13.2. Kashmir State, Harsha Raja Deva

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INDIA, KASHMIR, HARSHA DEVA, AD 1089-1101, AE PANCHI OR STATER.

Observer	Reverse
Goddess Ardoksho enthroned facing Nagari Harsha Raja	King standing facing. Nagari Deva.
Metrics	19x17mm, 6.12gm, 11h.
Metal Grade	Copper Very Fine, brown patina, irregular flan.
Denominaton	Panchi
Date	1089 - 1101 AD

Lohara dynasty

Those Lohara dynasty governed Kashmir between 1003 and 1171. She came to the fall that Utpala dynasty in several changes of government to power and by the Upyadeva dynasty one followed. To its time the power of the Königtums went into Kashmir at the basis and those Muslim got for the first time influence in the state.

Table of contents 1 Prehistory 2 Queen Didda of Lohara 3 Sangrama Raja 4 Civil war under king Harsha 5 Fall 6 The most important kings 7 Web page

Prehistory

After the suicide those Utpala replacing king Yassaskara (, incurable illness governed 939-948) became the intrigante writer Parvagupta for one year the king (949-950, before since 939 Ministers). Its son Kshemagupta (governed 950-958) followed it, a Lüstling, which married the princess Didda von Lohara.

Queen Didda of Lohara

After the death of its man Kshemagupta Didda took over the government for its son Abhimanyu (governed 958-972) and their grandchildren and made themselves finally 980 even the queen. It was not harmless straight (eliminated many people, and. A. its grandchild Bhimagupta 980), but in administrative regard it was capable of and is considered to that extent as the actual Begründerin of the Lohara dynasty in Kashmir. Didda with the realm that was with regard to foreign policy Hindu Sahis (in Afghanistan and in the Pandjab), there it allies mütterlichseits a granddaughter of the there king Bhima Deva (governed approx. 940-965) was. It supported the Hindu Sahis against those Muslim.

Sangrama Raja

After Diddas death 1003 governed their nephew Sangrama Raja (1003-1028) in Kashmir; the son of its brother Udaya Raja (governed approx. 980 in Lohara). Sangrama Raja had already led the government as well as the Minister Tunga in Diddas last Lebensjahren. Also it supported those Hindu Sahis against the Muslims of the conquerer Mahmud of Ghazna (governed 998-1030) with an army under the Minister Tunga. But the days of the Hindu Sahis were counted, so that some the there princes to Sangrama Raja had to flee. Kashmir had to be defended twice (1015 and 1021) against the Ghaznawiden, most likely successfully.
After king Sangrama Raja followed its son Ananta Deva (1028-1063 governed, struck aristocracy revolt down) and then its grandchild Kalasha (1063-1089 governed).

Civil war under king Harsha

The turn came under Kalashas sons Utkarsha (1089 governed) and Harsha (1089-1001 governed). Harsha was a man of full personal contrasts; talented and cultivates, friendly, cruelly and greedily. Its government began - after the blood acts of its brother Utkarsha - shining and ended finally in size illusion, distrust and tyranny. Here the luck of the dynasty turned: Land aristocracy and people rose, Harshas troops overflowed, the capital were betrayed and the queens burned in the palace. Harsha it was killed on the escape (1001).
Harshas time also for the first time became due to their military abilities Muslim taken up in larger number to the army, later also into the administration. It needed however still more than 200 years, until this faith in the country became prevailing.

Fall

With Harshas fall came that Usurper Uchchala (1101-1111 governed), a descendant of Diddas brother Udaya Raja to power. After Uchchala its brother Sushala (1112-20 and 1121-28 governed, before in Lohara) followed and then its son Vijaya Simha (1128-1155 governed), but their succession to the throne and rule from relatives were often contested. All these kings depended from the outset on the land aristocracy, which had supported them during the seizure of power and it - if they became too arbitrary - afterwards again by means of new throne candidates fought. Thus the power of the Königtums purged and to 1171 appreciably ended the dynasty.

The most important kings

• [Queen Didda (move 958/80 1003)]
• Sangrama Raja (move 1003-1028)
• Hari Raja (move 1028)
• Ananta Deva (move 1028-1063, abges.)
• Kalasha (move 1063-1089)
• Utkarsha (move 1089)
• Harsha (move 1089-1001)
• Uchchala (move 1101-1111)
• Sushala (move 1112-20 and 1121-28)
• Vijaya Simha (move 1128-1155)
• Paramanu Deva (move 1155-1164)

Web page

• Lohara dynasty (EN.)

Links:
http://www.worldlingo.com/ma/dewiki/en/Lohara-Dynastie#B.C3.BCrgerkrieg_unter_K.C3.B6nig_Harsha
http://www.kashmir-information.com/ConvertedKashmir/Chapter7.html

13.0. Kashmir State, Dynasty Lohara

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Lohara King of Kings,The State of Lohara, Kashmir

Dynasty	Ruled
Didda	981-1004 AD
1st LOHARA
Samgramaraja	1004-1029 AD
Hariraja	1029 AD
Ananda	1029-1064 AD
Kaladja	1064-1090 AD
Utkardja	1090 AD
Harsha	1090-1102 AD
2nd LOHARA
Uchchala	1102-1113 AD
Radda	1113 AD
Salhana	1113 AD
Sussala	1113-1120 d. 1127
Bhikshachara	1120 AD
Sussala (restored)	1120-1127 AD
Jayasimha	1127-1154 AD
Pramanuka	1154-1164 AD
Varttideva	1164-1171 AD

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajatarangini

12.0. INDEPENDENT KINGDOM Pudukottai

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CHRONOLOGY OF RULERS OF INDIAN INDEPENDENT KINGDOM

Of

Pudukottai 
Martanda Bhairava
1886 - 1928 AD

Description: Amman Kasu of Pudukottai

Denomination	Amman 1 Kaasu
Issuer	Martanda Bhairava
Year	1889 AD
Obverse	Telugu letters which spell Vijaya
Reverse	Goddess Brihadh Ambal or Periya Naachiyaar
Metal	Copper
Weight	1.2 Gm
Diameter	11.5 mm
Mint	Birmingham, London
Obverse
Reverse

History of Martanda Bhairava

Marthanda Bhairava Tondaiman (April 15,1886 –May 28, 1928)
Tondaiman rulers of Pudukkottai who are famous for a unique circular copper coin they minted called Amman Kasu. The obverse of this coin portrays Goddess Parvati or Brihadamba, seated wearing a short skirt. The reverse of the Amman Kasu bears the legend Sri Vijuya (victory) in Telugu. Goddess Brihadamba is the presiding Goddess in the historic Siva temple at Tirugokarnam in Pudukkottai. The royal family worshipped in this temple which was also the venue of the coronation of many of the Tondaiman rulers. The first Amman kasu was minted in the year 1738. During the Navaratri festival, the Tondaiman king gave the Amman kasu along with a bag of rice and other gifts to all those who visited his palace.; Of all the coins issued by the various native states, the Amman kasu is well-known and is even worshipped in many Hindu households.


The princely state of Pudkottai was created by Raghunatha Thondaiman. Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati of Ramnad(1673-1708 A.D.)married Kathali Nachiar the sister of Thondaiman, he appointed his brother in law Raghunatha Thondaiman as a chief of the district of Pudukottai. Raghunatha Thondaiman was earlier ruling Thirumayam. In appreciation of Raghunatha Tondaman's services, Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati has given Pudukkottai as a honour for his services.. In later centuries, the Thondaiman rulers, while nominally feudatories of the Ramnad state, often pursued an independent foreign policy, a trend common in all parts of India at that time.After the death of Raghunatha Kilavan Setupati he become ruler of Pudukottai.. After becoming the ruler of Pudukottai, Raghunatha Thondaiman fought against the Nayaks of Tanjore in support of the Nayaks of Madurai and conquered Thirukkattupalli a very important place. Then there was a direct clash between Thondaimans of Pudukottai and the Nayaks rulers of Tanjore. Thondaiman conquered the west of Thirukkattupalli..The next ruler Raja Vijaya Reghunatha Raya Thondaiman he helped Arcot Nawab against Hyder Ali the ruler of Mysore. He was also loyal towards the British Government. After some time, when Hyder Ali’s army tried to enter into Pudukkottai, the Thondaiman’s army successfully defeated them and drove Hyder’s army away. Thondaiman captured Kilanilai and Aranthangi. He helped the British Government against Tipu Sultan..Pudukkotai finally came under formal British protection. This was arguably unavoidable, since the Thondaimans were much menaced in that period by a resurgent Mysore ruled by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan had sought to leverage the power of the French against his British adversaries, and Pudukkotai, in common with its neighbours such as Thanjavur and Travancore, found it expedient to ally with the British. .Raja Rajagopala Thondaiman (1928 -1948) the last and ninth in the line of Thondaiman rulers, was selected by the British Government and was crowned when he was six years old. After Indian independence in 1947, the Pudukkottai Princely State was amalgamated with Indian Union on 04/03/1948 and became a division in Tiruchirappalli district. The long history of the Thondaimans rule came to an end.

The Thondaiman dynasty
Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman (1686 - 1730)
Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman (1730 - 1769)
Raya Raghunatha Tondaiman (1769 - Dec 1789)
Vijaya Raghunatha Tondaiman (Dec 1789 - Feb 1, 1807)
Vijaya Raghunatha Raya Tondaiman (Feb 1,1807 - June 1825)
Raghunatha Tondaiman (June 1825 - July 13, 1839)
Ramachandra Tondaiman (July 13, 1839 - April 15, 1886)
Marthanda Bhairava Tondaiman (April 15,1886 –May 28, 1928)
Rajagopala Tondaiman (October 28, 1928 - March 04, 1948)


Origin of Pudukkottai
Once, when the King of Vijayanagar was on his way to Rameswaram, one of his elephants went berserk and that elephant was brought under control by Avadai Tondaiman of Karambakkudi (near Pudukkottai), a stronghold of the Kallar community. So, the King honoured him with a long title in telugu "Raya Rahutta Raya Vajridu Raya Mannidu Raya", and extended favours. Avadai Tondaiman's sons Ragunatha Raya Tondaiman and Namana helped Rajah Sethupathi of Ramnad in defeating his enemies. As a result, a few territories, one of them being Pudukkottai, under the domain of the Rajah of Ramnad were gifted to the brothers. Raghunatha Raya became the first Tondaiman ruler of Pudukkottai in 1686. Thus, the kingdom of Pudukkottai came into existence. 

Princely State:
In addition to Presidencies, a very large number of kingdoms existed when the British ruled India. They were known as Princely States or Native States and very few native states had the privilege of issue of stamps and coins. Pdukkottai is the one amongst the few. As the area under Kingdom is around 2000 square miles and land locked in the larger Madras Presidency, the Tondaimans issued only one denomination coin, the famouns Amman Kaasu.

Why it is called Amman Kassu:
The Amman Kaasu is so-named after the presiding Goddess Brihadh Ambal or Periya Naachiyaar in the historic Shiva temple at Tirugokarnam in Pudukkottai. The obverse of the coin figures Brihathambal and the other side has telugu letters which spell " Sri Vijaya". From this, it is understood that the Pudukottai was under the dominions of the Nayak Kingdom of Madurai which in turn was under the mighty Vijayanagar Empire. The first Amman Kasu was minted in the year 1738. In the initial years, the dump Amman Kassu was handcrafted at the Pudukottai mint. Later, the coin was machine made atLondon and shipped to Pudukottai. 
The Amman Kaasu, though small in denomination was able to buy small items of food, snacks, and fruits. Twelve Amman Kaasu were equal to then one British quarter anna at one time. It was made of highly pure copper. At the time of the Indian Independence, there was an abundance of these coins. But they were collected by the coppersmiths and goldsmiths, who melted them down into metallic copper.
Why Brihadambal as Amman on Coin?
Brihadh Ambal or Periya Naachiyaar is the tutelary deity of the dynasty of the Thondaimaans. The royal family worshipped in the temple and was also the venue of the coronation of the many of the rulers. It is said that there was a rebellion in Pudukkottai at one time. The ruling Thondaimaan's own kinsmen and relatives were contesting for the throne of Pudukkottai. So, in order to sort out the problem a scheme was proposed by the able Divan of the Samasthaan, called Sesha Saasthrigal.
Accordingly, the Thondaimaan decreed that, henceforth the Sovereign State of Pudukkottai would be the property of the Goddess Brihadh Ambal. The Thondaimaan will hereafter administer the state as Her Viceroy. Anybody rebelling against the State also commits sin and thereby against the Supreme Goddess, who is the true ruler of the state. Thereafter, Thondaimaan kings added a prefix to their string of titles -
Sri La Sri Brihadh Ambal Daasa, Jamshad JamBahadhur, etc., etc., So-and-So Thondaimaan Maharaja of Pudukkottai. During the Navaratri festival, the Tondaimaan (King) used to offer the Amman Kassu along with a bag of rice and other gifts to all those who visited his palace Thus the Pudukkottai rulers ruled happily for ever till 1948.


Article:
In this article we have seen how the Tondaiman kings called themselves `Brhadambadas' (servant of Goddess Brhadamba) and issued coin portraying their tutelary Deity. Please wait for the article on coin portraying Lord Padmanaba issued by Padmanabadassas(servants of Lord Padmanaba), the Travancore Rajas.

The coin does not have a date. Marthanda Bhairava (1886-1928) ruled Puthukotai prior to Rajagopala(1928-1947).Here in India these coins are locally known as Lakshmi kasu of Rajagopala. His rule came to an end by 1947 when India became independent and these milled coins are commonly available here in uncirculated condition probably because they were not released into circulation due to the end of his rule. The crude coins bearing Lakshmi figure and the writing "vijaya" were probable issues of Marthanda Bhairava the later ones must in that way be of Rajagopala. So I believe they must have been issued by Rajagopala.

Ref: http://southindiancoins.blogspot.com/2009/10/thondaiman-dynasty-of-pudukkottai-coins.html

10.5. Silver Drachm, ca850-1000 AD, Samanta Deva

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Shahi Kings of Kabul and Gandhara

Silver drachm, Samanta Deva ca. 850-970 AD

Obv	Rev

Coin of Shahi Kings of Kabul & Gandhara Ruler Samanta Deva Circa AD, 850 - 970
Unit Silver drachm, AR Jital, 18mm, 3.33gm, axis: 135º
Obverse Horseman riding right holding banner.
Reverse Sri Samanta Deva in Sarada script. Bull Nandi recumbent left, Tamgha on hindquarters.
Reference Mitchiner 1585 – 1588
Reference Link
Reference Wikipedia

The Shahi (Devanagari शाही) [1], Sahi [2], also called Shahiya [3][4] dynasties ruled one of the Middle kingdoms of India which included portions of the Kabulistan and the old province of Gandhara (now in northern Pakistan), from the decline of the Kushan Empire in the third century to the early ninth century.[4] The kingdom was known as "Kabul Shahi" (Kabul-shāhān or Ratbél-shāhān in Persian کابلشاهان یا رتبیل شاهان) between 565 and 879[5]CE when they had Kapisa and Kabul as their capitals, and later as "Hindu Shahi" when they moved their capital to Hund. [6]
The Shahis of Kabul/Gandhara are generally divided according to two eras into the so-called Buddhist-Shahis and the so-called Hindu-Shahis, with the change-over thought to have occurred sometime around AD 870.

This Brahmanical Shahi of Afganistan and Punjab (modern Pakistan) minted interesting coins, called `bull and horseman' type coins which were later adopted by many post-Gupta dynasties including all Rajput kings (an example of Chauhan dynasty is shown below). Interestingly, these coins were also widely used as prototype by all muslim conquerors and rulers of North-west part of India which include Mahmud of Ghor. These coins were first minted by Spalapati Deva in mid-ninth century. Later on the Samanta Deva coinage was used as prototype for increasingly debased coinage struck by many dynasties. Shown above is a fine example of coin of this dynasty. The reverse of these well-executed silver coins display a recumbent bull partly draped with an ornamental cloth and stamped with the mark of trident on his rear flank. Above is the legend, "Shri Samanta Deva". On the obverse is a horseman who holds a long spear with legend "Bhi" on left margin.

COINS OF RAJPUT DYNASTIES

By tenth century the Kshatriyas or warriors of northern India, who were descendents of post-Gupta rulers, took up a name for themselves, Rajputs, sons of Kings (derived from Sanskrit word Rajputra). These warriors depending upon lineage, divided into various clans. Each clan had a distinct lineage and kingdom. These Rajput rulers often fought among themselves to assert the supremacy, but none could built an empire. Instead, the northern, central and western parts of India was divided among many of these rulers into kingdoms of various sizes. This was the major factor which prompted the Islamic invaders to pour in India, mainly from Afghanistan and central Asia, as there was no central authority left to challenge them. Most of these Rajput rulers minted coins of similar fabric. Their gold coins were almost always had stylized Laxmi on obverse, the design of which was essentially derived from Gangeyadeva coinage (originally from Gupta coins), while reverse had name of the ruler in Devnagri script. The weight of these gold coins was maintained to be four and half Masha, which is equivalent to 3.6 gms. The silver coinage was almost entirely copied from Bull-Horseman type coin of Hindu Shahi of Kabul (an example of which is shown above) except the name of ruler was changed. Unfortunately, no ruler (Vigraharaja may be an exception) made any serious attempt to introduce new motifs or design on their coinage, nor any monetary reforms were introduced. The debasement of coinage was widespread and artistry was perhaps lowest in entire history of India.

Monday, April 12th 2010

10.4. Silver Drachm, ca315 - 332 AD, Yasodaman II

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Coins of Western Kshatrapas

Western Kshatrapas -The Kardamaka or Bhadramukha Family : Yashodaman II

1) Ruler : Yashodaman II , The Kardamaka or Bhadramukha Family
2) Year : 315AD - 332 AD
3) Size : 15mm - 17mm
4) Weight : 1.94 gms
3) Unit : Drachm, Silver
4) Obverse : Bust right with close-fitting headdress; blundered Greek legend.
5) Reverse : Three-arched hill (chaitya), crescents and star above, river below; Brahmi inscription:
Rajno Kshtrapasa Rudrasiha putrasa Rajno Kshatrapasa Yashodamnaha
6) Reference : A.Jha & D Rajgor Studies in the coinage of W. Kshatrapas Type : 769-798


Bust of Yasodaman II right with collar showing, wearing a satrapal cap, date in Brahmi numerals behind bust (241 SE = 319 AD), corrupt Greek inscription / Crescent on a hill over a wavy line, crescent in the left field and sun in the right field, Brahmi inscription RaJna KsaTraPaSa RuDraSiHaPuTrSa RaJna KsaTraPaSa YaSoDaMna. 17mm, 1.95 grams.

"Studies in the Coinage of Western Kshatrapas"