Bundi Princely State and Coins

 

Bundi or Boondee State was a native state and an Indian Princely State, lying on the north-east of the river Chambal, in a hilly tract historically known as Haraot, located in modern day Rajasthan from 1342 to 1949. It was ruled by Hada Chauhans. 

                                           

Coin of Bundi, with lettering Bundi, Date Vikram Samvat 1943

Coat of Arms

                                            

Coat of Arms Bundi Princely State

Flag     

                                      

      Flag of Bundi Princely State

In ancient times, the area around Bundi was inhabited by various local tribes, of which the Parihar and Meena tribes were prominent. Bundi and the eponymous princely state are said to derive their names from a former Meena King called Bunda Meena. Bundi was previously called ''Bunda-Ka-Nal'', Nal meaning ''narrow ways''. Bundi is situated in a narrow valley within the Aravalli Hills in Rajasthan.

                                           

Bundi State in the Imperial Gazetteer of India

Later, the region was governed by Rao Deva, who took over Bundi from Jaita Meena, renaming the surrounding area as Haravati or Haroti. The state of Bundi was founded around 1342 AD by the Hara chief Rao Deva, or Deoraj.

                                         

Painting of the Town and Pass of Bundi, 1840 AD

                                          

Palace and Fortress at Bundi, 1832 AD

                                           

Taragarh Fort, 16th century

 For the next two centuries, the Hadas of Bundi were vassals of the Sisodias of Mewar and ruled by the title of Rao until 1569, when Emperor Akbar conferred the title of Rao Raja upon Rao Surjan Singh after the surrender of Ranthambore Fort and his submission. 

                                           

Rao Raja Surjan Singh, 1544- 1585 AD

 

In 1632, Rao Raja Chattar Sal became the ruler, he was one of the most valiant, principled and just kings of Bundi. He built the temple of Keshavarao at Keshoraipatan and Chathra Mahal at Bundi. He became king after his grandfather Rao Ratan Singh died. Various kings' rule Bundi till the British era

                                          

Rao Raja Chattar Sal, 1632-1658 AD 

                                              

The Bundi Palace, 1607-31 AD

In 1804 Rao Raja Bishan Singh (1773-1821) gave assistance to Colonel Monson in his retreat before Holkar, in revenge for which the Maratha Empire and Pindaris continually ravaged his state and forced the kingdom to pay tribute up to 1817. Subsequently, a subsidiary alliance was made with the British East India Company in 1818, which brought them under its protection.

                                                    

Rao Bishan Singh watching an elephant fight, private European collection.

Maharao Raja Ram Singh (1821-89) grew up to be a much-respected ruler who initiated economic and administrative reforms and established schools for the teaching of Sanskrit. On the throne for 68 years, he was described as a grand specimen of the Rajput gentleman and the ''most conservative prince in conservative Rajputana''. Though during the mutiny of 1857 his attitude was equivocal, he continued to enjoy the confidence of the British.

                                              

Maharao Maharaja Ram Singh, 1811-1889 AD

Maharao Bahadur Singh served in the Burma campaign during the World War II, where he earned the Military Cross for his gallantry, before succeeding to the throne. He was a guest at 1947 wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburg.

                                                 

Colonel Maharao Raja Bahadur Singh, 1945-1977

                                                  

At the time of partition of India in 1947, the ruler of Bundi decided to accede to India and joined the Indian Union in 1949.

Coins of Bundi

                                               

Princely State of Bundi, 1773-1821, One Takka, copper, weight 17.5 g, Muhammad Akbar II, and Sahib Qiran Sani written in Persian on Obverse, and on Reverse, RY 12, flower mint mark of Bundi, tree like symbol

                                            

Princely State of Bundi, Bishan Singh, 1806-1821, One Takka, copper, weight 16.1 g, Muhammad Akbar II and Bishan Singh written on Obverse

                                             

Bundi, 1/4 Rupee, Raghubir Singh, 1887-1898 (Vikram Samvat 1944-1955), silver, weight 2.8 g

                                             

Bundi, 1/2 Rupee, Edward VII, Raghubir Singh, 1906-1909 (Vikram Samvat 1963-1966), silver, weight 5.6 g

                                            

Bundi, One rupee, Bahadur II, Bishan Singh, 1837-1856, silver, weight 11.2 g   

                                             

Bundi, One rupee, Victoria, Ram Singh, 1858-1886, Vikram Samvat 1915-1943, silver, weight 11.2 g

                                            

Bundi, One rupee, Victoria, Ram Singh, 1886-1900, Vikram Samvat 1943-1957, silver, weight 10.6 g, legend around dagger, Queen Victoria, on reverse, Rama Singha 1943

                                              

Bundi, One Rupee, Edward VII, Ram Singh, 1901-1906, Vikram Samvat 1958-1963, silver, weight 11.2 g, Obverse King Ram Singh with Katar, Emperor Edward VII written around, Reverse, Nagari legend, Bundisha, Ram Singh VS 1962

                                              

Bundi, one rupee, Edward VII, Raghubir Singh, 1906-1912, Vikram Samvat 1963-1969, silver, weight 10.6 g, Obverse, Katar surrounded by legend in English, Emperor Edward VII, Reverse, in Nagari legend, Bundisha, Ram Singh, VS1966

                                              

Bundi, Edward VII, Raghubir Singh, 1908-1913, Vikram Samvat 1965-1970, One Rupee, silver, weight 11.2 g,

                                              

Bundi, One rupee, George V, Raghubir Singh, 1925, One Rupee, silver, weight 11.2 g

Bundi Princely State

Coins of Bundi Princely State

Delphic Tripod, Oracle, Apollo and Coins

 

The word ''tripod'' meaning three-footed and refers to a three-legged structure, is one of the oldest words in Greek.

                                         

Greek coin, 330-300 BC, with ornate tripod

In fact, no other word in that language could be demonstrated to be older, for it appears in the Linear B script, dating to the 13th century BC. The word appears on the clay tablet discovered in Pylos, Greece. The word ti-ri-po-de appears in syllabic characters along with a drawing of a three-legged vessel on the tablet.

                                             

Clay tablet with Linear B script, National Archaeological Museum, Athens.

             

A sacrificial tripod was three legged and was used for offerings or other ritual procedures.

                                            

Bronze tripod with serpent motifs

It was the universal practice of the Greeks to undertake no matter of importance without first asking the advice of the Gods, and there were many sacred spots where God answered the worshippers. The oracle at Delphi surpassed all the rest in importance and was regarded with great respect in every part of the Grecian world. In the center of the temple of Delphi there was a small opening in the ground from which it is said some vapour ascended. Whenever the oracle was to be consulted, the priestess called Pythia took her seat.             

The most famous tripod of ancient Greece was the ''Delphic Tripod'' on which the Pythian priestess took her seat to deliver the oracles of the deity. The seat was formed by a circular slab on the top of the tripod, on which a branch of laurel was deposited when it was unoccupied by the priestess. The tripod was sacred to Apollo. According to the myth, a fight resulted between Apollo and Heracles, after Heracles did not get any answer from the oracle of Delphi, that enraged Heracles who grabbed the tripod on which the Pythia sat in order to pronounce her oracles. Finally, Zeus had to intervene to end the quarrel.

                                              

Priestess of Delphi, Pythia, a painting of 1801 by John Collier

Oracles were thought to be portals through which the gods spoke directly to people. The Pythia was the mouthpiece of the god Apollo, and was known as the Oracle of Delphi. The oracle's powers were highly sought after and never doubted.  

                      

Apollo and Heracles struggle for the Delphic tripod, hydria, 520 BC

The Pythia was the name of the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, also known as the Oracle of Delphi, which may have been present in some form from 1400 BC but was established by Apollo in the 8th century BC and was widely credited for her prophecies uttered under divine possession. During the period from the end of 7th century BC till the 4th century AD, the Delphi Oracle was the most prestigious and authoritative oracle amongst Greeks 

                                           

 Delphic tripod, red figured bell krater, Paestum, 330 BC 

                                         

Temple of Apollo at Delphi

Another well-known tripod in Delphi was the Plataean Tripod. It consisted of a golden basin, supported by a bronze serpent with three heads. It was made from the tenth part of the spoils taken from the Persian army after the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC. The golden bowl was carried off by the Phocians during the Third Sacred War (356-346 BC) and the stand was removed by the emperor Constantine in 324 AD and taken to Constantinople (present day Istanbul).

                                           

The Serpent Column left, drawing of 1574 AD showing the column with three serpent heads: right the current state (the height was 8-metre or 26 feet)

Tripods are mentioned by Homer (one of the greatest and most influential writers of Greek literature, 750 BC) as gifts and prizes during athletics games. They were also used as offerings to the deities.

                                           

Winged Victory bearing a Tripod (wall painting, Pompeii 64 AD)

In ancient China, sacrificial tripods have been part of the culture since the Neolitic cultures of Cishan (6500-5000 BC) and Peiligang in the 7th and 8th millennium BC. They are often referred to as ''dings''

                                          

Shang Dynasty, 1600-1046 BC, Ding

Coins with Tripod symbol

                                           

Kroton, Bruttium, 350-300 BC, AR Nomos, eagle standing left on branch, Tripod with grain ear to left and serpent to right

                                         

Kroton, Bruttium, 530-480 BC, AR Nomos, tripod with stork at right and on reverse incuse tripod

                                         

Cassander, Macedonia, 316-297 BC, bronze, head of Apollo facing right with Tripod on reverse.

                                          

Judaea, Herod I, 40 BC, Eight Prutot, weight 6.1 g, RY 3 (38/7 BC), Ornate helmet, palms flanking, Tripod, date to left, monogram to right

                                           

Kroton, Bruttinum, 420 BC, AR Nomos, Herakles left seated on rock, draped with a lionskin, holding branch in right hand, club in left, an altar before him, bow and bow case behind, two fish in Kroton below tripod, legs terminating in lion's feet, tied with a fillet, to the left, Apollo Pythios taking aim at a coiled python to the right 

                                          

Seleucid, 261-246 BC, weight 4.4 g, bronze, laureate head of Apollo right, Tripod on reverse

                                          

Seleucid, 246 BC, bronze, laureate head of Apollo right, Tripod on reverse

                                  

Judaea, Herod I, 40-4 BC, Two Prutot, weight 4,1 g, Jerusalem mint, Cross within closed diadem, Tripod table bearing vessel, palm branch to left and right

                                         

Greek, 2nd century BC, weight 6.3 gm, Tralleis, Lydia, Laureate head of Apollo right, Tripod within laurel wreath 

                                            

Indo Greek, Apollodotus II, 2nd century BC, copper, weight 14.1 g, Apollo standing to right and Greek legend around, Tripod on reverse in center and Kharosthi legend around on reverse.  

 

                                          

Syria. Seleucis and Pieria, Antioch, 100 BC, weight 3.5 g, turreted and veiled head of Tyche right, Tripod with monogram left, 

                                           

Indo-Greek, Hippostratos, 65-55 BC, AE obol or octuple, weight 15.8 g, Apollo standing right holding arrow, Greek legend around translated to King Hippostratos, the saviour, Tripod, monogram on either side, Kharoshti legend around translated to maharajasa tratarasa 

                                          

Macrinus, 217-218 AD, bronze, weight 10.3 g, Laureate draped bust right wearing aegis with snake's head rising from it. Reverse has snake climbing center of Tripod, head to right 

                                         

Indo-Greek, Apollodotus, AE Double or hemi-obol, 174-165 BC, weight 9.4 g, Apollo standing facing holding arrow in right hand and bow in left, monogram at left, Reverse has a Tripod within dotted border, monogram at left, Kharoshti legend on three sides: maharajasa apaladatasa tratarasa

Sacrificial Tripod

Delphic Tripod

Oracle of Delphi

Pythia

Apollo and Heracles

Coins with Tripod symbol 

Kutch, Kingdom, Princely State and Coins

 

Kutch or Cutch is a district of Gujarat state in western India, with an area larger than the entire area of states like Haryana and Kerala. It is the largest district of India. Kutch literally means something which intermittently becomes wet and dry, with a large part called as ''Rann of Kutch'' which is shallow wetland, that submerges in water during the rainy season and becomes dry during other seasons.

                                           

Kutch coin, Kori, 1923 AD, 
 

                                          

Location of Kutch in Gujarat, India

The history of Kutch can be traced back to prehistoric times. There are several sites related to the Indus Valley Civilization in the region. The region is mentioned in Hindu mythology and in Greek writings. This area has been ruled by Menander I, of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, the Indo-Scythians, the Maurya Empire and the Sakas. In the 1st century AD, it was under the Western Satraps and then by the Gupta Empire. By 5th century, the Maitraka dynasty of Valabhi took over. By 10th century the Chaulukya dynasty were the rulers, followed by the Vaghelas. By 13th century, the Vaghelas ruled the whole of Kutch and adopted a new dynastic identity, the Jadeja. For 3 centuries, Kutch was ruled by three different branches of the Jadeja brothers. In the 16th century, Kutch was unified under one rule by Rao Khengarji I and his descendants.

                                         

Dholavira, one of the largest cities of the Indus Valley Civilization, with stepwell steps to reach the water level in artificially constructed reservoirs.                                   

Ten Indus characters from the northern gate of Dholavira, dubbed the Dholavira signboard.

North gate of Dholavira

 

  

It was known as the Kingdom of Kutch from 1147 to 1819 AD and a Princely State from 1819 to 1947.

Coat of Arms

                                         

                     Coat of Arms

Flag

                                            

                            Flag

Cutch State, map of 1878 AD.

                                        

Sindh and Kutch map, 1827

During the British rule, the state was part of the ''Cutch Agency'' and later the ''Western India States Agency'' within the Bombay Presidency.

                                           

 Map of Cutch Agency area 1819-1924

                                            

Map of the area of the Western India States Agency and the Baroda and Gujarat States Agency during the British Raj

     

The Kingdom of Kutch was founded by Lakho Jadani of Samma tribe that had arrived from Sindh in 1147 AD. Lakhiaviro remained the capital from 1147 AD to 1548 AD. Kutch was ruled by the Jadeja Rajput dynasty of the Samma tribe from 1147 until 1948, when it joined India. The rulers were entitled to a 17-gun salute by the British authorities. The title of the rulers was earlier Ja'ám, changed to Maharao, and made hereditary from Jan 1918.

                                          

Family Tree of Jadeja Dynasty of the Kutch State (1880) Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency Cutch.

The various Kutch communities were known for their trades with Muscat, Mombasa, Mzizima, Zanzibar and others, and also for their shipbuilding skills. Kandla was developed by Khengarji III in 1930 as a new port. Cutch State Railway was also laid during his reign, during 1900-1908. 

                                           

Maharao Khengarji III of Cutch, 1900 AD

                                           

                  Kandla Port
 

Kutch was one of the first princely states to accede to India on 15 August 1947. Upon merger into India, the princely state was made a separate centrally administered Class-C state by the name Kutch State in 1948. 

Coins of Kutch. The first series of coins were introduced in 1586 AD, and consisted of copper trambiyyo and dhinglo coins, and silver 1/2 and 1 kori coins. The 1 dokdo coin was introduced in 1632 AD, followed by the 1/2 trambiyo and 1/4 kori coins in 1645 AD, the 25 kori in 1875, and 1 dhabu, 1 payalo, 1 adhino and 10 kori coins in 1943. Kutch currency was replaced by the Indian rupee in 1947 at the rate of 1 Rupee= 3 1/2  Kori 

                                         

Kori, Bhojrajji, 1632-1645 AD, weight 4.6 g

Obverse: legend in Urdu, As-sultan, Muzaffar Shah with frozen date, AH 978, Rao's name, Rao Shree Bhojrajji, in Devanagari at the bottom

Reverse: legend in Urdu, Ar-reman betaid al muwid shams ad duniya waud-din abu-Al nasir, dagger mint mark at the right bottom

                                           

Kori, 1666-1698 AD, Rayadhanji I, silver, weight 0.8 g

Obverse: legend in Urdu ''As sultan, Muzaffar Shah'' with frozen date AH 978, name Rao Shree Rayadhanji in Devanagari at the bottom

Reverse: legend in Urdu, Ar reman betaid al muwid shams ad duniya waud din abu Al nasir, dagger mint at the right bottom

                                          

Kori, Lakhpatiji, 1752 AD, silver, weight 4.6 g

Obverse: Trident, debased legend in Urdu ''Shah Sultan Ahmed'' AH 1165 in the center, Ruler's name Maharao Sri Lakhpatiji in Devanagari at the bottom

Reverse: Persian legend, dagger mint mark at the bottom right side

                   

                                           

Kori, Bharmalji II, 1752 AD, frozen date AH 1165, silver, weight 4.7 g

Obverse: Persian legend with a dagger at bottom right

Reverse: Trident with debased legend in Urdu ''Shah Sultan Ahmed'' Rao's name Rao Shree Bharmalji at bottom in Devanagari, dagger mint mark at bottom

                                           

Kori, Deshalji II, 1830 AD, silver, weight 4.5 g

Obverse: Trident, legend in Urdu ''Badshah ghazi Muhammad Akbar II sikka'' Rao's name Rao Shree Desalji in Devanagari at the bottom

Reverse: legend in Persian ''Zarb Bhuj Sanah, date below, struck in Bhuj, dagger pointing left at bottom left

 

                                           

Kori, Deshalji II, 1852 AD, silver, weight 4.6 g, citing Mughal Emperor ''Bahadur Shah II'', mint Bhuj AH (12) 34 frozen date.

                                           

Dokodo (1/24 Kori), 1873 AD, copper, weight 6.1 g

Obverse: ''Malika Muázzamah Queen Victoria'' written around anti-clockwise, dagger mint mark in center circle

Reverse: VS date below trident (Trishul) in center circle (Maharao Shree Pragmal ji) written around in Devanagari, clockwise  

 

                                           

1 1/2 Dokdo (Dhinglo or 1/16 Kori), 1783 AD, copper, weight 9.8 g

Obverse: ''Malika Muázzamah Queen Victoria'' written around anticlockwise, dagger mint mark in center

Reverse: VS date below trident (trishul) in center circle (Maharao Shree Pragmal ji) written around in Devanagari, clockwise  

                                           

3 Dokda (Dhabu or 1/8 Kori),  Pragmalji II, 1868 AD, copper, weight 19.7 g, mint Bhuj, VS 1925, Reverse: Sa(m) vat and date at the top, ruler Pragmalji II

                                           

2 1/2 Kori, 1875 AD, Pragmalji II, silver, weight 6.8 g

Obverse: ''Malika Muázzamah, Queen Victoria Zarb Bhujnagar, Kori do-wa-nasf, AH date 1875, inner circle and leaves of wreath around the legend

Reverse: Trident, closed crescent and dagger within inner circle, legend within inner circle in Devanagari, ''Maharaja Dhiraj Mirza Maharau Shri Pragmalji Bahadur 

                                           

5 Kori, 1866 AD, Pragmalji II, silver, weight 13.8 g

Obverse: ''Malika Muázzamah, Queen Victoria Zarb Bhujnagar, AH date 1866, inner circle and leaves of wreath around the legend

Reverse: Trident, closed crescent and dagger within inner circle, legend within inner circle in Devanagari, Kori Paanch, written within two pillars and VS date 1923, outside circle ''Maharaja Dhiraj Mirza Maharau Shri Pragmalji Bahadur and Kutch Bhuj, 

                                           

Dokdo (1/24 Kori), Khengarji II, 1882 AD, copper, weight 6.6 g

Obverse: Victoria written on top, Qaiser-e-Hind, written in Persian at bottom left, struck at Bhuj written at bottom right, date 1882 and dragger mint mark in the center

Reverse: VS date below trident 1938, Maharao Shri Khengarji around in Devanagari 

                                            
                                           

Dokdo (1/8 Kori), VS1944, AD 1888, Khengarji III, copper, weight 19.91g

Obverse: Victoria written on top, Qaiser-e-Hind, written in Persian at bottom left, struck at Bhuj written at bottom right, date 1888 and dragger mint mark in the center

Reverse: VS date below trident 1944, Maharao Shri Khengarji around in Devanagari, Kutch written at the bottom with 6 petal flowers on both sides

 
 

                                           

Kori, 1881 AD, VS 1938, Khengarji III, 0.6 silver, weight 4. g

Obverse: Victoria written Qaiser-e-Hind, in Persian, struck at Bhuj written with date 1881

Reverse: Trident, closed crescent and dagger at the top, Maharau Shree Khengarji written in two lines in the center, VS 1938 at bottom

                                         

                                            

2 1/2 Kori, VS 1938, AD 1881, Khengarji III, 0.9 silver, weight 6.9 g

Obverse: ''Victoria Qaiser-i-Hind, Zarb Bhuj'' with date 1881, leaves of wreath design around legend

Reverse: Closed crescent within circle

                                     

                                           

1 1/2 Dokdo (Dhinglo or 1/16 Kori), VS 1982, AD 1926, Khengarji III, copper, weight 9.9 g

Obverse: George V, Emperor of India ''Zarb Bhuj, mint Bhuj with date 1926

Reverse: Date below trident in center and legend around

                                           

Kori, Khengarji III, VS 1979, AD 1923, silver, weight 4.6 g

Obverse: George V, Emperor of India ''Zarb Bhuj'', mint Bhuj with date 1923

Reverse: Trident on the left above the crescent. Legends in the center

                                           

3 Dokdo (1/8 Kori), Khengarji III, VS 1991, AD 1934, copper, weight 16.6 g

Obverse: George V, Emperor of India ''Zarb Bhuj'', mint Bhuj with date 1934

Reverse: Date below trident and legend in the center with more legends around

                                           

Dhabu (1/8 Kori), Vijayarajji, VS 1999, AD 1943, copper, weight 6.6 g

Obverse: George VI, Qaiser-i-Hind written at top section. Wreath in the center around hole. One star on each side ''Zarb Bhuj'' written on bottom right and date at bottom left 1943.

Reverse: Maharao Shri Vijayaraji at the top, crescent moon and trident around hole, vertical dagger right and value (Dhabu below), Kutch with VS1999 at bottom

Kutch

Kutch Princely State

Jadeja Dynasty

Khengarji III

Lakho Jadani

Coins of  Kutch