2016-10-06 Thu

Navratri, the festival which is celebrated with such pomp and zest in India is the festival that venerates the various forms or avatars of the Goddess Durga. Mhaishasura Mardini, Mahakali, Mahasaraswati and many more names of this Goddess are worshipped during these “Nine nights”.

The fierce form of Goddess Durga is seated on her vahana or mount, the lion! Lion is the symbol of royalty, stateliness and a symbol of bravery. Maybe that’s the reason lions are depicted in various arts and objects since ancient India, as emblems and state symbols.

The very first depiction of lion on coins is seen on the coins of early Indo-Greek rulers Pantaleon (c.185-175 B.C.) and Agathocles (180-165 B.C.) Later other dynasties also continued with the lion symbols and we have Azes (1st BCE) of the Indo-Scythian dynasty who minted similar coins. The majestic lion symbolises royal dignity and power and hence the Indian dynasties which came later depicted this animal on their coins. Indian tribe of Vrishni (10-40 CE) from North India had “Lion wheel” type coins also.

The Ancient Indian empires like the Western Kshatrapas, the Satavahanas, the Early Cholas, the Gupta, The Vishnukundins, the Pallavas, the Cheras, etc has lions depicted on them. The coins continued to have lions even in the medieval period with the Hoysalas and the Chalukyas depicting them.

The span of one or two centuries saw the fall of lions and yet again in the 15th-16th CE the lions made a comeback with the lion and dagger type coins of Harihara I/ II of Vijanagara and other rulers of Tripura dynasty.

The legacy of lions on coins was continued by British who issued on gold mohurs which depicted the lion along with a palm tree.

Do you know that India still continues to portray lion on coins? Especially the four lions of the Ashokan Sarnath Pillar, which is the emblem of India, is still been continued on Indian Rupee both on notes and on coins! Sometimes the emblem is also depicted on Republic India stamps.

Recently in 2012 an INR 5 and 10 commemorative coin was issued to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and this coin depicts the magnificent Goddess Vaishno Devi.

Happy Navratri! Stay Blessed and Keep Collecting!