Ujjain, the "Ancient Greenwich" and the Ujjaini Symbol

 

Ujjain was the capital of Avanti Mahajanapada during the Vedic period. Even after Avanti was no longer an independent kingdom, it remained the capital of the western provinces during the Mauryan and Gupta times. Along with Varanasi it seems to have been a great centre of learning, especially in astronomy in ancient times.

One of the earliest available texts on Indian astronomy, the 'Surya Siddhanta', dated to the 4th century BC, explains with clarity that the earth is a sphere. It also describes the scientific methods for determining the Prime Meridian. From the text, it is seen that these methods were thousands of years old, even at the time of its composition and indicated that the "Prime Meridian" passed through the historic city of Ujjain.                                                    

Aryabhata in AD 499 said " when it is morning in Lanka, it is sunset at  Siddhapura, noon at Yavakotya and midnight in Romakdesh "

                     

        Please see this video                           

              

                                        

Ujjain is a zero point for both time and geographical calculations and in the ancient and medieval world, the " Greenwich" line was always drawn through Ujjain. Since 'time' in Sanskrit is called "kala" the main Shiva temple located exactly there, is called as "Mahakala temple". All Indian traditional calendars and all sacred time is calculated even now from this line (Ujjain time which is roughly 29 minutes behind the Indian Standard Time) including birth charts in astrology. It was only in 1884 that the present " Greenwich" was agreed to in the International Meridian Conference to determine a common zero meridian, probably due to the political and economic conditions of that time. 

Additionally, it was here in Ujjain that the legendary king Vikramaditya drove away the Sakas and started a new era, the Vikram Samvat or the Ujjain calendar around 58-56 BC. 

                                                           

                            Ujjaini Symbol

The Ujjaini symbol is common to Indian numismatics. It consists of a cross connecting four circles/orbs. There are various types even for the orbs, they are either hollow or filled with pellets or swastika symbols. A single or double ring also appears inside the orbs. Amongst the various theories about this symbol, the most likely one is that the Ujjaini symbol represents the occurrence of a phenomena that the equator passes through Ujjain and the tropic of cancer cuts the equator just in the middle of Ujjain city, thus forming a cross at Ujjain. 

There are a few who believe that it represents the junction of four roads to the city of Ujjain as it was an important trade centre or some who believe it represents " Damru" of Lord Shiva, whereas some say it represents four gates of Ujjain.

There are various ancient dynasties and kingdoms of ancient India that used "Ujjaini symbol" on their coinage. It is seen on coins of Satavahanas, Vidharba , coins from Eran, Bhadra Mitra, Kaushambi, Erikachha etc. This was a symbol accepted on coins by the traders of Ujjain.

                                                        

Bronze 1/4th karshapna, 200 BC, weight 2.4 gm.

Obverse: Three headed standing Shiva holding Danda and kamandalu, railed tree on right and chakra above fish tank on left

Reverse: Ujjaini symbol with swastika in each orb                                                    

Copper 1/4th karshapna, weight 3.2 gm, 250-200 BC.

Obverse: Shiv Parvati holding hands, Parvati's right hand raised to her head, Shiv's left akimbo, hair decorations on side of head, river at the bottom.

Reverse: Ujjaini symbol with a taurine in each orb.                                                       

Gajlakshmi, Copper 3/8th karshapna, weight 4.1 gm, 200 BC, Abisheka-Lakshmi type

Obverse: Lakshmi seated with feet parallel to each other, right rests on her belly and her left on her leg: Lakshmi is flanked by two elephants which are sprinkling water on her head.

Reverse: Ujjaini symbol.

                                                      

3/8th Karshapna, 200 BC, weight 3.3 gm, elephant type

Obverse: Elephant with raised trunk to right with chakra on top left, railed tree on right

Reverse: Ujjaini symbol with a taurine in each angle.

                                                   

Potin, Satkarni, Satavahana dynasty, 100 BC, weight 2.5 gm

Obverse: Elephant facing right and Brahmi legends

Reverse: Ujjaini symbol.

                                                  

Eran Videsha copper, 250-200 BC, weight 1.4 gm

Obverse: tree in railing, Ujjaini symbol, Indradhvaj, taurine, swastika.

Reverse: blank

                                                      

Eran, Narmada Valley, 300-200 BC, weight 1.95 gm

Obverse: bull to right, Ujjaini symbol, Indradhvaj

Reverse: blank.

The Mauryan Empire (321–185 BC)

 

The Mauryan Empire grew out of the Magadh Janapada. The empire was founded around 322 BC by Chandragupta Maurya, after overthrowing the unpopular Nanda King of Magadh with the help of Chanakya, who became his confidant. He started consolidating land as Alexander the Great's power began to wane after his death in 323 BC. Chandragupta did not conquer most of the land that made up his empire. 

                              

                    Chandragupta Punch mark Coin

With the exception of Gandhara, all the lands ruled by him had been conquered by the Nanda emperors. The dynasty ruled for about two hundred years till 185 BC. The empire expanded south of the Hindu Kush mountains (present-day Afghanistan) after Seleucid Emperor Seleucus I ceded to him. His son Bindusara and grandson Ashoka expanded the empire. However, after the battle of Kalinga in 261 BC, Ashoka decided to abandon war altogether. He converted to Buddhism and spread it all across his empire and also to other countries.It was the first pan-Indian empire that covered most of the Indian region, spanned over parts of modern day Iran as well.

The Mauryan Empire survived for about 50 years after Ashoka’s death, before a general Pushyamitra Sunga usurped the throne and went on to create the Shunga Empire.

Maurya coinage consists mainly of silver karshapanas, almost all coins have five or six punches and always include a sun symbol in those punches. The Mauryan Empire also introduced for the first time in India square-shaped copper coins with punch marks. Some of the later coins of Ashoka bear his royal mark on the reverse.

                          Maurya Empire, 250 BC

                      

Chandragupta Maurya, Silver karshapana, weight 3.1 gm

Obverse: Three female figures and six-armed symbol

Reverse: Peacock walking right, on five arched hills, 

Silver karshapna, 300–200 BC, weight 3.38 gm                                                         

Silver karshapna, Ashoka 300–200 BC, weight 3.3 gm

         

                                             

 Silver karshapna, Magadh, series IV, 400–300 BC, weight 3.4 gm

Silver karshapna, 400–200 BC, weight 2.9 gm

Copper coin, Ashoka 200–300 BC, weight 2.6 gm

Silver karshapna, Ashoka 200–300 BC, weight 3.39 gm

 

Silver karshapna, series V, 400–300 BC, weight 3.4 gm

Silver karshapna, Ashoka 268–232 BC, weight 3.2 gm

 Maurya Empire

Mauryan Empire

The Mauryan Empire

The Indo-Greek Empire Coins (181 BC-10 AD)

The invasion of Alexander took place in the year 326 BC. He left some of his military generals and soldiers to occupy and rule his Indian and Central Asian conquests. One of his generals, Seleucus Nicator, founded the Seleucid Empire. In 303 BC, Seleucus led an army to the Indus where he encountered Chandragupta. The confrontation ended in a peace treaty.

Around 185 BC the Maurya dynasty was overthrown and Pusymitra Sunga ascended the throne and established the Sunga Empire which extended as far west till Punjab.

Around 181 BC, the Greco-Bactrian King Demetrius, son of the Greco-Bactrian King Euthydemus 1 invaded India across the Hindu Kush. Apollodotus, most likely made advances to the South while Menander led the invasion to the East. They conquered present-day Afghanistan and parts of Punjab and established what is known as the Indo-Greek Empire. Back in Bactria, however, in 175 BC, Eucratides managed to topple the Euthydemid dynasty and started a civil war by invading the Indo-Greek territory. Their advance was, however, checked by Indo-Greek King Menander.

The Indo-Greek rule later included the present-day Afghanistan, north-west parts of Pakistan and the Indian provinces of Kashmir and Punjab. During the two centuries of their rule, they combined the Greek and Indian languages and symbols, as seen on their coins. There were several dynasties and over 40 rulers and the main source of their information is numismatic evidences. The coins were made of gold, silver, copper and nickel and had details like the name, issuing authority, the year and a portrait of the monarch on the coins.

Coins circulated in the south of the Hindu Kush carried bilingual inscriptions using Greek and Prakrit, Kharoshthi or Brahmi scripts. 

Menander is considered the most successful Indo-Greek king. His coins are the most widespread of all. Following his death, most of the empire splintered and new kingdoms began to mint new coinage. The most prominent were the Yadheya and the Mitra and Dutta dynasty. 

In 80 BC, an Indo-Sycthian king named Maues, possibly an ally of some Indo-Greek kings captured Taxila and ruled Gandhara for a few years. After his death, the Indo-Greeks were able to regain control of Taxila and it was king Apollodotus II who was a descendant of Menander who regained Gandhara. 

The Indo-Greeks continued to maintain themselves in eastern Punjab until the kingdom of the last king, Strato II, was taken over by the Indo-Scythian ruler Rajuvula around 10 AD.

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Menander Silver Drachm, 160–145 BC, 2.35 gm

Obverse helmeted and draped bust of Menander.

 Reverse, Athena walking left, brandishing a spear and holding a shield. 

                                                   

Menander Silver Tetradrachm, 155–130 BC, 7.8 gm 

Obverse, Diademed bust viewed from behind, brandishing spear in right hand and in aegis on left shoulder.

 Reverse, kharoshti legend, Athena Alkidemos holding shield, M in left field, monogram in right field.

                                                  

Menander Silver Drachm, 160–145 BC, 1.7 gm, Pushkalavati mint

Obverse, Diademed draped bust.

Reverse, Kharosthi legend, Pallas Athena standing left, holding aegis in left arm and hurling thunderbolt with right, HA monogram.

                                                   

Menander AE Square Chalkos, 160-145 BC, 3.6 gm Pushkalavati mint

Obverse, elephant’s head right with bell around neck.

Reverse, Kharoshti legend around club. DHT monogram in left field, A in right field.

 

Apollodotus 1, AR Silver Drachm, 174-165 BC, (2.4 gm)

Obverse, elephant standing right. Reverse, Zeba bull standing right.             

                                                       

Apollodotus 1, AR silver Drachm, 174-165 BC, 2.36 gm

Obverse, elephant standing right. 

Reverse, Zeba bull standing right.

                                                        

                                                         

Apollodotus 1, Square Hemiobol, Taxila Mint, 174-165 BC.

Obverse, Apollo standing and holding arrow and resting bow on ground. 

Reverse, Kharosthi legend, tripod

                                                       

                                                             

Apollodotus II, Silver Drachm 80–65 BC, 2.27 gm

Obverse, Diademed bust.

Reverse, Athena Alkidemos standing holding shield.

                                                       

Apollododus II AR Silver Drachm 80–60 BC, 2.20 gm

Obverse, Diademed and draped bust. 

Reverse, Athen Alkidemos holding shield and thunderbolt, monogram to left.

                                               

                                                           

 Apollodotus II, Silver Drachm 80–65 BC, 2 gm

Obverse: diademed bust of Apollo right. 

Reverse: Athena Alkidemos standing holding shield.

  

                                                       

 Apollodotus II, Silver Drachm 80–65 BC, 2.2 gm Taxila mint

Obverse diademed bust of Apollo right. Reverse, Athena Alkidemos standing holding shield.

✩ courtesy Wikipedia 

The Journey of Postcards in India

Usually, the term 'postal card' refers to cards created and sold by the government postal authority. They have a stamp, indicating postage paid already, imprinted upon the card. However, 'postcard' refers to cards that do not have a postage stamp imprinted on them and require a stamp to be affixed before it is mailed. Today, however, the cards issued by the government are also called postcards.

Postcard-collecting is a part of a hobby known as deltiology. Postal card-collecting is part of philately. However, many philatelists also collect postcards that have stamps and postal markings upon them as they belong to what is 'postal history'.

In India, the first postcards were issued in 1879. Their designing and printing was done by De La Rue of London. There were two denominations, the Quarter Anna (for domestic use) and the one and a half annas (for countries of the Universal Postal Union). The first postcards were printed upon medium light buff or straw card and had the inscription 'East India Post Card' with the coat-of-arms of Great Britain in between and the stamp with the diademed head of Queen Victoria in the right upper corner printed in red brown. Both the cards carried the legend 'the address only to be written on this side'. 

                                             

East India Post Card, 1879, Quarter Anna stamped June 1895.

In 1899, the word 'EAST' was removed, and the inscription became 'INDIA POST CARD'.

                                           

India Post Card, 1899, Quarter Anna stamped 15 January 1902.

These were later replaced by those of King Edward VII.

                    

  India Post Card, Quarter Anna, stamped July 1908.

In 1911, special postcards for official use were issued by the Central and provincial government to commemorate the coronation of King George V Durbar held in Delhi. These carried the inscription of 'POST CARD' but did not bear the stamp imprint. They bore the crown and 'GRI' monograms embossed in different colours. 

                                            

  Post Card, coronation of King George V, 1911.

                                                    

 Indian Service Post Card, on His Majesty's Service, King Edward VII.

                                             

India Post Card 'For Use on Field Services Only' used in the First World War.

                                            

  India Service Post Card, On Service, Quarter Anna King George V.

                                            

 India Post Card, Quarter Anna, stamped 6 May 1935.

India Post Card, Nine Pies, stamped 21 January 1936.

                                          

India Post Card, Half Anna, King George V, with a reply card.

Post Cards titled 'served by the northwestern railway' were released in 1936.                                                   

 Post Card Nine Pies, King George V, 'Third Bridge Srinagar, Kashmir'.

                                                     

                                                     

Post Card Nine Pies, King George V, 'The Golden Temple, Amritsar'.

                                                    

Post Card Nine Pies, King George V, 'Popular Avenue Leading to Srinagar Kashmir'.

                                           

Post Card Nine Pies, King George V, 'Darbar Sahib Dehra Baba Nanak'.

After Independence, the first postcard with the new stamp design of 'Trimurti' in bright green was issued on 7 December 1949. In 1950, local delivery postcards with reduced postage rate of six pies were issued carrying a stamp design in chocolate colour based on the Konark horse sculpture.

                                         

 Post Card Nine Pies, Trimurti, issued on 7 December 1949.

On 2 October 1951, a series of post cards of Mahatma Gandhi were released. 

                                         

 Post card unused, Nine Pies, Trimurti, Mahatma Gandhi with Spinning Wheel, 1951.

                                                    

 Post card unused, Nine Pies, Trimurti, bust of Mahatma Gandhi, 1951.

                                                  

Post card, Nine Pies, Trimurti, Mahatma Gandhi with Kasturba, stamped on 3 October 1951.

On 2 October 1969, another series of post cards of Mahatma Gandhi were issued to mark the Gandhi Centenary.

 

                                        

 Post card, 10 p, Gandhi Centenary, stamped 2 October 1969.

                                           

                                           

Post card, 10 p, Gandhi Centenary, stamped 2 October 1969.

                                          

Post card, 10 p, Gandhi Centenary, stamped 2 October 1969.

                                          

 Post card, 15 p, First All India Rose Convention, 1970. 

                                 

                                        

Post card, Sher Shah Tomb, Sasram, World Philatelic Exhibition 1989.

The first challenge emerged in the mid 1990s when the public call office (PCO) with subscriber trunk dialing (STD) became popular across India. To garner additional revenue, in 1993, India Post introduced competition postcards, which had a weekly quiz for viewers, received 14 lakh letters in a week. Unlike the ordinary postcard that cost 15 paisa those days, these costed 10 paisa.

                                        

Post card, 50 p, Luphilla Cultural Dance, 2002.

With the Internet gaining popularity and private couriers mushrooming everywhere, the postcards started to lose out and the cost of producing and delivering a normal postcard increased with respect to the cost of the postcard.

In order to add additional revenues, in 2002, India Post launched Meghdoot Postcard with a provision for advertisements on the address side. The rate of advertising was Rs 2 per postcard with a minimum printing order of 1 lakh pieces. These Meghdoot postcards have now been discontinued.        

                                         

   Post card, 25 p, Meghdoot, 2003.

                                       

  Post card, 50 p, Mahatma Gandhi, 2007. 

                 

                                          

   Post card, 50 p, Mahatma Gandhi, Indipex 2010.

                                        

Post card, Allahabad High Court, 2016.

In today's world, with mobiles, WhatsApp and improved connectivity, postcards are hardly popular, but there are still a lot of youth today who are interested in collecting and preserving these.

Postal History of India

Postal History

Postage Stamps and history of Post cards in India