Shree Ganesha and Coins

 

Ganesha, also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the most worshipped deities in the Hindu Patheon. Although Ganesh has many attributes, he is readily identified by his elephant head. He is revered as the remover of obstacles and thought to bring good luck and is the deva of intellect and wisdom. As the god of beginnings, he is honoured at the start of rites and ceremonies.                        

Shah Alam II, Maratha Empire, 1792, One Rupee, Ganpati.

 

The name Ganesha is a Sanskrit compound, joining the words "Gana", meaning a group, multitude and "Isha", meaning lord or master. The Amarkosha, an early Sanskrit lexicon, lists eight synonyms of Ganesha, Vinayaka, Vighnaraja (equivalent to Ganesha), Dvaimatura (one who has two mothers), Ganadhipa (equivalent to Ganapati), Ekadanta (one who has a tusk), Heramba, Lambodara (one who has a pot belly) and Gajanana (having the face of an elephant). The name is reflected in the meaning of eight famous temples in Maharashtra known as the  Ashtavinayak. A prominent name for Ganesha in the Tamil language is Pillai. 

How Ganesha came to have the head of an elephant is explained in many stories. One account of his birth is that Parvati formed him from the rubbings of her body so that he might stand guard at the door while she bathed. When Shiva approached, unaware this was his son, he was enraged at being kept away from his wife and proceeded to lop off the head of Ganesha. To ease Parvati's grief, Shiva promised to cut off the head of the first living thing he saw and attach it to the body. That creature was an elephant. The Hindu god Ganesha was thus restored to life and rewarded for his courage by being made lord of new beginnings and guardian of entrances. Popularly believed to be the son of Shiva and Parvati, his family includes his brother, the god of war, called Skanda or Kartikeya. Skanda was one of the most important martial deities in northern India from around 500 BC -600 AD.  

                       

Ganesh 200 BC, Chandraketugarh, Bengal Museum. 

 

According to Kundalini yoga, Ganesha resides in the first chakra, called Muladhara. Mula means " original or main", adhara means "base", foundation.  He has a permanent abode in every being.  

                         

Udayagiri Caves, Cave 6, 5th century, showing Ganesha.

In sculpture the different positions of Lord Ganesha's trunk have different symbolic meanings. If the trunk turns to Ganesha's left, that is the direction for success in the world. It is a position associated with grihastha, or householders. To his right, the trunk represents moksha, good for renouncing the world and should always be kept in a temple, where regularly prayers are performed. If the trunk is totally straight, it is worshipped for mental health of kids in the family and if straight up in the air, denotes that the Sushumna Nadi (connects the first Muladhara chakra to the seventh Sahasara chakra) is entirely open. 

                       

6th Century, Ganesha Statue in Badami Caves Temple, Karnataka.

 

Festivals associated with Ganesha are Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinayaka Chaturthi (the fourth day of the waxing moon), in the month of Bhadrapada (August/September) and Ganesh Jayanti (Ganesh's birthday) celebrated on Chaturthi (fourth day of waxing moon) in the month of magha (January/ February).

The Pashupati seal (2300 BC - 2000 BC) depicts four animals including an elephant around a deity to be Shiva. Depiction of elephant headed human figures appear in Indian art and coinage as early as the 2nd century. Ganesha was known to the people of Sri Lanka in the pre-Christian era. Ganpati appears in the Rig Veda twice. The Sangam period Tamil poet Avvaiyar (3rd century BC) invokes Ganesha while preparing the invitation to three Tamil kingdoms for giving away in marriage of Angavay and Sangavay of Ceylon in marriage to the king of Tirucovalur. 

In Burmese language, Ganesh is known as Maha Peinne, and in Thailand is Phra Phikanet. In Sri Lanka, among the Sinhalese Buddhists, he is known as Gana deviyo.

                       

Kangiten, dual body equivalent of Ganesha in Japan.
 

Ganesha on Coins

                         

Madurai Nayaks, 1609-1623 AD, copper Kasu, weight 3.1 gm, Obverse: Seated Ganesh, Reverse: Tamil legend "sri vira'' 

                        

Madurai Nayaks, copper Kasu, weight 0.9 gm, Obverse: Ganesha seated holding arms on both hands, Reverse: Tamil legend ''sri vira''.

                         

Mysore, copper cash Kongu (Coimbatore), early 18th century, weight 2,9 gm, Obverse: seated Ganesha, Reverse: Criss cross pattern with Nagari letter Ra.

                                       

Nayaks of Gingee, Vijayanagar, 1509-1645 AD, one Kasu, copper, weight 2.8 gm, Obverse: Ganesha seated facing, Reverse: Nagari legend rama/rama.

                                         

Shah Alam II, Maratha Empire, Rupee, 1792, Obverse: Devanagari lettering with Persian lettering ''sri ganesha'', Reverse: Devanagari legends with Persian inscription mint name Murtazabad, Prat Pradhan, meaning Prime Minister.

                                             

Sivaganga Rajas, copper Kasu, weight 3.3 gm, Obverse: Ganesha seated, Reverse: Shivalinga 

                                          

Sivaganga, Copper Kasu, weight 3.5 gm Obverse: Ganesha seated, Reverse: sethupathy in Tamil.

                                         

Ivory Coast, 2013, 1001 Francs, non-circulating Coin, silver, weight 25 gm, Commemorative Issue, Obverse: Coat of Arms, lettering translated to Republic of Ivory Coast, Reverse: Ganesha on a Pipal leaf with Sanskrit Shloka                                         

Tuvalu, Elezabeth II, 2018, One Dollar, aluminum bronze, non-circulating coin, weight 13.5 gm, Obverse: HM Queen Elizabeth II, Reverse: Ganesh holding a lotus flower and an ornamental axe, with a mouse at his feet.

                                         

Thailand, 10 Baht, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 1946- 2016, commemorative coin, Bimetallic, aluminum bronze center in a copper nickel ring, weight 8.5 gm, Obverse: Bust of king facing left, Reverse: Lord Ganesha.  

                                            

Cooks Islands, 20 Dollars, Elizabeth II, 2019, gold plated silver, weight 93.3 gm, non-circulating coin, Obverse: lettering Elizabeth II, Cook Island, 20 Dollars, 

                                            

Indonesia, 20,000 Rupiahs, with an icon of Ganesha, discontinued in 2008.

Lord Ganesha

Ganesha and Coins