The Alupa Dynasty and Coins

 

The Alupa dynasty was an Indian dynasty that ruled from 200 AD to 1444 AD. in Southern India. They were local feudatories at different times under major dynasties such as the Kadambas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas and later Vijayanagar. 

                         

Alupa Dynasty, Gold Gadyana, 11 century AD, in the name of Pandya Dhananjaya. 

The kingdom they ruled was known as Alvakheda Arusasira, and it spanned the coastal districts of the modern Indian State known as Karnataka, including Kasaragod district of present-day Karnataka. The Alupas played a significant role in the political, cultural and religious history of coastal Karnataka.

                       

The Alupas and their neighbouring polities, 600 AD. 

                               

The term Alvakheda could be seen in several ancient inscriptions of the Alupas. The region encompassed modern Tulunadu, northern and central part of Udupi district and parts of north Kannada.

The name of the dynasty is recorded in inscriptions as Alupa, Aluva, Alva, Aluka and Alpa. Ptolemy, the 2nd century geographer and historian identifies the Alvakheda as Olokhoira, widely believed to be a corrupted term Alva Kheda, the land of the Alvas.

                         

The Vaddarse. Old Kannada inscription of King Aluvarasa 1, (650 AD)

 

Their influence over coastal Karnataka lasted for about 1200 years. They ruled initially from Mangalore and at other times from Udyavara in Udipi and later from Barkur. Their first regular full-length inscription, the Vaddarase in Kannada, is dated to early 7th century. They maintained marital relations with their overlords over the centuries. Their royal emblem was the double fish.

                           

Royal Emblem of the Alupas depicting upright double fishes and twin moons under a royal umbrella.

The descendants of this dynasty still survive to this day and have spread in the karavali region and are widely referred to as the Bunt. They can be identified with their surnames such as Shetty, Rai, Hegde, Alva, Chowta etc. Even though most Bunt are Hindus by faith, sections of the community follow Jainism and are called Jain Bunt. 

Coinage. The Alupas, as a feudatory of the Western Chalukyas in coastal Karnataka, issued coins with Kannada legends minted in Mangalorem and those in Nagarai legends at the Udupi mint. Kannada was their language of administration. The Pagodas and Fanams were the common coinage of all the Alupa kings. The obverse of the coins carried the royal emblem " Two Fishes'' and the reverse had the legend '' Sri Pandya Dhanamjaya'' either in Nagari or old Kannada. They were one of the three dynasties that issued gold coins as early as 8th century AD. The gold used to come from trade with Romans, Arabs and the kingdoms of Gangas. 

                          

Alupa Dynasty, Gold gadyana, in the name of Pandya Dhananjaya, early type, 11 century AD, weight 3.7 gm, Obverse: Dynastic emblem of two fishes under a royal umbrella, Reverse: legend '' Sri Pandya Dhananjaya" in Hale Kannada in three lies.

                         

Chalunka Dynasty, Gold Pagoda, 1200-1300AD, Weight 3.58 gm Obverse: Two figures with symbols around, conch, lamp and general design, large umbrella above all, Reverse: writing describing the King.