HINDU COINS OF MEDIEVAL INDIA ; Yadavas of Devagiri ; Ramachandra Deva ; RARE Gold Padma Tanka ;

Description

HINDU COINS OF MEDIEVAL INDIA ; Yadavas of Devagiri, Ramachandra Deva, RARE Gold Padma Tanka,
Five punches, lotus in centre, Shankha, Nagari legend Sri Rama , two punches of Shri in Kannada script (Mitch K&A 289)
Weight : 3.70 Grams
Note : Central punch of an eight-petalled Lotus flower (hence called Padma Tanka) with additional 4-punches around commencing from 12 ‘O’ clock, “Sri Rama” (in Nagari script, with a double bladed spear / javelin below the name), “Sri”, “Conch” and “Sri”.

The central punch on the ‘Padmatanka’ coins represents a Lotus flower (Padma = Lotus, Tanka = Stamp or Punch) with its 8 outstretched petals representing “Asth-lakshmi” or the eight primary forms of the Goddess Lakshmi viz.

Adi – One with Supreme
Dhanya – Harvest
Dhairya – Inner Strength and Patience
Gaja – Elephant – wisdom
Santan – Child
Vijay – Victory
Dhana – Wealth; and
Vidya – Knowledge

“Sri” is both an honorary epithet used before a name, especially that of a ruler, as well as refers to Laxmi, Goddess of Wealth.
The “conch” symbol is usually associated with the God Vishnu, of whom Laxmi is the consort.

By placing his name alongside the various attributes/symbols of the Gods, the King is invoking a symbolic parallelism of his right to rule with the blessings of the Gods as the King’s name “Sri Rama or Ramadeva” evokes the legendary Lord Rama, an avtar of Vishnu.
In 1294, Ala-ud-din Khilji of the Delhi Sultanate captured Devagiri. Khilji restored it to Ramachandra in return for his promise of payment of a high ransom that included 600 maunds of pearls, two maunds of Diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires (One maund was around 40 Kilograms), and an annual tribute. However, the tribute was not paid and the Seuna kingdom’s arrears to Khilji kept mounting. In 1307, Khilji sent an army commanded by Malik Kafur, accompanied by Khwaja Haji, to Devagiri. The Muslim governors of Malwa and Gujarat were ordered to help Malik Kafur. Their huge army conquered the weakened and defeated forces of Devagiri almost without a battle. Ramachandra was taken to Delhi. Khilji reinstated Ramachandra as governor and was given the title “Rai Rayan” (king of kings), in return for a promise to help him subdue the Hindu kingdoms in South India. In 1310, Malik Kafur mounted an assault on the Kakatiya kingdom from Devagiri.