boar. The boar does not accept defeat even at the cost of its life. Similarly, Chalukyan rulers too did not give up.

Can u name up any other Indian dynasty depicting sacred animals on their coin?