Assam, Rajesvara Simha, Gold Mohur, 11.39g,
Saka 1678, AD 1756
Obv: Within dotted border, lion below: Sri Sri Swargdeo Sri
Rajeshwara Simha Nripsya Sake 1678 (God of Heaven, King Rajesvara Simha, Saka
Year 1678)
Rev: Within dotted border: Sri Sri Hara Gauri Charana Kamala
Makaranda Madhukarasya (A bee on the nectar of the lotus on the feet of Goddess
Gouri or Gauri i.e. Goddess Parvati).
The inscription on the Gold Mohur is in Sanskrit language
written in the Assamese-Bengali script. It is dated Saka Era (SE) 1678 ie AD
1756 (SE + 78 = date in AD). The Kushan Emperor Kanishka is credited with the
initiation of the Saka era on his accession to the throne in 78 AD,
alternatively, it is believed that the Saka era started at 78 AD to celebrate
victory of Gautamiputra Satakarni over Western Kshatraps, known as Sakas. The
Saka era is also known as Shalivahana era ( Shalivahana being another name to
refer to the Satavahanas).
The predecessors of Ahom rulers migrated from the hills of
Arakan, North Burma. They belonged to the Mao-Shan group of the great Tai race.
The Tais possessed an old distinguished culture. They were Mongoloid in origin
and had their own dialect. After entering the region in 1228 AD from Arakan,
they crossed the hilly country of Patkai and moved westwards finally settling
at Charaideo. They established a powerful kingdom in the eastern part of the
country but could gain supremacy over the total Lohitya valley much later.
Although the Ahom had their own religious belief and language,
later rulers were much influenced by the Brahmanical culture of Kamrupa which
was renamed Acam or Asam. They gradually shifted to local language and Hinduism
marrying local women and from their 2nd or 3rd generation, Assamese became
their mother tongue instead of Tai-Ahom. Linguistically, Ahom is a Tai language
of Sino-Tai family while Assamese is an Indo-Aryan language influenced by
Sanskrit and written in Assamese-Bengali script.
The Ahoms however retained their language for conducting all
ceremonies and traditional rites. Sukapha, founder of the Ahom Kingdom, brought
with the tradition of writing Buranji. Bu-ran-ji literally means
‘ignorant-teach-store’ ie a store of instructions for the ignorant, and can be
considered as history, annal or chronicle. Buranjis were written by the
Pandits/priest appointed by the court and provides the main source of Ahom
history.
At the time of introduction of Ahom coinage the basic medium of
exchange was cowries with 1 purana = 1,280 cowries. The purana was therefore
the highest unit of account. The Ahoms were tribal people and the system of
using cowries as a measure of exchange was acceptable locally. The Ahoms had
trade contacts with the adjoining neighbouring Kingdoms viz Bengal, Tripura,
Cooch-Behar etc that had established monetary system and currencies hence
gradually the Ahoms introduced their own coins into Assam. The first known Ahom
coin is dated Saka Era 1570 (AD 1648) of the Ahom ruler Sutamla or Jayadhwaja
Simha (reign 1648-1663 AD). The Ahom rulers retained both their original Ahom
name as well as held a local name for ease of integration with the local
populace.
The unique feature of Ahom coins is that a vast majority of Ahom
coins are Octagonal in shape consisting of a border of dots flanked by 2
concentric lines. These coins are inscribed in Sanskrit language written in
Assamese-Bengali script on both sides, date in Saka era on one side and a small
figure of different types of bird, lion, mythical dragon or crescent. While the
octagonal shape of the Ahom coins is believed to be based on the popular legend
of the Ahom Kingdom being eight-sided as per the Yogini Tantra, a 16th-century
tantric text dedicated to the worship of Hindu goddesses Kali and Kamakhya,
another view is that the shape of the Ahom coins was influenced by the
Octaganol pattern observed on the earlier coins of the neighbouring Bengal
Sultans viz Sikandar Ilyas, Bayazid Shah etc, that became the prototype for the
octagonal Assam coins. The legend on one side names the King, his title (often
Svaragadeva ie God of Heavens) and the date of issue in Saka Era while the
other side invokes the devotion of the King to a deity, mainly Shiva or his
consort, Gauri/Gouri ie Parvati.
The coining technology of the Ahom rulers was excellent in
comparison to the contemporary states of north-east India that used more or
less the same manufacturing process. The Ahom coins were not only unique and
unusual in shape but also had more accurate weight standard and metal purity.
They also standardized calligraphy and die cutting techniques when engraving
the legends on their issues making Ahom coins much more attractive than the
coins of Cooch-Behar, Jaintiapur, Manipur, Tripura and sometimes better than
even the powerful as well as advanced Bengal Sultans.
The skills of the Ahom die-cutters were undoubtedly very fine as
they were not only expert in their line but had knowledge over the script and
text of the coin to be inscribed on the die. Linguistic mistakes are rare on
Ahom coins while the quality of coins tells us that worn out dies were never
used and were discarded before they could produce any hazy legends.
Execution of animals and bird motifs on the dies was handled
with special care as well as handling ornamental design elements to provide an
overall look, texture and feel of the coin befitting the stature of the issuer.
The die-axis of Ahom coins are perfectly aligned 180 degrees to
each other ie if the coin is turned left to right, the reverse legend appears
upside down. Not even the Mughal mints or the later machine made coins of the
British bear such perfect alignment, a testimony to the skills and alertness of
the mint workers as well as vigilant inspection by the mint masters.
The Octagnol Assam coins are a delightful numismatic example of
indigenous skills and represents unique coins from the farthest domains of
India stating its bold intent and independence devoid of external Sultanate,
Mughal or British influence.
Acknowledgement
Coins
of Ahom Kingdom, Anup Mitra
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
Blog post Author: Mitresh Singh
