India has had a very rich maritime heritage since ancient times. Around 3700 BC, one of the world's earliest ports was built in the city of Lothal (Gujarat, India) by the people of the Indus Valley Civilization. This was the beginning of the maritime history in the Indian subcontinent. The boat fragments are found on the painted potsherd and an unfired steatite seal of a boat are excavated at Mohen-jo-daro. The Indus valley was called as Melluha and it was mentioned in Mesopotamian texts, both of the ancient civilization had trading contacts with each other. Of course, this would not have been possible without maritime trading activities.
The earliest Indian scriptures like Rig Veda, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Atharva Veda, Samhita, etc. give references about boats and ships faring Samudra (Ocean). Also, the Buddhist Pali texts and the Jakarta references about sea voyages, shipbuilding and maritime activities exist. Arthashastra also mentions the boats. The word ''navigator'' also is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word ''Nav Garth''.
During the Nanda and Maurya era, (500-200 BC), India's maritime influence expanded, spreading its culture and beliefs. Megasthenes documented the Mauryan naval administration, detailing the first ever recorded Navy's role in naval warfare and navigation.
Boat as a symbol in Indian ancient numismatics was seen for the first time on the silver Punch -Marked PMC) of the Vagna-Janapada. This was the western part of West Bengal in 200-100 BC. The coin has a sun, boat, six armed symbols and an open cross depicted on it. These coins are found in the region of the Lower Ganga/ Brahamputra where boats would have been an effective means of transportation and trade.
Kurapurika was an ancient city-state of India around 200 BC in North India. Kurapurika was a Purika of the ancient times. According to Fleet, Urika was located to the south of the island of Mahismati (in the Khandwa district) on the Narmada. They issued inscribed and uninscribed coins. The inscribed coins bear the Brahmi legend ''Kurapurika''. The boat symbol is often seen on these coins and also the coins of Ujjain (200-100 BC).
Ship/Boat as an independent symbol on coins was introduced for the first time in Indian Numismatics by the Satavahanas.
Vasisthiputra Pulumavi and Gautamiputra Yajna Sri Satakarni issued coins depicting ships on them. On the coins of Vasisthiputra Pulumavi, we observe ship with masts. These ship motif coins have been found from the shores of Madras and Cuddalore. While on the coins of Gautamiputra Yajna Sri Satakarni, a ship with two masts and a fish and conch are also seen.
These coins depict ships having one or two masts. They were sea surfing ships of large size and high tonnage. It is possible to discern certain characteristics of the boats used during that period.
Shalankayana, a vassal power of Pallavas , was an ancient ruling dynasty in the region of Andhra (300 AD to 440 AD). One of the coins depicts a lion on the obverse and ship with two masts on the reverse. The obverse lion is similar to the Satavahana ruler coins. This combination of a lion and a ship with two masts is seen for the first-time on this coin series in the subcontinent too. The sea power of the Shalankayana helped them to establish the overseas contacts and spread Buddhism to Myanmar and Thailand.
By the 4th century AD, the Pallavas became a dominant power in the south and established a strong naval power on the Coromandel Coast. This is seen by their coin issued by them. The initial coins depicted a single mast ship and later kings issued coins showing double masts.
The depiction of a ship on coins from a single mast to double masts not only show the transformation in the shipbuilding technique but also the improved economic conditions with the sea trade.
These coins are found as far as Khuan Luck Pot in Thailand signifying the trade contacts with these countries.
In the medieval period, we don't come across any boat or ship on coins. Maybe the ships were so common that the rulers didn't find it important to portray them on coins. However, we do see them in medieval art. A ship carving is seen on the Shiva temple of 1100 AD at Tirumangalam (Tamil Nadu), depicting upturned stern and stem with high waves. Some other representations of boats in art forms are seen at Orrisa, Puri, Goa, Konark, Dilawara temples (Mt Abu, Rajasthan), Gujarat etc.
There are many other dynasties and rulers who had a strong hold on navy but are not known to have depicted ships on their coins. Chola, Cheras, Pandyas and Marathas are few renowned sea traders and naval forces.
The Chola Empire (3rd to 13th century), initiated their grand naval conquests during the reign of two of its most illustrious monarchs, Raja Raja Chola (985-1014 AD) and his son Rajendra Chola (1012-1044 AD).
Under Rajendra Chola they expanded the empire with the use of their strong navy and subdued many kingdoms of South-East Asia and occupied Myanmar, Malaya, Sumatra etc and sent ambassadors to countries as far off as China.
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