2016-09-20 Tue

Ratti seeds – a seed of a common tree had a great purpose in ancient times.

In the course of time, metal was used as a medium of exchange which could be used as stable currency. However, mere discovery of metal as a suitable medium could not serve the purpose. The problem was how to use metal. The medium was required to be uniform in weight size to serve the purpose of exchange. Consequently, balance was invented, and with it raised the need for a standard weight. Seeds were considered a suitable medium, as they were fairly uniform in weight and size. Metal was weighted against Ratti seeds.

Kautilya’s Arthasastra contains references to silver coins (called pana, ardha-pana). Various other literature along with Arthasastra, mentions the Karshapana was messured against 32 Rattis and its various subdivisions like ardha-karshapana (16 Rattis), dvimasa (1/8 Karshapana) and masa (1/16 Karshapana).

Panini in Asthadyayi also mentioned other denominations of coin viz. vimastika (40 Rattis), trimastika (60 rattis), satamana (100 rattis) and sana (12.5 rattis).

The earliest inscriptional reference to karshapana is found in Nasik Cave inscription (ca. 119-124 BCE) of Dakhamitra, wife of Ushavadata. Three thousand Karshapanas were donated to the Buddhist monks for their different items of expenditure through this inscription.

Among these various denominations of coin, thirty-two rattis weighed Karshapana was abundantly found in various regions of Indian Sub-continent. Hence Ratti seeds, which are pretty useless today, were used for the great purpose in the ancient times.