Lord Shiva and Coins

Shiva is one of the most important gods in Hinduism and one of the godheads in the holy Trinity (trimurti) with Brahma and Vishnu. Shiva is one of the most complex gods of Hindus, represents goodness and benevolence, and serves as a protector. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism. Shiva is also associated with Time, and in this capacity, he is both the destroyer and creator of all things. 

           

Kushan, Sasanians, 265-295 AD, gold, Shiva standing facing with flaming hair.

   

In Hinduism, the universe is thought to regenerate in cycles (every 2,160,000,000 years).  Shiva is the Supreme Lord who creates, protects and transforms the universe. Rudra, Mahadev, Shankar, Maheshwar, Bholenath, Natraj, Pashupati and Devendra are the other holy names of Shiva. Shiva is a pan-Hindu deity, revered widely by Hindus all across the world. 

         

Sadashiva, Trimurti, 17.9 ft in height, depicts a three-headed Shiva representing three essential aspects of Shiva, creation, protection and destruction. The three faces represent Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Elephanta Caves (5th century AD).

         

Interestingly, there are eight ancient Shiv temples constructed about 4,000 years ago by ancient architects in an era of no satellite technology or any GPS, which lie more or less on the same geographic longitude of 79 degrees east 41'54''. 

           

. Kedarnath temple 79.0669 degrees

. Kalahashti temple 79.7037 degrees

. Ekambaranatha temple 79.7036 degrees

. Thiruvanamalai temple 79.0747 degrees

. Thiruvanaikaval temple 78.7108 degrees

. Chidambaran Natraj temple 79.6954 degrees

. Rameshwaram temple 79.3129 degrees

. Kaleshwaram temple 79.9067 degrees

It is pertinent to know that the distance between Kedarnath and Rameswaram is of 2383 kilometers.

                         

         The Sacred Meridian 

There are several other sacred ancient temples on this meridian, which include the Five Kedars, or Panch Kedar temples to include Rudranath, Tunganath, Madamaheswar, Kalpeswar and Kedarnath temples. 

  

Since ancient time symbols on coins are the representations of religious belief influenced from nature. Slowly these symbols took form of deities, which are worshipped throughout the Indian peninsula. Lord Shiva or the ''Rudra'' of the Rigveda, was first depicted on the seal of Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1300 BC) found in Mohenjo-Daro. 

           

The Indus Valley seal with the seated figure termed Pashupati (3300-1300 BC).

Thereafter, as the second urbanization took place and coinage appeared, Lord Shiva appeared on coins too.

As Ujjain is home to the the ''jyotirlinga'' of Lord Shiva called Mahakala. So, it's not surprising that a human like figure found on Ujjain coins is called Mahakaal, and the coins as Mahakala type. Copper coins issued during the reign of Vishnumitra/ Jishnumitra, depicted a human figure holding a spear in the left hand and kamandalu besides a tree in the railing. The reverse of both these coins depicts the double orb Ujjaini symbol.

          

Ujjain, AE, 3/4 Karshapana, standing Shiva type, 200 BC, weight 7.2 gm, Obverse: Standing Shiva holding Danda in right and kamandalu in left, sun above railed tree on left and six-armed symbol on right, taurine on top, river at bottom, Reverse: Doubled orbed Ujjaini symbol.

         

Ujjain, 200 BC, AE,1/2 Karshapna, weight 4.3 gm, Obverse: Three headed shiva standing holding Danda and kamandalu, railed tree on right, chakra above fish tank on left, Reserve: Double orbed Ujjaini symbol.

    

The Kushan coinage depicted Lord Shiva with his different yet familiar attributes. Lord Shiva was titled as ''Osho'' on Kushan coinage. It is quite fascinating to study these coins that have different attires and attributes. It surely reflects the perception of Lord Shiva in that era.

           

Kushan Empire, Vasudeva 1 (192-225 AD), Dinar, gold, weight 7.8 gm, Obverse: Vasudeva 1 standing front, nimbate and head to left, holding trident(Trishul) in left hand and sacrificing over altar with right hand in field to right Nandipada, in field to left, trident with ribbons between legs, swastika, Reverse: Shiva standing front, holding diadem in right hand and trident(Trishul) in left, behind his companion, Nandi, standing left, upper left Tamgha.

           

Kushano-Sasanians, Hormizd 1. (265-295 AD),Dinar, gold, weight 7.7 gm, Obverse: Hormizd 1 standing front, head to left, wearing a lion head crown and lotus blossom, holding trident in his left hand and sacrificing over lighted altar with his right hand, trident in field to left and Tamgha in field to right, Reverse: Shiva standing facing with flaming hair, holding diadem in right hand and trident(Trishul) in left hand, behind, bull Nandi.

           

Kushano-Sasanian, Hormizd 1, (265-295 AD), bronze, weight 2.2 gm, Obverse: Draped bust of Hormizd 1 to right, wearing crown with decorated korymbos and a lion's head, Reverse: Shiva standing facing and holding trident (Trishul) in his left hand, behind him bull Nandi.

         

Kushan Empire, Vima Kadphises, 100-127 AD, bronze, weight 17 gm, Obverse: Vima Kadphises standing front, head to left, sacrificing over altar with his right hand, to right club and tamgha, to left trident (Trishul) with an axe on the shaft, Maharajasa Rajadirajasa Tratara, Reverse: Shiva standing facing, holding trident (Trishul) in his right hand and deer skin in his left hand, behind bull Nandi, standing right, in the field Buddhist Triratna.

 

Some coins depict Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati together. These coins are many, from the post Gupta era to coins of the Sangama dynasty and also coins minted by Haidar Ali, father of Tipu Sultan, the king of Mysore.

         

Haider Ali, gold Pagoda, weight 3.4 gm, Obverse: Shiva and Parvati seated facing, Shiva holding Trishul(trident) and Mriga (deer), sun and moon above, Reverse: Persian letter He (for Haider Ali) within a granulated field, unorganized dots within the curve of the letter.

          

Vijayanagar, Sangama dynasty, Devaraya 1(1406-1422 AD), gold pagoda, weight 3.3 gm, Obverse: Shiva Parvati seated, Reverse: Nagari legend Sri Pra/tha padeva/raya in three lines.

Like the coins of Haidar Ali and Vijaynagar, the Marathas of Tanjore also minted coins with Lord Shiva and Parvati. 

           

Marathas of Thanjavur, 1700-1750 AD, copper cash, weight 3.2 gm, Obverse: Shiva seated with Parvati, Reverse: Devnagari legend, Maha/raja.

 

Coins from Tripura issued by King Vijaya Manikya depicted a most philosophically respected and celebrated form of Lord Shiva known as ''Ardhanarishvara''. This coin depicted Lord Shiva with his consort indirectly.

           

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya, 1532-1564 AD, Tanka, weight 10.6 gm, Obverse: Ardhanarishvara, composed of Durga on her lion and Shiva on bull, Reverse: five lines legend within 12 arc scallops, star below the ''sh'' of Mahesh in the third line of the text.

There are a few coins that do not have a depiction of Lord Shiva in the form of an image, but his name is inscribed on these coins.

         

Audumbaras, in the name of Mahadeva, 1st century BC, Obverse: Bhagvata mahadevasa rajarana in Karosthi, Brahma bull standing right, lotus in rigt field, Reverse: Bhagvate mahadevasa rajarana in Brahmi, elephant standing right, trident in right field.

 

           

Ranas of Mewar, copper half unit of Maharana Kumbhakarna, Kumbha 1433-1468 AD, Obverse: letter Shri in double rectangle, Devnagari legend, Shri Ekalingasya Prasadata (by the blessings of Ekalinga) in exergue, Reverse: Devanagri legend in four lines Shri Kumbhala/Meru Maha /Rana Shri Ku/bhakarnasya.

In Indian coinage, Lord Shiva is depicted and symbolized in various forms. These forms include a trident, ling, belpatra, crescent etc. For a dancer, he is Nataraja, for a student, he is Dhyutidhara, for a musician, he is Pranava etc.

Lord Shiva

Lord Shiva and Coins