After
the decline of Satavahanas, the Andhras was ruled by the Ikshvakus and later by
the Vishnukundins. The Vishnukundins
rose to power around 5th century AD and ruled from Vinukonda of Guntur district
of Andhra. The most powerful
Vishnukundin king was Madhavavarman - I.
It is assumed that the Vishnukundins assumed independence from the
Pallavas between 450 AD and 500 AD.
Earlier to it, probably Vinukonda was governed by the Vishnukundin
family members under the suzerainty of Pallavas.
Sixteen
types of coins of the Vishnukundin rulers have been found by archaeologists
Following
are some of the coins:
The
Vishnukundins minted coins using a unique method: First, the circular coin flan
was produced by the casting process and later, the designs and symbols were
die- struck on the coin. Unlike the
predecessor - Ikshvakus, the Vishnukundins produced coins in copper and potin,
not in lead. The designs and motifs on the coins of Vishnukundins shows that
Satavahanas coinage might have inspired them. The earliest of Vishnukundin
coins feature the humped bull. The
majority of the Vishnukundin coins, however, portray a lion standing right with
a twisted and uplifted tail and an open mouth. The lion was the dynastic emblem
of the Vishnukundins.
The
reverse of the Vishnukundin coins mostly carried sankh shell between two
lamps. Varieties of the coin reverses
carried the pot with surmounted flames.
The pot may represent a fire altar or a fire pot from which, as per
legend, the remote ancestors of the Vishnukundins emerged. In sanskrit, it is referred as Poorna Kumbha
- the pot overflowing with flowers and coins.
The Poorna Kumbha signifies auspiciousness, prosperity and joy. Other
religious motifs such as Swastika, sun, crescent, moon, conch and wheel could
be seen on their coins.
Vishnukundina
is a Sanskritized name for Vinukonda. Several attempts have been made by
scholars to find out the origins of this dynasty, but no definite conclusions
have been reached yet. The early rulers of the dynasty migrated to the west in
search of employment and under the Vakatakas they might have attained feudatory
status.
During
the reign of Madhava Varma the Great, they became independent and conquered
coastal Andhra from the Salankayanas and might have shifted their capital to a
place in the Coastal Andhra.
