Deva Raya II (r. 1424–1446 CE)
was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire. The greatest of the Sangama dynasty
rulers, he was an able administrator, an ambitious warrior.
The Meaning of ‘Raya gaja ganda
berunda’ - The double-headed eagle which splits the temples of troops of
elephants.
Seq#
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Coin Details
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1
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Obv: In linear circle, tame tusker Elephant moving to right
holding in its trunk what looks like the King’s state sword. Above Nagari
letter “De” reversed, and a conch.
Rev: In lined circle with intermediated circle of dots, four lines with first three lines in Nagari legend – Raya/ga ja ga (n) da / b (e) ru (n) da. In place of the fourth line is the royal sword. |
2
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Obv: Elephant moving to right with elevated trunk. Above it has
the symbols – sun and moon. Below is the King’s royal sword.
Rev: Rev: In circle of dots, three line nagari legend; Ra ya ga / ja G(n) da / b(e) ru (n) da. |
3
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Obv: In Linear circle surrounded by circle of dots, an Elephant
moving to right with uplifted tail.
Rev: In circle of dots, three line nagari legend; Ra ya ga / ja G(n) da / b(e) ru (n) da. |
4
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Obv: In linear circle, an Elephant moving to right with a sword
and Kannada letter 'de' above sun and moon are also seen.
Rev: In circle of dots, three line Nagari Legend with Inter Linear lines; Raya ga/Ja ga(n) da be(e)/runda |
5
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Obv: In linear circle surrounded by circle of dots, King wearing
short helmet and holding with both his hands a forked spear, facing a tusker
elephant with uplifted tail and trunk, above nagari letter "De".
Rev: In circle of dots, four lined nagari legend; Raya Ga/Ja ga (m) da/ b(e)/ru (m)da in the fourth line a conch between Sun and Moon. |
According
to the historian Sastri, Deva Raya II had the title Gajabetegara (or Gaja
Vetegara),
which
literally means "Hunter of elephants", an honorific that explained
his addiction to hunting elephants or a metaphor referring to his victories
against enemies who were "as strong as elephants".
Despite some reversals, Deva
Raya II extended and held territories up to the Krishna river. According to an
account of visiting Persian chronicler Abdur Razzak, Deva Raya II's empire
extended from Ceylon to Gulbarga, and Orissa to the Malabar. According to the
historians Chopra, Ravindran and Subrahmaniyan, the king maintained a fleet of
ships which helped him in his oversees connections. From the account of the
contemporary European explorer Nicolo Conti, the king levied tribute on Ceylon,
Quilon, Pegu, Pulicat and Tenasserim.
