Audumbara is one of the most prominent ancient Himachal Pradesh tribes. They lived in the lower hill region of Himachal Pradesh somewhere between Chamba and Sirmaur and their capital is said to be known by the name of Kotesvara. They find mention in Mahabharata and other historical texts as well as was mentioned as Odemboerce by Pliny in his book ''Historia Naturalis''. Six of their coins were found at Pathankot along with Indo Greek and Kushan coins. A large number of their coins were found at Irippal in Kangra District. On the basis of provenances of their coins, Audumbaras has been located in the area formed by the valley of the Beas or the wider region between the upper Sutlej and the Ravi.
According to Mahabharata, the Audumbar were descendants of sage Vishvamitra, who is the founder of gotra ''Kauskika" and were settled in the route of Taxila to the Gangetic valley and Magadha to Kashmir. Buddhist scholar Chandragomin referred them as a section of the Shalvas and are mentioned in ''Satapatha Brahmana". They are believed to be of Indo-Greek origin and converted to Hinduism in the 1st century BC.
Numismatic consideration tends to place the Audumbaras in the period extending from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD, however, literary references indicate that they flourished long before the 2nd century BC. Panini's reference says they existed in the 5th century BC. During the period from 2nd century BC to 1st century AD, they had an independent status and they issued coins. It is just possible that they too might have submitted to the Mighty Maurya like the other two tribes of the area, Kuninda and the Yaudheya, and may have again emerged after the fall of the Mauryas. There is no coinage attributed to them in the 3rd and 4th century AD.
The Audumbara coins were struck in the name of the community and the king. They have legends in both Kharosthi and Brahmi. Those with Kharosthi script indicate the time about 100 BC and these coins resemble the hemi drachms of the Greek prince Apollodotus and have been found together with them. The Audumbara coins are very rare and on the basis of the metal and their shapes they may be grouped into three classes. Firstly, a series of square copper pieces, secondly, a few silver issues and thirdly, a group of round copper billon coins, without any names. The various symbols found on these coins include, a bearded human figure, an elephant, a tree in enclosure, a trident with battleaxe, a pointed roofed temple, three-arched hill and a lion. The coins bear identical legends that reveal the faith in Shaivism. The word Mahadeva is commonly used also. Later issues also depict the worship of Kartikeya. We know of a number of Audumbara kings, Sivadasa, Rudradasa, Dharaghosha and Mahadeva. These names show a very clear Shaivaite association. The trident with axe, also called the Trident-Battleaxe, appears to have been their standard.
Audambara, Mahadeva, 150-130 BC, silver, Drachm, weight 2.2 gm, Obverse: Elephant standing on platform facing right with trident-battle axe standard in front, Brahmi legend around, ''Bhagvata Mahadevasa Rajaraja'', Reverse: humped bull standing facing right with lotus in front, kharoshti legend around.
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