This monograph is an account of Yupa inscriptions, most of which were found on sites on the banks of Vedic River Sarasvati mostly in Rajasthan. Yupa inscriptions were also found in Indonesia ascribed to the reign of King Mulavarman in Kutai kingdom. 

See: http://bharatkalyan97.blogspot.in/2015/12/kalibangan-terracotta-cake-hieroglyphs.html  Kalibangan terracotta cake hieroglyphs deciphered. Yupa-skambha, Vedic religion in Bronze Age of Sarasvati-Sindhu civilization

Knot in a Brahmi inscription, Gujarat with the same hieroglyph as shown on Indus Script Corpora metalwork catalogues. This hieroglyph of 'knot' signifies:  dhāu 'rope' rebus: dhāu 'metal' PLUS  मेढा [ mēḍhā ] 'a curl or snarl; twist in thread' rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ ‘iron’. Thus, metallic ore. mēdhḥ

मेधः 1 A sacrifice, as in नरमेध, अश्वमेध, एकविंशति- मेधान्ते Mb.14.29.18. (com. मेधो युद्धयज्ञः । 'यज्ञो वै मेधः'इति श्रुतेः ।).An offering, oblation

Mohenjo-daro. m1457 Copper plate with 'twist' hieroglyph. Mohejodaro, tablet in bas relief (M-478) The first hieroglyph-multiplex on the left (twisted rope): dhāu 'rope' rebus: dhāu 'metal' PLUS  मेढा [ mēḍhā ] 'a curl or snarl; twist in thread' rebus: mẽṛhẽt, meḍ ‘iron’. Thus, metallic ore. 

Santali glosses:

According to the Allahabad Yupainscription, in 2nd century CE, a village was assigned by the king to a minister who donated it to a priest. (Epigraphia Indica, (EI), XXVII, no. 43, lines 8-9, also see cf. EI, XXIV, no. 34, p. 252).










“Patanjali deplores the barbarisms of his time, for example, the 'wrong' words for 'cow' (gAvI, goNI, gotA, gopotalikA), which he includes among the 'many debased' (apabhrams'a) forms of the 'few' correct words. Based on the evidence of the
inscriptions, this describes the linguistic situation perfectly. Or, he complains about the wrong pronunciation of the three s-sounds of Sanskrit that had collapsed nearly everywhere in north India into one phoneme – a factor that, incidentally, again points to MathurA, where it is seen in inscriptions of brahmins. His advice therefore is not to talk like the barbarians (mleccha). The Sanskrit of his time
is exemplified by the first known Sanskrit inscription, the Ayodhya stone inscription (Sircar 1965: 94 no. 9), which is a ittleFrom the beginning of our era (S'o(m)DAsa, circa 1 to 25 CE, Sircar 1965: 114 sqq, Luders, 1961), the Mathura stone inscription (Sircar no 26) or the Kushana time Isapur Yupa inscription (Sircar 1965: 149 no. 47A).”(Austin Patrick Olivelle, 2006, Between the empires: society
in India 300 BCE to 400 CE, OUP, USA).










“In the Mahabhashya, Patanjali refers to sacrifices performed for...iha Pushyamitram YajayAmah: 'here we perform the sacrifices for Pushyamitra'. This is supported by the Ayodhya inscription of Dhanadeva (JBORS, X, p. 203 I,2), which
records the performance of two As'vamedha sacrifices by Pushyamitra
and the MalavikAgnimitra of Kalidasa. The Mahabhashya also refers to
different types of sacrifices – AgnishToma, RajasUya, Vajapeya, and
the domestic ones – Pakayajna or Panchayajna, accessories needed in
such sacrifices, their duration, the benefits that accrued from their
performances, and lastly, the priests required for them, who received
handsome dakshiNAs. Patanjali also mensions the Yupas, which were
associated with Vedic sacrifices. The S'unga-SAtavAhana-S'aka
Period. During this period, sacrifices were performed, and the
yupas (sacrificial posts) were erected at important places...In the
second or first century BCE, GajAyana SarvatAta performed an
As'vamedha sacrifice at MadhyamikA (EI, XVI, p.27; EI, XXIII, p.198).
From the NandsA yupa inscription of VS 282 (226 CE)(EI, XXVII, pp.252
ff; IHQ, XXIX, p.80), it is known that the Malava leader Nandisoma of
the Sogin clan, performed the EkashashTirAtra sacrifice to proclaim
the independence of his republic. From the BarNAla inscription f 228
CE, it is known that a king, whose name ended in Varddhana, erected
seven yupas (EI, XXVI, pp. 118ff.) The reference to the group of
seven yupas may show that the king had performed seven sacrifices.
Another yupa inscription foud here, commemorates a sacrifice
performed fifty-one years later. This inscription, of 279 CE,
commemorates the performance of five TrirAtra, or perhaps
GargatrirAtra, sacrifices by a BrAhmaNa. The Maukharis of BaDvA also
championed the Vedic religion. In 293 CE, MahAsenApati Bala and his
three sons performed a TrirAtra sacrifice (EI, XXIII, pp. 42-52).
From the inscription of VakATaka copper plates, it is known that the
BhAras'ivas under BhavanAga performed as many as ten as'vamedhas and
won the Ganges water by their prowess. KP Jayaswal rightly concluded
that they must have flourished from about the beginning of the third
century CE, and celebrated their As'vamedhas to commemorate their
conquest of the Gangetic valley, after the expulsion of the KushANas.
(History of India, 150-350 CE). At Vidis'A, the remains of some olf
YajnakuNDas or sacrificial pits of the second or third century CE
have been discovered, and they prove that Vidis'a was a great centre
of the Vedic religion. (ASI, 1914-15, p.75). These are of exceptional
interest because nowhere else have such remains been found. Near
them, two drains were found, connected with the sacrificial pits. On
the levels of the KuNDas and the brick pavement, the walls of two
structures were discovered, which were intended to be spacious halls
constructed for accommodating a large number of people gathered for
sacrifice. These sacrifices instituted by kings or wealthy YajamAnas
of the ancient times lasted for months, and some for years, and for
their adequate performance, halls of permanent structure were as much
a necessity as the kuNDas themselves. A sacrificial site was always a
meeting place for Rishis, Yajnikas and distinguished guests of the
sacrificer. The hall excavated in the south of the KuNDas served the
purpose of a dining hall or for feasting, and the other huge and
extensive hall was meant for the carrying on of philosophical
debates. Some seals connected with the sacrificial site have been
discovered. On some of them, the words hotA, potA and mantra, which
are technical to sacrificial literature, have been carved. The
sealings have been classified under four heads, viz., – 1) rulers,
2) officials, 3) private individuals, and 4) passport. Only two seals
of the first class were found. One of these gives the name of
Vis'vAmitra as the name of a ruler not so far known from any
epigraphic or literary source. Of the three sealings of the second
class, two belong to two different daNDanAyakas or police officers,
and one to an officer haya-hasty-adhikArI (in charge of elephants and
horses). There are also seals of private individuals. All these
persons were followers of the Vedic religion. The seals of passport
were meant for admitting persons to the sacrificial hall.”(Kailash
chand Jain, 1972, Malwa through the ages, from the earliest times
to 1305 AD', Dehi, Motilal Banarsidass, pp 192-194).

Mulawarman Yupa inscriptions

“The first yupa inscription of Mulavarman was erected to commemorate a bahu-suvarnaka sacrifice,'that on which gold is spent in profusion'. If the inscription can be taken literally, it points up the value of gold in the Southeast Aian world fo the fifth century. Another records that Mulavarman 'had given a gift (dAnam) of a thousand kine and a score the twice-born (i.e. the brAhmaNas)....(consequently) for that deed of merit (puNyasya) thi sacrificial post (yupo) has been made...A third inscription is similar: 'Let the foremost amongst the priests and whatsoever other pious men (there be) hear of the meritorious deed (puNyam) of Mulavarman the king of illustrious and resplendent fame – (let them hear) of his gret gift (bahudAna), his gift of cattle (?)(jivadAna), his gift of a wonder-tree (kalpavRkSam), hs gift of land (bhUmidAna). For these multitudes of pious deeds (puNyaganam) this sacrificial post has been set up by the priests.' It is the duty of men of prowess to give liberally of their substance so as to acquire greater wealth and status, thereby initiating an endless cycle of giving at all levels of society. It is also imperative that these meritorious deeds be properly recorded. In the second and third inscriptions, there is an expressed linkage between the giving of gifts (dAna) and the acquisition of merit (puNya). To record these pious acts a sacrificial post (yupa) was erected. What we have, then, is action on the temporal plane that was meant to have eternal impact in the sense that Mulavarman was building his field of
merit.” (Robert S. Wicks, 1992, Money, markets and trade in early Southeast Asia: the development of indigenous monetary systems to AD 1400, SEAP Publications, Cornell, Ithaca, NY, p.245; loc. Cit. Mulavarman's First Yupa Inscription; FH van Naerssen, and RC longh, The economic and administrative history of early Indonesia, Leiden: Brill, 1977), p. 20; J. Ph. Vogel, 'The Yupa inscription of
Mulavarman from Koelei (East Borneo)', Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land-en Volkenkunde 79, 1918: 213; Mulavarman's Second Yupa Inscription, Vogel, 'Yupa Inscriptions', p. 214; Mulavarman's Third Yupa Inscription; Vogel, 'Yupa Inscriptions', p. 215.)

“Kutai Kingdom was the oldest Hindu Kingdom in Indonesia placed in Muara Karman, East Borneo. This inscription formed Yupa, a stone pillar that is used to bind the victim in the form of animals or humans to be sacrificed to the gods. There are seven Yupa which contains the inscription, but only 4 were successfully read and translated. This inscription use Pallawa Pre-Nagari letters and in Sanskrit, which is estimated from the shape and type dating from around 400 AD.

... Contents of Mulawarman Inscription

”

http://www.ocfinid.com/2015/04/the-oldest-inscription-in-indonesia.html

EI XXIII: #7: 42-52: A.S.Atlekar, Three Mukhari Inscriptions on Yupas,kRta year 295. 

(Stone yuupas begin ca. 2nd CE, innovation over the wooden ones, from Buddhist pillars: 

Garga-triraatra ritual, an amalgam of agniSToma, ukhthya, and atiraatra.)

EI XXIV: #33: 245-251:  A.S.Atlekar, Allahabad Museum YupaInscription:Sivadatta's saptasomasaMstha

EI XXIV: #34: 251-253: A.S.Atlekar, Fourth Yupa Inscription from Badva,3rd CE: aaptoryaama ritual

EI  XXVII: #43: 252-267: A.S.Atlekar, Nanda Yupa Inscriptions, kRtayear 282: a 61-day sattra (!) ekazaSTiraatra

B. Ch. Chhabra, "Yuupa Inscriptions", in India Antiqua (Fel. Vol. J. Ph. Vogel, Leiden 1947).

Barnala yupa inscription, hybrid Samskritam. Vidarbha Yupa coin 100 BCE with Indus Script hieroglyph mēḍhā ‘stake’ rebus: meḍ ‘iron’ Mirror: http://tinyurl.com/j59adxd



























Association of yupa hieroglyph on coins from mints of Vidarbha or Ujjain is an indicator of the correlation which can be traced between a smelter/furnace in a smithy/forge and a sacred fire-altar of a yajna.








Badva yupa inscription





EI, v.XXIV, No. 34.-FOURTH MAUKHARI YUPA INSCRIPTION FROM BADVA.
A. S. ALTEKAR.


TEXT.

Mîkharår=Hastè-puttrasya Dhanuttràtasya dhèmataõ [|*]
Aptî[r]yy[a]mía[õ] kratîõ yópaõ sahasrî gava-dakshiíà [|*]
__________________________
From an ink impression.
L. 1. Read Hasti-; owing to the carelessness of the mason, the three letters in dhanuttrà have been all joined together.


L. 2. Read -tîr=yópaõ; read sahasra-gava-dakøiíaõ.





























That the Barnala Yupa inscription is hybrid Samskritam is demonstrated attesting to the continuity of Prakritam (spoken Meluhha) in the ancient writing traditions associated with yajna or metalwork.









Theo Damsteegt, 1978, Epigraphical Hybrid Sanskrit, Brill Archive, pp. 145-146









Vidarbha, Sebaka, 100 BC, Copper, 1.70g, 12mm, Bull with Yupa (sacrificial post)


Obv: Standing bull to right facing yupa-in-railing; swastika below

Rev: Double-orbed Ujjain symbol with swastika and nandi-pad above


http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?topic=33313.0










Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapana, elephant type
Weight: 3.75 gm., Diameter: 16x14 mm.
Obv.: Elephant with raised trunk to right with chakra on top left;
         (railed) tree on right.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with a taurine in each angle.
Reference: Pieper 362 (plate specimen)


http://coinindia.com/galleries-ujjain3.html






Ujjain, 200 BC, Copper, 0.9g, 10mm, Horse (Bull?) type





mēḍhā ‘stake’ rebus: meD 'iron' poLa 'zebu' rebus: poLa 'magnetite ore' jasta 'svastika' rebus: sattva 'zinc, spelter' dhAv 'strand of rope' (dotted circle) rebus: dhA 'red ore, dhAtu 'ore' meDh 'twist' rebus: meD 'iron', med 'copper' (Slavic) gaNDa 'four' rebus: kanda 'fire-altar'





kariba 'elephant trunk' ibha 'elephant' rebus: karb 'iron' ib 'iron'


kuThi 'twig' rebus: kuThi 'smelter'







Samudragupta, Gold Dinar, 7.70g, Ashvamedha type

Obv: Sacrificial horse facing left tied to a Yupa or post, decorated with ribbons and banners fluttering above; letter ’Si’ (short for 'siddham' or success) in Brahmi between the horse’s leg and double pedestal stand;

Rev: Queen standing left on a lotus holding chauri (fly whisk) and vastra (towel); a suchi (ceremonial spear with ribbons) in left field; Brahmi legend to right: Asvamedha Parakramah (one who is capable of performing the horse-sacrifice)

Ref: BMC pl.V,-1, Altekar pl. IV-1; P. Kulkarni, Asvamedha the Yajna and the Coins, 1.





kulya 'fly whisk' rebus: kol 'working in iron' kolhe 'smelter' mēḍhā ‘stake, pillar’ rebus: meD 'iron'





Svaru: Wood chips are used to make the Svaru; the chips are inserted in the Rashana or Darbha-rope wound around yupa (to burn as the fiery pillar is in flames yielding godhuma fumes of carbon to be infused into the molten metal).





Malt. kanḍo stool, seat. (DEDR 1179) Rebus: kāṇḍa 'metalware' kaṇḍa 'fire-altar'.


mardana 'rubbing,anointing'; siddhato madana may be a pronunciation variant for siddhato mardana, i.e. accomplished rubbing (of metal alloys). This expression is used on an Ujjain coin.









-- There are three hieroglyphs/hypertexts on the Mohenjo-daro seal m0352: 1. Semi-circular stones; 2. + shape of fire-altar; and 3. Dotted circles.


m0352 with dotted circles repeated on 5 sides A to F







A solid copper bolt (24 ½” in length and a circumference of 14” at the center and 12” at the ends), was found in the Rampurva Asoka Pillar near Nepal border.



Indus Script hypertext, hieroglyphs on the two-and-a-half feet long Rampurva copper bolt which joinss the bull capital to the pillar:






Glyph: ‘piece’: kōḍ कोड् m. a kernel (Kashmiri) खोट [khōṭa] A lump or solid bit (as of phlegm, gore, curds, inspissated milk); any concretion or clot. (Marathi) guḍá—1. — In sense ‘fruit, kernel’ cert. ← Drav., cf. Tam. koṭṭai ‘nut, kernel’; A. goṭ ‘a fruit, whole piece’, °ṭā ‘globular, solid’, guṭi ‘small ball, seed, kernel’; B. goṭā ‘seed, bean, whole’; Or. goṭā ‘whole, undivided’, goṭi ‘small ball, cocoon’, goṭāli ‘small round piece of chalk’; Bi. goṭā ‘seed’; Mth. goṭa ‘numerative particle’ (CDIAL 4271) Rebus: koṭe ‘forging (metal)(Mu.) koḍ ‘workshop’ (G.).Sa. gOta? `to scrape, scratch'.Mu. gOta? `to scrape, scratch'.KW gOta?@(M087)  Rebus: खोट [ khōṭa ] f ‘A mass of metal (unwrought or of old metal melted down); an ingot or wedge’ (Kashmiri) L. khoṭ f. ʻalloy, impurityʼ, °ṭā  ʻalloyedʼ, awāṇ. khoṭā  ʻforgedʼ; P. khoṭ m. ʻbase, alloyʼ M.khoṭā  ʻalloyedʼ, (CDIAL 3931)



gaṇḍa 'four' rebus: kaṇḍa 'fire-altar' PLUS गोटी [ gōṭī ] 'round pebbles, stones' rebus: गोटी [ gōṭī ] 'A lump of silver'. goṭa 'laterite, ferrite ore'.


Semi-circular, oval shape of bun ingot: Malt. múqe id. / Cf. Skt. mūkaka- id. (DEDR 5023) Rebus: mū̃h 'ingot' mũhe 'ingot' mũhã̄ = the quantity of iron produced at one time in a native furnace. 














gaṇḍa ‘four’ (Santali) Rebus: kaṇḍ = fire-altar (Santali); kan = copper (Tamil)





 


sãghāṛɔ 'lathe' (Gujarati. Desi) m0008 Mohenjo-daro seal. This shows the bottom bowl of the 'standard device' superimposed with dotted circles. Since the top portion of the 'device' is a drill-lathe, these dotted circles are orthographic representations of drilled beads which were the hallmark of lapidaries' work of the civilization. Rebus reading of the kandi 'beads' (Pa.) is: kaND, kandu 'fire altar, smelting furnace of a blacksmith' (Santali.Kashmiri)Glyphs of dotted circles on the bottom portion of the 'standard device': kandi (pl. -l) beads, necklace (Pa.); kanti (pl. -l) bead, (pl.) necklace; kandit. bead (Ga.)(DEDR 1215). Rebus: लोहकारकन्दुः f. a blacksmith's smelting furnace (Grierson Kashmiri)




Mohenjo-daro Seal m0352 shows dotted circles in the four corners of a fire-altar and at the centre of the altar together with four raised 'bun' ingot-type rounded features. Rebus readings of m0352 hieroglyphs:


dhātu 'layer, strand'; dhāv 'strand, string' dāya 'one in dice' Rebus: dhāu, dhātu 'ore' PLUS 'circle' hieroglyph: vr̥ttá ʻ turned ʼ RV., ʻ rounded ʼ ŚBr. 2. ʻ completed ʼ MaitrUp., ʻ passed, elapsed (of time) ʼ KauṣUp. 3. n. ʻ conduct, matter ʼ ŚBr., ʻ livelihood ʼ Hariv. [√vr̥t1]

1. Pa. vaṭṭa -- ʻ round ʼ, n. ʻ circle ʼ; Pk. vaṭṭa -- , vatta -- , vitta -- , vutta -- ʻ round ʼ; L. (Ju.) vaṭ m. ʻ anything twisted ʼ; Si. vaṭa ʻ round ʼ, vaṭa -- ya ʻ circle, girth (esp. of trees) ʼ; Md. va'ʻ round ʼ GS 58; -- Paš.ar. waṭṭəwīˊk, waḍḍawik ʻ kidney ʼ ( -- wĭ̄k vr̥kká -- ) IIFL iii 3, 192?(CDIAL 12069) வட்டம்¹ vaṭṭam , < Pkt. vaṭṭa < vṛtta. n. 1. Circle, circular form, ring-like shape; மண்ட லம். (தொல். சொல். 402, உரை.) 2. Halo round the sun or moon, a karantuṟai-kōḷ; பரிவேடம். (சிலப். 10, 102, உரை.) (சினேந். 164.) 3. Potter's wheel; குயவன் திரிகை. (பிங்.) 4. Wheel of a cart; வண்டிச்சக்கரம். (யாழ். அக.) Together, the dot PLUS circle are read rebus:  धवड (p. 436) [ dhavaḍa ] m (Or धावड) A class or an individual of it. They are smelters of iron (Marathi) धावड   dhāvaḍa m A class or an individual of it. They are smelters of iron. In these parts they are Muhammadans.धावडी   dhāvaḍī a Relating to the class धावड. Hence 2 Composed of or relating to iron. (Marathi)





Vikalpa 1. Round dot like a blob -- . Glyph: raised large-sized dot -- (gōṭī ‘round pebble);goTa 'laterite (ferrite ore)A (गोटा) gōṭā Spherical or spheroidal, pebble-form. (Marathi) goTa 'laterite ferrite ore'. Rebus: khoṭā ʻalloyedʼ (metal) (Marathi) खोट [khōṭa] f A mass of metal (unwrought or of old metal melted down); an ingot or wedge (Marathi). P. khoṭ  m. ʻalloyʼ 





dhāi 'strand' (Rigveda) tri- dhāu 'three strands' rebus: dhāu 'red ore'. त्रिधातुः (magnetite, hematite, laterite) -- ferrite ores PLUS copper ore M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron-- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ(CDIAL 6773)


gaṇḍa 'four' rebus: khaṇḍa 'implements' rebus: kaṇḍa 'fire-altar'.







Meaning, artha of inscription: Trade (and metalwork wealth production) of kōnda sangara 'metalwork engraver'... PLUS (wealth categories cited.)




koḍa 'one' rebus: koḍ 'workshop'


dhāi 'strand' (Rigveda) tri- dhāu 'three strands' rebus: dhāu 'red ore'. त्रिधातुः (magnetite, hematite, laterite) -- ferrite ores PLUS copper ore dhāi 'strand' (Rigveda) tri- dhāu 'three strands' rebus: dhāu 'red ore'; dhāvḍā 'smelter'




kolmo ‘rice plant’ rebus: kolilmi ‘smithy, forge’.






सिद्ध   siddha Adept or accomplished (in alchemy &c.) (Marathi). This acomplishment is symbolised by the four arms of the Ujjain symbol.













The hypertext of Ujjain symbol with four arms lf + ligatured to dotted circle is explained as: धवड dhavaḍa, 'smelter' PLUS gaṇḍa 'four' rebus: khaṇḍa 'implements' 





Ujjain (Four dotted circles ligatured to '+' sign)





m2094 





This monograph demonstrates that the + shapes shown onm2094 ad on Ujjain symbol signify Vedi, fire-altars.





The + shape of these fire altars is consistent with the description provided in Mānava Śulbasūtra for a Caturaśra Śyena, or "four-sided falcon." The procedure is described lucidly by Patrick A. George in the following post for UPenn at 


http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/george/vedi.html (reproduced below for ready reference)


चतुर्--श्र mf(आ)n. four-cornered , quadrangular Ka1tyS3r. Kaus3. Pa1n2. 5-4 , 120 Hariv.12378 &c; quadrangular figure; a square (Monier-Williams). 





The text indicates how the body of the Śyena 'falcon' is constructed as a square with the two wings, head and tail added in proportionately to the sizes of wings, head and tail of the falcon; such a construction described in the text (shown in a figure below) is consistent with the shape of the fire-altar shown on Mohenjo-daro seal m2094. 







Ujjain Symbol with four arms is also a variant of the shape of the fire-altar shown on m2094 with each of the four arms ligatured with a dotted circle which has a unique Meluhha signifier expression: dhā̆vaḍ 'iron smelter’.





In order that the four limbs of the falcon do not break away from the body, structural integrity is maintained by overlapping layers with different arrangements of bricks. The bricks of the first, third, and fifth layers of the Caturasra Shyena altar are are constructed with three different bricks in the following quantities and sizes, where a = angula:




110 30a x 30a

85 12a x 12a

5 12a x 6a


The second, and fourth layers of the Caturasra Shyena altar are constructed with four different bricks in the following quantities and sizes:






110 30a x 30a

75 12a x 12a

10 12a x 6a

5 18a x 12a


The square 'body' of the altar may thus also be described as an 8 x 8 grid, a pattern which is most apparent in the arrangement of bricks in layers 1, 3, and 5. This 8 x 8 grid is proportionally equivalent to the plans of Indian temples, and the areas enclosed by the representations of walls in tantric yantras and

mandalas.







List of Illustrations

Bibliography

Index





Patrick A. George


(pgeorge@ccat.sas.upenn.edu)

http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/george/vedi.html








निर्झर मुखोपाध्याय‎Harappan Archaeology



Admin · April 8 · 





 


Ujjain symbol found in potsherd of Surkotada site from Harappan civilization.













Coins from Ujjain depicting the famous 'Ujjaini symbol' [a], which is a really frequent symbol from coins and seals of central-west India during early historic period (~200 BCE).Same symbol could be traced back to the Harappan period [b]. It is also seen in other Chalcolithic cultures like from Navdatoli [c]. It may have been a regional/tribal symbol from Harappan era which survived till early historic era. https://www.facebook.com/groups/416065382227600/permalink/585214385312698/








-- kanda 'fire-trench of four arms', अग्नि--कुण्ड 'enclosed space for consecrated fire', कोंद kōnda 'furnace' of dhā̆vaḍ 'iron smelter’.





Smelting or ore purification process occurs in a pot-kiln or in an enclosed space of a deep pit.


The Ujjain symbol of four dotted circles on four arms of a + hieroglyph, on early coins of Ancient India provide the leads to decipher the semantics in Meluhha of hieroglyphs/hypertexts as signifiers of smelting processes and smithy/forge processes to produce ingots or metalware,wealth of a nation. This Ujjain symbol on coins of ca. 3rd/4th cent. BCE are derived from a hieroglyph registered on a Rojdi potsherd of Sarasvati-Sindhu Civilization ca. 3rd millennium BCE. A modification of the + symbol is the svastika showing the unique processes of sublimation of zinc in retorts; the sign is read rebus: sattva 'svastika symbol' rebus: sattva 'zinc'.






Proving that Svastika is NOT a syllable, but hypertext of logo-semantic Indus Script. History of svastika and its use on metalwork wealth-accounting ledgers 




https://tinyurl.com/y69rudws Thus, svastika symbol signifies the unique process for sublimating zinc ore.



https://www.facebook.com/groups/416065382227600/


"Rojdi is an archaeological site belonging to the Indus valley civilization. It is located on the northern bank of the Bhadar River in Gondal taluka of Rajkot district in central Saurashtra peninsula of Gujarat state in India. It was continuously occupied from 2500 BCE to 1700 BCE...The pottery often has graffiti with signs from the Indus script, such as jar sign. There is also a short inscription in Harappan writing on the rim of a potshred. Five (four complete and one broken) copper or bronze flat axes were found, all belonged to Rojdi C period." .https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rojdi






















Ujjain region, punchmarked AE,  'standing Shiva type'
Weight:  2.21 gm., Dimensions: 12x11 mm.
Standing Shiva; sun; six-armed symbol; three-arched hill with crescent on top;
     'bale-mark'.
'Bale-mark'.
Reference:  Pieper 166 (plate coin)


These coins are still close copies of the silver karshapana type listed above but they are no longer issued in silver. They still maintain the 'bale-mark' reverse symbol of their prototype.


Ujjain, punchmarked AE,  'standing Shiva type'
Weight:  3.88 gm., Dimensions: 14 mm.
Standing Shiva holding danda and kamandalu; sun; six-aarmed symbol; tree.
'Bale-mark' and Ujjain symbol.
Reference:  Pieper 164 (plate coin)





Typologically this type departs further from the Mauryan prototype towards the  typical local Ujjain 'Shiva type'. On that type Shiva will henceforth occupy the dominant position to which the associated symbols are subordinated. As can be seen below these associated symbols are frequently still the same as on the Mauryan prototype, particularly sun and six-armed symbol. This coin is still punchmarked in contrast to the subsequent types which are all die-struck, but the symbol arrangement on the coin flan is already more a composition than a randomly done application of punches. On the reverse the 'bale-mark' is still maintained but now it is accompanied by the Ujjain symbol. In the further development the 'bale-mark' will disappear and the Ujjain symbol alone will become the reverse emblem of the whole series.


Ujjain: Shiva types


Ujjain, anonymous, AE 1/2 karshapana,  'standing Shiva type'

Weight:  4.94 gm., Dimensions: 16 mm.
Standing Shiva holding danda in right and kamandalu in left; sun above railed tree
     on left and 6-armed symbol above taurines on right.
Double-orbed Ujjain symbol.


Reference:  Pieper 265 (plate coin)/ BMC pl.XXXVIII, nos.5-6


Devendra Handa in 'Divinities on Ujjain Coins', ICS-NL 51, p.5: "The commonest figure is that of a male bearing matted locks or a top-knot and holding a staff and water vessel in his two hands corresponding almost exactly to the description of Rudra-Shiva in the Skanda Purana." The importance of the Shiva cult at Ujjain and the combined depiction of the same figure with a bull, the vahana of Shiva, support its identification as Shiva.








Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/4 karshapana, 'standing Shiva type'
Weight:  7.25 gm., Dimensions: 17 mm.
Standing Shiva holding danda in right and kamandalu in left; sun above railed tree
     on left and six-armed symbol on right; taurine on top; river at bottom
Double orbed Ujjain symbol
Reference: Pieper 267 (plate coin)






Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/4 karshapana, 'standing Shiva type'
Weight:  7.22 gm., Dimensions: 17 mm.
Standing Shiva holding danda in right and kamandalu in left; sun above railed tree
     on left and 6-armed symbol on right; taurine and svastika on top.
Double-orbed Ujjain symbol
Reference: Pieper 268 (plate coin)





Ujjain, anonymous AE 1 1/2 karshapana, 'Shiva standing on lotus'
Weight:  11.99 gm., Dimensions: 18 mm.
Shiva standing on lotus holding danda in right and kamandalu in left;
     railed tree on left; six-armed symbol above taurine on right.
Double-orbed Ujjain symbol
Reference: Pieper 269 (plate coin)


The depiction of the deity with danda and kamandalu is like on the previous coins except that the god is standing on a lotus on this specimen.




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1 1/2 karshapana,  'standing Shiva type'
Weight:  12.10 gm., Dimensions: 18 mm.
Shiva-like figure standing with danda in right and kamandalu on left; railed tree on
     left with taurines below.
Double-orbed Ujjain symbol with an extra dot in center of each orb.
Reference: Pieper 270 (plate coin)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, 'standing Shiva type'
Weight:  4.26 gm., Dimensions: 16 mm.
Standing Shiva holding danda and kamandalu; railed tree on left; six-armed
     symbol above unconnected Ujjain symbol on right; river line at bottom.
Ujjain symbol with a svastika inside each orb and circles in the angles.
Reference: Pieper 271 (plate coin)





Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapana, 'standing Shiva type'
Weight:  3.58 gm., Dimensions: 14 mm.
Standing Shiva holding danda and kamandalu; cakra above Indradhvaja on left;
     railed tree on right; river at the botom.
Ujjain symbol
Reference:  Pieper 272 (plate coin)

















Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapana, 'standing Shiva-like type'

Weight:  3.34g, Dimensions: 12 mm
Standing male deity both hands akimbo, danda in right; three-arched hill above
     river on left; cakra above railed tree on right.
Ujjain symbol with a svastika in each orb and footprints in angles.
Reference: Pieper 274 (plate coin) / Kothari 234 (who saw the footprints as taurines).


The depiction of the footprint (paduka) of a deity is a well known  symbol of worship but it allows no attribution to a specific deity, as this symbol was used
by followers of different deities, among them Buddha, Shiva and Vishnu.



Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/4 karshapana, 'dancing Shiva  type'
Weight:  2.35 gm., Dimensions: 13 mm.
Shiva in dancing pose with both knees slightly bent holding curved club-like
     danda  and kamandalu; river on left; leaves of a tree on right.
Double orbed Ujjain symbol with crescents in angles.
Reference:  Pieper 275 (plate coin)


Ujjain, anonymous AE  1/4karshapana, 'poly-cephalous Shiva type'

Weight:  2.65 gm., Dimensions: 12 mm.
Multi-headed Shiva holding danda and kamandalu; tree on left; (cakra above
     fish-tank on right)
Double orbed Ujjain symbol surrounded by river with fish.
Reference: Pieper 276 (plate coin) / BMC, pl. XXXVIII, no.19





Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, 'poly-cephalous Shiva type'
Weight:  4.32 gm., Dimensions: 17 mm.
Multi-headed standing Shiva holding danda and kamandalu; railed tree on right;
     cakra above fish-tank on left.
Double orbed Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 280 (plate coin) / BMC, pl.XXXVIII, no.22



Ujjain, anonymous AE, 'crested standing Shiva type'
Weight:  1.82 gm., Dimensions: 12 mm.
Crested Shiva standing to right; railed tree on left; cakra above fish-tank on left;
     river at the bottom.
Double-orbed Ujjain symbol.
Reference:  Pieper 281 (plate coin) / BMC, pl.XXXVIII, no.14


In contrast to the above listed coins with depictions of Shiva with a top-knot hairdress, the hairstyle of the 'crested Shiva type' is depicted in a ponytail fashion thus reflection the 'matted locks' of Shiva as described in ancient texts.


Ujjain, anonymous AE, 'crested standing Shiva type'

Weight:  0.72 gm., Dimensions: 9 mm.
Crested Shiva standing to left holding danda and kamandalu; railed tree on left;
     taurine on top.
Ujjain symbol with alternating svastikas and taurines in its orbs.
Reference: Pieper 282 (plate coin) / BMC, pl.XXXVIII, nos. 11-12





Ujjain, anonymous AE, 'Shiva-like figure holding kamandalu before breast'
Weight:  1.10 gm., Dimensions: 10 mm.
Shiva-like standing figure holding danda and kamandalu; taurine above standard
     on left.
Ujjain symbol
Reference: Pieper 284 (plate coin)


The unusual feature of this coin is the position of the kamandalu which appears to be held by the standing deity just in front of its breast.


Ujjain, anonymous AE, 'Shiva-like figure holding kamandalu before breast'

Weight:  1.2 gm., Dimensions: 11 mm.
Shiva-like standing figure holding danda and kamandalu; taurine above standard on left,
     srivatsa above a lotus-like symbol at right
Double-orbed Ujjain symbol
Reference: Pieper 284


This beautifully preserved specimen clearly confirms that the deity is indeed holding a kamandalu in front of the breast. (Photo courtesy Prakash Jinjuvadiya.)


Ujjain, anonymous AE, 'standing Shiva type'

Weight:  1.72 gm., Dimensions: 12x11 mm
Standing Shiva holding danda and kamandalu; six-armed symbol on top.
Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 287 (plate coin)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapana, 'standing Shiva type'

Weight:  3.16 gm., Dimensions: 18x14 mm.
Standing Shiva holding danda and kamandalu; cakra above svastika and standard
     on left; fish-tank above railed tree on right; river at the bottom.
Ujjain symbol with a svastika in each orb.
Reference: Pieper 289 (plate coin) / BMC, pl.XXXVII, nos.19-20





Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapana, 'standing Shiva + nandi type'

Weight:  3.18 gm., Dimensions: 18x16 mm.
Standing Shiva holding danda and kamandalu, nandi facing from left towards the
     deity; cakra and standard on top left.
Double-orbed Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 319 (plate coin)





Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, 'standing Shiva + nandi type'
Weight:  5.03 gm., Dimensions: 17x15 mm.
Standing Shiva holding danda and kamandalu, nandi on the left facing towards the
     viewer; cakra and Indradhvaja on top; parts of tree on right.
Ujjain symbol with a svastika in each orb.
Reference: Pieper 318 (plate coin)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, 'standing Shiva + nandi type'

Weight:  5.31 gm., Dimensions: 17x17 mm.
Standing Shiva on right with nandi on left facing towards the deity; railed tree in
     center between Shiva and bull.
Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 321 (plate coin)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 2 karshapana, 'standing Shiva + nandi type'
Weight:  15.53 gm., Dimensions: 26x21 mm.
Standing Shiva on right with nandi on left facing towards the deity; railed tree in
     center between Shiva and bull; taurines on top and a svastika on right bottom;
     river with diverse aquatic creatures at the bottom.
Double-orbed Ujjain symbol with an extra arm topped by a taurine in each angle.
Reference: Pieper 322 (plate coin) 


An unusual heavy weight standard for the series. The heaviest recorded specimen offered at a public auction weighed 25.8 gm thus roughly representing a triple copper karshapana.




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1 1/2 karshapana, 'standing Shiva + nandi type'
Weight:  13.38 gm., Dimensions: 20 mm.
Standing Shiva in center; bull facing the deity from left, Indradhvaja above the bull;
    railed tree on right; river at the bottom.
Double-orbed Ujjain symbol with a taurine in each angle.
Reference: Pieper 313 (plate coin) 


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, 'standing Shiva+ nandi type'
Weight:  3.40 gm., Dimensions: 18 mm.
Standing Shiva holding danda and kamandalu; bull facing the deity from the right;
     Ujjain symbol on top; railed tree on left; river at the bottom.
Ujjain symbol with a svastika in each orb.
Reference: Pieper 311 (plate coin)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapana, 'seated Shiva + nandi type'
Weight:  3.44 gm., Dimensions: 14x14 mm.
Seated Shiva holding danda and kamandalu; bull facing the deity from left; Ujjain symbol
     above the bull; railed tree on right; river at the bottom.
Double-orbed Ujjain symbol with a taurine in each angle.
Reference: Pieper 307 (plate coin) 


Ujjain, Bhumimitra AE, 'seated Lakulisha type'
Weight:  1.78 gm., Dimensions: 12 mm.
 Lakulisha seated on a lotus holding danda and kamandalu; cakra above tree on left;
     Brahmi legend 'bhumimitasa' in vertical placement on right.
Ujjain symbol with a small Ujjain symbol in each orb; nandipadas in angles.
Reference: Pieper 405 (plate coin)


The seated figure on this coin type has been identified as Lakulisha by several scholars, among them Wakankar, Kothari and Bhatt. Lakulisha is described as  the 28th and last incarnation of Shiva. He propagated and reformed Shaivism  with special emphasis on Yoga practices. According to Handa (ICS-NL 51, p.24)"the god depicted here predates the textual prescriptions and is one of the earliest examples of the depiction of Lakulisha. Alternatively it may be said to be the representation of Yogeshvara Shiva."


Ujjain, inscribed AE 1/3 karshapana, elephant type
Weight: 2.93 gm., Diameter: 13x13 mm
Obv.: In a square incuse elephant standing to right with raised trunk; Brahmi
         legend around reading anti-clockwise with outwards directed letters
         'bhumimitasa'.
Rev.: Double-orbed Ujjain symbol with a taurine in each angle.
Reference: Pieper 407 (plate specimen)


The 'seated Lakulisha type' inscribed in the name of Bhumimitra is a well known type among the rare inscribed coins of the local Ujjain series. This square elephant type inscribed in the same name Bhumimitra was completely unknown until the appearance of this unique specimen.






Human depictions on ancient Indian coins are of special interest, as they are among India's earliest representations of deities in anthropomorphic form and thus most important for the study of their iconographic development. The earliest such depictions on coins appear on some of the punchmarked silver karshapanas of the Mauryan kings during the 4th/3rd century BCE. The deities on these early silver coins have been identified as crested Shiva holding danda (stick) and kamandalu (water-pot), as ithyphallic Shiva on one rare type from the Jan Lingen collection, as chakra (discus-weapon) holding Vaishnavite deity Vasudeva-Krishna or as plough holding Balarama. A number of female figures on some of these silver karshapana types have been regarded as Matrikas. And a unique silver karshapana from the Pieper collection depicts a chakra holding Vaishnavite deity / Vishnu together with what appears to be the earliest depiction of a Garuda.


On the local Ujjain coins with human depictions on them, these are in most cases single human figures, standing, squatting, dancing or sitting, representing various Hindu gods and goddesses. Different researchers have tried to identify them and have frequently come to divergent conclusions. The matter is not simple as in this early stage of iconography the depiction of many deities together with their characteristic symbols and attributes was not yet fully developed and sometimes different deities were even associated with the same symbols. The latest approach to the subject is Devendra Handa's brilliant paper on 'Divinities on Ujjain Coins', ICS-NL 51, 2013' who clarified controversies on some deities and originally proposed the identification of others. The most prominent figure on these coins is ceratainly Shiva Mahakala whose cult was very important at Ujjain,  and Lakshmi who experienced a general adoration by believers of different cults who wouldn't have hesitated to beg assistance from the goddess of wealth, prosperity and fortune. 


But apart from Shiva and Lakshmi there are several other deities who are depicted on the coins of ancient Ujjain, such as Karttikeya, Shashthi, Vasudhara, Krishna, Brahma and others, according to the well-founded identifications of Devendra Handa. Further details will be given with the respective coin descriptions below.  Handa refers to some coins published by Sethi depicting a male human figure which either holds a bull or cow by its horn, or which drives a bull/ cow holding a stick in his hand, and proposes to identify this figure as Gopala Krishna (ICS-NL, no.51, pp.25-26). In the same context he proposes to regard another figure as a Krishna depiction as well: this figure appears on a coin published by Kothari which shows a dancing male figure with fan-shaped hairdress holding a flute-like object.  Kothari's coin type 252 is seen by Handa as a depiction of Karttikeya (ICS-NL, 51, p.31); the deity is holding shakti (lance) and kamandalu (water-pot) and shows five protrusions of the head-gear as a "representation of six-headed Karttikeya." In a similar way goddess Shashthi is identified by Handa on another Ujjain coin type depicted as a multi-headed female figure as indicated by the dotted marks around her head. The 'fish-holding deity' was already described by V.S. Agrawala as a representation of Vasudhara who is the consort of Jambhala- the Buddhist god of wealth.


A few early copper coins of the Ujjain region with three standing/ walking human figures on them are of special interest. Combining the evidence of the specimens at his disposal Devendra Handa identified this group of three figures, a female figure in the center with a bow-holding male figure on each side,  as the earliest numismatic depictions of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana datable to the 2nd/ 1st century BC (ICS-NL, no.51, pp.29-30).  "The dress of the female figure compares very well with the dress of numerous human figures which figure on Ujjain coins and leaves little doubt to its being an indigenous piece of the area. The three figures with two males holding the bows seem to represent Rama, Sita and Lakshmana going in the forest and recall to our mind the description given in the Valmiki Ramayana".


UJJAIN diverse deities


Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapana, 'seated Lakshmi type'







Weight: 3.18 gm., Diameter: 16 mm.
Seated Lakshmi with feet parallel to each other, right hand on leg and
     left hand raised holding lotus flower.
Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 304 (plate coin) / BMC pl.XXXVIII, no.25


Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu, is the goddess of fortune, wealth and prosperity and one of the most popular divinities from the Hindu pantheon. Incarnations of Vishnu are Rama and Krishna, as incarnations of Lakshmi are Sita (Rama's wife) and Radha (Krishna's lover). Lakshmi has a special association to the lotus flower which stands for growth and fertility- so much that even the world is said to be continually reborn from a lotus which comes out of the navel of Vishnu.


Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapana, 'abisheka-Lakshmi txpe'

Weight: 3.10 gm., Diameter: 15x11 mm.
Lakshmi seated with feet parallel to each other, her right rests on her
      belly and her left on her leg; Lakshmi is flanked by two elephants
      which are sprinkling water on her head (abisheka Lakshmi).
Reference: Pieper 305 (plate coin) / BMC pl.XXXVI, nos.4-5


Abisheka is a late Vedic rite originally performed by anointing government officials at special occasions. In Hindu worship the abisheka ritual is particularly connected with Lakshmi, though it is also performed by other believers. 'Rudraabisheka' for example is peformed on Shiva lingams. As can be seen on this coin Lakshmi is frequently depicted with two elephants adoring her by pouring water over her head.


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/8 karshapana, 'fish-holding Vasudhara'
Weight: 1.00 gm., Diameter: 8x8 mm.
Standing goddess Vasudhara holding a pair of fish with her outstretched
     right, left hand akimbo.; standard on right.
Ujjain symbol with extra circle in field.
Reference: Pieper 295 (plate coin) 


The fish-holding goddess is known on coins and sculptural objects from Malwa, Vidarbha, Mathura, Kausambi and elsewhere and has been identified as Vasudhara, a goddess of wealth and auspiciousness.  Like Lakshmi she was popular among traders and others who searched protection and promotion for their diverse activities. Handa emphasizes the symbolic importance of the pair of fish "as one of the eight mangalika-chihnas 'auspicious signs' in literature".


Central India, AE 1/8 karshapana,'fish-holding Vasudhara'
Weight: 1.01 gm., Diameter: 8x8 mm.
Standing goddess Vasudhara holding a pair of fish with her outstretched
     right, left hand akimbo; she wears large earrings and pinned up hair (as
     if wearing a vessel on her head); svastika on the top left.
Lion standing to right
Reference: Pieper 452 (plate coin)


The provenance of this and the next coin is uncertain but may be assumed to be in western Malwa or closely linked regions south of the Narmada.


Central India, AE 1/8 karshapana, 'fish-holding Vasudhara'
Weight: 1.17 gm., Diameter: 11x8 mm.
Standing goddess Vasudhara holding a pair of fish with her outstretched
     right, left hand akimbo; her hair is pinned up (as if wearing a vessel on
     her head; two crescent-like devices on the left.
Tree
Reference: Pieper 453 (plate coin)


Ujjain, AE 1/4 karshapanaa, 'snake holding deity'
Weight: 2.83 gm., Diameter: 11x11 mm.
Frontally facing female figure, her left arm akimbo, her right raised hand holding
     an uncertain object; on the left is a curved object like a snake
    coming from a large basket that is standing at the bottom.
Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 296 (plate coin)


It is possible that this is also a depiction of 'fish-holding' Vasudhara but there are some differences. The uplifted right is unusual and the fact that the deity would be holding one of the two fish directly in her hand seems to be unusual as well. Usually Vasudhara is holding the pair of fish with a string so that they are hanging below her outstretched hand. To me it looks more as if she was holding a snake in her hand and the curved object on left as well bears more resemblance to a snake. And the basket which is standing at the bottom reminds one of the baskets in which snake charmers keep their snakes. If this interpretation was true, the depicted figure might be a serpent goddess such as Manasa who is particularly worshipped in Bengal but also in other parts of northern and north-eastern India.


Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapana, 'Annapurna type'

Weight: 3.17 gm., Diameter: 17x15 mm.
Frontally standing female figure holding a vase or pot in her upraised right
     hand, left akimbo; 6-armed symbol on top left; horizontally placed
     Indradhvaja and taurine on bottom left; railed tree on right.
Double-orbed Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 294 (plate coin) /BMC pl.XXXVII, no.21


Handa suggested that the female on this coin may represent Annapurna (ICS-NL, 51, p.35). Annapurna is the Hindu goddess of nourishment, food, harvest and agriculture and hence very popular in the villages and rural regions of India. She is regarded as another form of Parvati, the consort of Shiva. Annapurna is depicted holding a bowl or pot filled with grain or other food. Her main temple stands in Varanasi but others are known at many other places among them a very famous one at Indore in Madhya Pradesh.



Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/4 karshapana, 'taurine-holding deity'
Weight: 3.00gm., Diameter: 15x14 mm.
Frontally standing female figure holding taurine in raised left, right akimbo;
     chakra above Ujjain symbol on left; svastika above railed tree on right.
Ujjain symbol with a svastika in each orb.
Reference: Pieper 298 (plate coin)/ BMC pl.XXXVII, no.8


The identity of this taurine holding female remains uncertain at the moment


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/4 karshapana, 'six-headed Shashthi type'

Weight: 1.95 gm., Diameter: 14x12 mm.
Simplified female figure frontally standing, both arms hanging down; railed
     tree on right; river line at the bottom.
Ujjain symbol with svastika in each angle.
Reference: Pieper 300 (plate coin)


Referring to depictions of six-headed Shashthi on some Yaudheya coins Devendra Handa takes the five dots around the main head of the female on this coin type as additional heads and identifies her  as Shashthi on this Ujjain type as well (ICS-NL, 51, p.34).



Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapana, 'shoulder decorated deity'
Weight: 3.30 gm., Diameter: 15x15 mm.
In square incuse standing human on left with rings (bracelets) around the
     shoulders; Ujjain symbol in center; hand or footprint symbol on right;
     horizontally placed railed tree at top; river at the bottom.
Reference: Pieper 297 (plate coin)


The identity of this peculiar human figure with the circles / rings/ ornaments at the shoulders is still open.




Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapana,'Balarama & ass-demon'
Weight: 3.86 gm., Diameter: 15x14 mm.
Human figure on left holding stick and kamandalu standing towards a
     horse-like animal which faces him from right; palm tree on right; Ujjain
     symbol on top; a taurine above the animal and taurine and svastika at
     the bottom.
Ujjain symbol with a svastika in each orb and taurines in the angles.
Reference: Pieper 346


ghōṭa m. ʻ horse ʼ ĀpŚr., °ṭī -- f. Aśvad., °ṭaka -- m. Pañ- cat., °ṭikā -- f. lex. [Non -- Aryan, prob. Drav., origin EWA i 361 with lit.]Pa. ghōṭaka -- m. ʻ poor horse ʼ; Pk. ghōḍa -- , °ḍaya -- m., °ḍī -- f. ʻ horse ʼ, Gy. as (Baluči) gura, pers. gôrá, pal. gṓri f., arm. khori ʻ horse ʼ, eur. khuro m., °rī f. ʻ foal ʼ, boh. pol. khuro ʻ stallion ʼ; Ash.g&otodacutemacr;ṛu m. ʻ horse ʼ, gọ̈̄räˊ f., Wg. g&otodacutemacr;ṛa, Pr. irí, Dm. gọŕɔ m., guŕi f., Paš. gōṛāˊ, Niṅg. guṛə́, Shum. gṓṛo, Woṭ. gōṛ m., gēṛ f., Gaw. guṛɔ́ m., guṛīˊ f., Kal. urt. ghɔ́̄ŕ*l, Bshk. górm., gēr f., Tor. ghō m., ghəē f. (aspirate maintained to distinguish from gō ʻ bull ʼ J. Bloch BSL xxx 82), Mai. ghå m., ghwī f., Chil. Gau. gho, Sv. ghuṛo m., g'uṛia f., Phal. ghūṛu m., °ṛi f., Sh. *gōu (→ Ḍ.gōwá), K. guru m., °rü f., (Islamābād) guḍü, rām. pog. ghōṛŭ, kash. ghuṛŭ, ḍoḍ. ghōṛō, S. ghoṛo m., °ṛī f., L. P. ghoṛā m., °ṛī f., in cmpds. ghoṛ -- , WPah. ghoṛo m., °ṛī f., °ṛu n. ʻ foal ʼ, Ku. ghoṛo, A. ghõrā, in cmpds. ghõr -- , B. ghõṛā m., ghũṛi f. (whence Chittagong ghunni ODBL 695), Or. ghoṛā, °ṛī, Bi. ghor, °rā, OAw. ghora, H. ghoṛ, ghoṛā m., ṛī f. (→ N. Bhoj. ghoṛā, N. °ṛi, Bhoj. °ṛī), Marw. ghoṛo m., G.ghoṛɔ m., °ṛī f., °ṛũ n. ʻ poor horse ʼ, M. ghoḍā m., °ḍī f., Ko. ghoḍo.*ghōṭakarūpa -- , *ghōṭāgāra -- .Addenda: ghōṭa -- : S.kcch. ghoṛo m. ʻ horse ʼ, WPah.kṭg. (kc.) ghòṛɔ, m. ʻ horse ʼ, kṭg. ghòṛu m. ʻ small horse, colt ʼ, Garh. ghoṛū m. ʻ horse ʼ, Brj. ghoṛo, ghoro m., ghoṛī, ghorī f.(CDIAL 4516)


Rebus: खोट (p. 212) [ khōṭa ] f A mass of metal (unwrought or of old metal melted down); an ingot or wedge. (Marathi)






In a note to the SACG website Shailendra Bhandare suggested the scene on this coin representing the mythical story of 'Balarama killing the ass demon' and the depiction seems to reflect that story indeed quite well- even if the deity on this coin has no specific Vaishnavite attributes. We are told that there had been a large grove where there were palmyras bearing delicious fruits. But nobody dared to go there because the site was guarded by Dhenuka, a demon in the form of an ass. Finally Balarama, inseparable companion of Krishna, killed the demon by crashing him against one of the palm trees. In his contribution to 'Between the Empires' Bhandare discusses the story of 'Balarama killing the ass-demon' in the context of the coinage of Erikachha where the palm-tree and ass had been characteristic coin devices. Typologically this coin type may thus rather belong to Erikachha than to Ujjain.







Ujjain, anonymous AE, 'Brahma type'

Weight: 2.84 gm., Diameter: 14x14 mm.
Standing male figure holding long curved staff and kamandalu (water-pot)
     Ujjain symbol on top left and Brahmi legend 'bramha' on top right.
Six-arched chaitya (hill/ multiarched structure) with indistict object on top;
    indistinct Brahmi legend below the chaitya .
Reference: Pieper 410 (plate coin)


In ICS-NL, no.50, p.31-32, Devendra Handa identified the deity on this coin type as Brahma as it is clearly indicated by the Brahmi legend on the right top corner of the obverse. Handa discusses the possibility that the object on top of the chaitya on reverse might be a swan (vahana or vehicle of Brahma) on post. Taking the chaitya symbol representing a temple in this case, it thus might be a temple dedicated to god Brahma. Brahma, creator of the universe, is part of the Hindu trinity together with Vishnu and Shiva. Although usually Brahma is represented as a four-armed deity with certain specific attributes, one cannot expect these features here, as the iconography was not yet developed that far and nowhere on these early coins do we see multi-armed deities. Staff and kamandalu (water-pot) are unspecific attributes which Brahma shares with other deities.


Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapana, 'Brahma type'

Weight: 3.28 gm., Diameter: 15x13 mm.
Like the previous specimen but reverse design blank or corroded.
Reference: Pieper 411 (plate coin)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/4 karshapana, 'standing couple type'

Weight: 2.81 gm., Diameter: 17x15 mm.
Standing male and female human figure side by side holding hands, female's
     right hand raised to her head, male's left akimbo, hair decorations
     on both sides of the male's head; river at the bottom.
Ujjain symbol with a taurine in each orb.
Reference: Pieper 302 (plate coin)/ BMC pl.XXXVI, nos.1-3


Several attempts have been made in the past to identify the two figures on this coin type. Amongst other explanations some researchers have tried to interpret the scene as representing the marriage of Shiva and Parvati but there is no clear evidence for any such definite attribution. In the abscence of any specific attributes one can only describe the scene as a depiction of a closely attached human couple.


Ujjain region, c/m anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana
Weight: 3.96 gm., Diameter: 17x17 mm.
Standing male figure holding kamandalu (water-pot) and danda (stick);
    wheel above six-armed symbol on left; three-arched hill with crescent
    on top right; countermark on top right depicting a bull with svastika and
    taurine.
Blank reverse.
Reference: Pieper 417 (plate coin) / see Kothari 267 for undertype




Ujjain region, c/m anonymous AE karshapana
Weight: 7.64 gm., Diameter: 21x21 mm.
Countermark (=standing human figure holding stick and kamandalu) on the
     blank reverse of an Ujjain region coin.
Worn traces of undertype: three-arched hill, Ujjain symbol, six-armed-
     symbol and river.
Reference: Pieper 418 (plate coin) / compare Kothari 325


Ujjain region, c/m anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana
Weight: 5.13 gm., Diameter: 16x15 mm.
Countermark (=standing human figure, his left akimbo, his right raised;
     Indradhvaja on left).
Faint traces of worn undertype of which Ujjain symbol and parts of a tree
     are visible.
Reference: Pieper 421 (plate coin) / see Kothari 286


Such human figure countermarks (the 'Shiva-like' depiction of the previous coin as also the 'man + Indradhvaja' of this coin) occur on a number of different coin types from western and from eastern Malwa.






UJJAIN, animal series















The most frequently seen animals on Ujjain coins are the bull, elephant, horse and lion, which occupied important places in the daily life and artwork of the people of India throughout the ages. The rich coinages of Ujjain present these animals sometimes in a simple form, in other cases in artistically high grade executions. Before opening the coin gallery a few words may be said on the symbolism and the extended meaning these animals carry.


BULL: The bull's domestication was an important step in the agricultural development of most ancient societies. In the case of India outstanding depictions of bulls had been engraved in prehistoric time on rocks and caves and later during the third and early second millenium BCE in outstanding form on many objects from Indus valley civilisation sites such as Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa. On early Indian coins, i.e. on some Mauryan karshapanas and certain local Deccan punchmarked types, we find the interesting depiction of yoked bulls drawing a ploughshare. The bull's vital role for human society, its strength, fertility and power soon raised it into a mythical and religious context. Best known and well documented is the bull's association with the Hindu god Shiva serving as this god's vahana (mount) in the form of the magnificent bull Nandi, the son of Surabhi and Kasyapa. Its inclusion into religious and divine spheres soon secured the bull and cattle in general special respect, adoration and inviolability in Hindu society. 


On the coins of ancient Ujjain the bull is mostly standing or walking to the right. Characteristically there are some associated symbols placed above the animal, among which the svastika, taurine, Indradhvaja, six-armed symbol, chakra or Ujjain symbol are the most frequently encountered, whereas other symbols such as vase or three-arched hill are rarely seen in association with the bull. In many instances the bull is facing a railed tree or very occasionally a railed yupa which is placed on the right. 


ELEPHANT: The elephant was adored by Buddhists, Hindus and Jains. Even if the white elephant Airavata is mentioned as having been ridden by thunderbolt-wielding Indra it cannot be taken as Indra's vahana in the same close association as the bull is linked to Shiva. Indra rides Airavata when defeating Vrta, who appears as a dragon or huge snake causing drought by blocking the course of the rivers. Airavata sucks up the waters of the underworld and sprays them  into the clouds, so that Indra can cause them to rain down thus ending the terrible drought on earth. This mythical story also emphasizes the elephant's close link to water and rain which is amply illustrated in abisheka depictions of elephants anointing the goddess Lakshmi. The elephant was used as a pack-animal and abused as a devastating weapon of war and in its power and matchless strength regarded as a symbol of royal authority. Its grandeur and noble character impressed people throughout the ages and diverse cults developed around it. One amongst many others is the famous story of Buddha entering the whomb of his mother Maya in his last incaarnation in the form of a white elephant.


LION: The outstanding position of the lion in Indian life, culture and art is vividly illustrated by the national Indian emblem, an adaptation of the lion capital of Ashoka at Sarnath (near Varanasi in UP) which is crowned by four lions standing on an abacus decorated with a frieze depicting an elephant, horse, lion and bull. In Buddhism lions are depicted as dharma protectors supporting the throne of lord Buddha and of bodhisattvas (followers of Buddha striving for enlightenment) - symbolizing consistency, strength and wisdom. In Hindu mythology the lion appears as one of the avatars (personifications) of the god Vishnu. There was no threat and no enemy the 'king of the animals' had to fear and hence the lion's majesty and royalty are easily understandable attributes. 


HORSE: The very important role the domesticated horse has always played in human society is self-evident. Horses, sometimes with wings and sometimes without, also had their parts in the myths of people all over the world. Uchchaihshravas, the legendary white, winged horse of Hindu mythology emerged from the ocean and was taken into heaven by Indra. Having removed its wings to prevent it from flying away Indra presented the horse to mankind. Speed, freedom, grace  and beauty are attributes that immediately come to mind when thinking of horses. Depictions of horses drawing a chariot are known but extremely rare on coins of ancient India. There are 'horse type' coinages like the Malayaman, the Hiranjaka or the Suktimati coins where the horse occupies the dominant and largest element of the coin design. On the coins of Ujjain, however, the horse is rather a coequal part of a multi-symbol design. 


Even a short comment on horses on Indian coins cannot conclude without mentioning the Vedic Ashvameda (horse-sacrifice) ritual. This unusual ceremony was the exclusive privilege of a king and was performed to celebrate a great victory or other very special event. The stallion, carefully chosen from the flock of the king, was set free to roam around for the time of one year during which it was followed by the king's army. Then the horse was brought back to the king's residence and the ceremony was performed. In its course the horse was tied to a sacrifical post and after a series of different rites, in which a great number of diverse animals were involved, the horse was slaughtered. Only very few ancient Indian kings such as Pushyamitra Sunga and Samudragupta are historically documented to have performed the Ashvameda ceremony and in the case of Samudragupta some famous gold coins bear witness to this event.  Other claims to Ashvameda depictions on ancient Indian coins are mostly unbased or at least too unspecific to be sure about the depicted scene.














Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/12 karshapana, bull type

Weight: 0.68 gm., Diameter: 8 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right, taurine above, railed tree on right.
 Rev.: Double-orbed Ujjain symbol.
Reference:  Pieper 324 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/6 karshapana, bull type
Weight: 1.49 gm., Diameter: 11mm mm.
Obv.: Bull to right, chakra above, railed tree on right, river below.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with a shrivatsa in each orb.
Reference: Pieper 323 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/8 karshapana, bull type
Weight: 1.14  gm., Diameter: 10x8 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 327 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/8 karshapana, bull type
Weight: 0.95 gm., Diameter: 10x9 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right, Ujjain symbol and svastika above.
Rev.: Multiple Ujjain symbols, svastika in field.
Reference: Pieper 328 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/12 karshapana, bull type
Weight: 0.75 gm., Diameter: 10x9 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right, svastika flanked by two taurines on top; taurine
         on right.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with a taurine in each angle.
Reference: Pieper 329 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/16 karshapana, bull type
Weight: 0.62 gm., Diameter: 8x8 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right, svastika, Indradhvaja and taurine on top.
Rev.: Double-orbed Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 330 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/8 karshapana, bull type
Weight: 0.85 gm., Diameter: 11x10 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right, svastika, taurine and Indradhvahja on top.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with a taurine in each angle.
Reference: Pieper 331 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/ 12 karshapana, bull type
Weight: 0.72 gm., Diameter: 9x8 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right, Ujjain symbol, vertical line and vase on top.
Rev.: Double-orbed Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 332 (plate specimen)







Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/ 12 karshapana, bull type
Weight: 0.69 gm., Diameter: 9x8 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right with two taurines above;  dotted circle on top.
Rev.: Double-orbed Ujjain symbol with a taurine in each angle.
Reference: Pieper 334 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/8 karshapana, bull type
Weight: 0.83 gm., Diameter: 12x10 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right with three-arched hill above and taurine on right;
         railed tree on right.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol enclosed in 'hollow cross' with a taurine in each
         angle of the cross.
Reference: Pieper 336 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/6 karshapana, bull type
Weight: 1.47g, Diameter: 11x8mm
Obv.: Bull to right with long horns bent forwards; railed tree on right.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 337 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/6 karshapana, bull type
Weight: 1.62 gm., Diameter: 11x8 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right with six-armed symbol above and railed tree on right.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 335 (plate specimen)



Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/6 karshapana, bull type
Weight: 1.37 gm., Diameter: 11x10 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right with Indradhvaja above; railed yupa (sacrifical post)
          on right.
Rev.: Double-orbed Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 333




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/ 16 karshapana, bull type
Weight: 0.52 gm., Diameter: 9x8 mm.
Obv.: Bull to left with Ujjain symbol above, railed tree on right.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with thick dot inside each orb and a taurine in each
          angle.
Reference: Pieper 339 (plate specimen)


This is one of the few types of Ujjain on which the bull is standing to the left.




Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapana, bull +tree type
Weight: 3.38 gm., Diameter: 15x15 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right facing railed tree on right; Indradhvaja and taurine
          above the bull.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol
Reference: Pieper collection (compare type 340)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapana, bull + tree type
Weight: 3.52 gm., Diameter: 17x15 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right facing railed tree on right; Indradhvaja flanked by
         two taurines above the bull.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with a dot in each orb.
Reference: Pieper 340 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, bull + tree type
Weight: 4.26 gm., Diameter: 17x15 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right facing a railed tree on right; Indradhvaja and taurine
          above the bull.
Rev.: Double-orbed Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 341 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, bull + tree type
Weight: 3.72 gm., Diameter: 17x15 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right facing a railed tree on right; Indradhvaja flanked by
          two taurines above the bull.
Rev.: Worn undertype of  Ujjain type 'vase-holding deity (Anapurna)
Reference: Pieper 342 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapanaa, bull + tree type
Weight: 3.32 gm., Diameter: 16x12 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right facing its head towards the viewer with taurine and
         svastika above and another svastika in front of the bull; railed tree
         on right; river at the bottom.
Reference: Pieper 343 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, bull + tree type
Weight: 4.98 gm., Diameter: 18x18 mm.
Obv.: Bull to right facing Indradhvaja above railing on right; river line
         with fishes above the bull.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with a shrivatsa in each orb.
Reference: Pieper 344 (plate specimen)


UJJAIN, elephant types


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/12 karshapana, elephant type

Weight: 0.72 gm., Diameter: 8 mm.
Obv.: Elephant to right, shrivatsa above.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with a small Ujjain symbol in each orb.
Reference: Pieper 351 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/ 16 karshapana, elephant type

Weight: 0.51 gm., Diameter: 9x8 mm.
Obv.: Elephant to left with Ujjain symbol above.
Rev.: Double-orbed Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 353 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/ 12 karshapana, elephant type
Weight: 0.67 gm., Diameter: 9x7 mm.
Obv.: Elephant to right with taurine above.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with dot in each orb, shrivatsa in field.
Reference: Pieper 355 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/ 12 karshapana, elephant type
Weight: 0.69 gm., Diameter: 9x8 mm.
Obv.: Elephant to right.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 357 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/ 12 karshapana, elephant type
Weight: 0.75 gm., Diameter: 10x9 mm.
Obv.: Elephant to right.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with a dot in each orb.
Reference: Pieper 358 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/6 karshapana, elephant type
Weight: 1.38 gm., Diameter: 10x10 mm.
Obv.: Elephant to right with raised trunk, Ujjain symbol and taurine
         above the elephant; svastika on right bottom.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with a dot in each orb and alternating taurines and
         svastikas in the angles.
Reference: Pieper 359 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/6 karshapana, elephant type
Weight: 1.45 gm., Diameter: 10x9 mm.
Obv.: Elephant to right with svastika, taurine and Indradhvaja above.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 360 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/4 karshapana, elephant type
Weight: 2,54 gm., Diameter: 15x14 mm.
Obv.: Elephant to right with taurine on left and Indradhvaja on right;
          river at the bottom; fish-tank and Ujjain symbol on top.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 361 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapana, elephant type
Weight: 3.75 gm., Diameter: 16x14 mm.
Obv.: Elephant with raised trunk to right with chakra on top left;
         (railed) tree on right.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with a taurine in each angle.
Reference: Pieper 362 (plate specimen)


A most dynamic depiction of outstanding artistic merit illustrating the unrivalled strength and power of the elephant.


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, elephant type.
Weight: 4.65 gm., Diameter: 14x14 mm.
Obv.: Elephant to right with chakra and Ujjain symbol above; railed tree
         on right; river at the bottom.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with shrivatsa in each orb.
Reference: Pieper 364 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, inscribed civic AE 1/2 karshapana, civic issue
Weight: 4.97 gm., Diameter: 14 mm.
Obv.: Elephant to right; Ujjain symbol above.
Rev.: Brahmi legend 'ujeniya'; above the legend, chakra on left and footprint on
         right; river at the bottom
Reference: Pieper 402 (plate specimen)


A rare specimen of the civic type of the Ujjaini coinage with the name of the city inscribed in bold Brahmi letters. The type is one example among a number of other civic coins of the Narmada valley which are inscribed in the name of the respective city.


Ujjain, inscribed civic AE 3/8 karshapana, civic issue
Weight: 3.67 gm., Diameter: 13 mm.
As previous specimen with complete legend.
Reference: Pieper 403 (plate specimen)




UJJAIN, lion types āra 'lion' , arā 'spoke' rebus: āra 'brass' OR kola 'tiger' rebus: kol 'blacksmith, working in iron'.




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/16 karshapana, lion type
Weight: 0.54 gm., Diameter: 8 mm.
Obv.: Lion satnding to right, Ujjain symbol on right.
 Rev.: Ujjain symbol.
Reference:  Pieper 367 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/12 karshapana, lion type
Weight: 0.73 gm., Diameter: 9 mm.
Obv.: Lion to right, svastika above.
 Rev.: Double-orbed Ujjain symbol.
Reference:  Pieper 368 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/12 karshapana, lion type
Weight: 0.81 gm., Diameter: 9x8 mm.
Obv.: Lion standing to right, Ujjain symbol on right.
 Rev.: Dotted Ujjain symbol with a triskeles in each angle.
Reference:  Pieper 370 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/8 karshapana, lion type
Weight: 0.89 gm., Diameter: 11x9 mm.
Obv.: Lion resting to right.
 Rev.: Ujjain symbol.
Reference:  Pieper 371 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 3/8 karshapana, lion type
Weight: 3.54 gm., Diameter: 13 mm.
Obv. Lion standing to right, Ujjain symbol above, railed tree on right,
         river at the bottom.
 Rev.: Double-orbed Ujjain symbol.
Reference:  Pieper 374 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, lion type
Weight: 4.93 gm., Diameter: 14 mm.
Obv.: Lion standing to left, Ujjain symbol above, railed tree on left,
          river at the bottom.
 Rev.: Ujjain symbol.
Reference:  Pieper 373 (plate specimen)


UJJAIN, other animal types  ghōṭa m. ʻ horse ʼ rebus: khōṭa m. ʻwedge, ingotʼ


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/6 karshapana, horse type
Weight: 1.35 gm., Diameter: 9x9 mm.
Obv.: Horse to right, horizontally placed railed tree above, vase on right.
 Rev.: Ujjain symbol with svastika in each orb.
Reference:  Pieper 338 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, horse type
Weight: 5.00gm., Diameter: 20x15 mm.
Obv.: Horse to right between railed tree on left and chakra on right;
         on top from left to right Ujjain symbol, Indradhvaja (and shrivatsa);
         river at the bottom.
 Rev.: Double-orbed Ujjain symbol.
Reference:  Pieper 347


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1 karshapana, horse type
Weight: 9.04 gm., Diameter: 20x15 mm.
Obv.: Horse to right, horizontally placed railed tree above the animal and
          Ujjain symbol below; river on the left and svastika between two
          taurines on the right.
 Rev.: Ujjain symbol with alternating svastikas and taurines in its corners.
Reference:  Pieper 348 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/12 karshapana, tortoise type
Weight: 0.79 gm., Diameter: 9x7 mm.
Obv.: Tortoise in square frame/tank with a crescent at each angle.
 Rev.: Dotted Ujjain symbol, one additional taurine in field.
Reference:  Pieper 375 (plate specimen) kAsa 'turtle, tortoise' rebus: kAsa 'bronze'


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/8 karshapana, tortoise type
Weight: 0.94 gm., Diameter: 8x8 mm.
Obv.: Tortoise in square frame/ tank with a circle at each angle.
 Rev.: Ujjain symbol with additional taurine in field.
Reference:  Pieper 376 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/8 karshapana, makara type
Weight: 1.17 gm., Diameter: 10x8 mm.
Obv.: Makara to right in form of an aquatic creature with fishtail and
          head of an elephant; Ujjain symbol at top.
 Rev.: Ujjain symbol with a dot in each angle.
Reference:  Pieper 366 (plate specimen)


The makara is the vahana (mount) of Ganga, the goddess of the river Ganges, and of the sea-god Varuna. Its frontal part is that of a terrestrial animal, its hind part that of a sea-creature. The depiction of a creature with fish-tail and elephant's head, like on this coin, is frequently used in depictions of a makara.







The multi-symbol obverse designs of Ujjain's local copper coins document close affinities to those of the Mauryan silver karshapanas. As Allan rightly observed (BMC:cxiii): "They are struck on the same principle as the punch-marked coins; that is to say, on the obverse we have several symbols - often, as on the silver punch-marked coins, five, some of which change more frequently than others." This multi-symbol fashion with the single design elements having nearly the same size may help to date such coin types earlier than coin types with one large dominant design element which is accompanied by one or more small symbols.






Human and animal depictions on local Ujjain coins have been discussed and illustrated on the previous Ujjain pages. Inanimate, symbolic depictions most frequently occurring on Ujjain copper coins are the railed tree, chakra, six-armed symbol, svastika, taurine, Indradhvaja, srivatsa, river and fish-tank. A few other symbols like sun, wheel, tree-on-hill and railed lingam have to be added to this list but they are rarely seen. One is astonished to observe that the three-arched hill symbol, which occupied a prominent place among the symbols on Mauryan karshapanas, is used on only a few Ujjain types.




The dominant symbol here is of course the cross symbol with an orb attached at each end, the so-called Ujjain symbol. In a large form and as a single symbol it is used as the reverse mark of the local Ujjain coppers but as one among other symbols it also appears on many obverse types of this and many other ancient Indian coin series. The influence and the acceptance of Ujjain's coins has been so decisive that other authorities sometimes even marked their coins with the same reverse emblem as Ujjain itself - examples are some Erich types or certain types from Vidarbha. In that case a clear distinction is only possible by knowledge of findspots or a specific typology of the respective obverse design. Much has been speculated about origin and meaning of the Ujjain symbol. The most probable interpretation sees the symbol as symbolizing  an important cultural, political and economical center where crossroads from all cardinal points met and emenated.


UJJAIN, symbol series


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, multi-symbol type

Weight: 4.22 gm., Diameter: 18 mm.
Centrally placed Ujjain symbol; svastika and Indradhvaja on right and
    railed tree on left; fish-tank above the Ujjain symbol and parts of
    chakra on top right; river at the bottom.
Double-orbed Ujjain symbol
Reference: Pieper 379 (plate specimen)





Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, multi-symbol type
Weight: 4.97 gm., Diameter: 16 mm.
As previous coin but the railing has nine compartments and the svastika
has been exchanged for a taurine symbol.
Reference: Pieper 380 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, multi-symbol type
Weight: 4.64 gm., Diameter: 13 mm.
Railed tree in center; on the left shrivatsa above svastika; on the right
    chakra above fish-tank.
Double-orbed Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 381 (plate specimen)



Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/8 karshapana, multi-symbol type
Weight: 1.32 gm., Diameter: 10x10 mm.
Obv.: Indradhvaja , three-arched hill, six-armed symbol, sun , svastika
 Rev.: Ujjain symbol with a dot inside each orb.
Reference: Pieper 382


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/8 karshapana, multi-symbol type
Weight: 1.30 gm., Diameter: 11x11 mm.
Railed tree on right; Ujjain symbol above horizontally placed Indradhvaja
    on left; taurine below and svastika above the Ujjain symbol.
Ujjain symbol with a dot inside each orb.
Reference: Pieper 383 (plate specimen)





Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/ 10 karshapana, tree type
Weight: 0.86 gm., Diameter: 10 mm.
Obv.: Railed tree with Ujjain symbol on right.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 389 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/ 10 karshapana, tree type
Weight: 0.82 gm., Diameter: 8x7 mm.,
Obv.: Railed tree.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol
Reference: Pieper 391 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/ 10 karshapana, tree type
Weight: 0.82 gm., Diameter: 8x8 mm.
Obv:. Railed tree in square incuse.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with a dot in each orb.
Reference: Pieper 392 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/ 10 karshapana, tree type
Weight: 0.91 gm., Diameter: 10x10 mm.
Obv.: Railed tree with Indradhvaja on right.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 394 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/ 10 karshapana, tree type
Weight: 0.96 gm., Diameter: 10x7 mm.
Obv.: Tree in vase, dagger-like symbol on right.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with thick dot in each orb and a dot in each angle.
Reference: Pieper 393 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/ 8 karshapana, tree type
Weight: 1.11 gm., Diameter: 10x8 mm.
Obv.: Railed tree with large crescent above; svastika above taurine on r.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol
Reference: Pieper 395 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/ 8 karshapana, tree type
Weight: 1.13 gm., Diameter: 9x8 mm.
Obv.: Railed tree with river on right; part of rectangular symbol on left;
          two taurines on top.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 396 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/ 8 karshapana, tree type
Weight: 1.23 gm., Diameter: 11x11 mm.
Obv.: Railed tree above river line.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 397 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/4 karshapana, tree type
Weight: 2.76 gm., Diameter: 12x11 mm.
Obv.: Railed tree in square incuse with taurine on left.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with a thick dot in each orb.
Reference: Pieper 398 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/4 karshapana, tree type
Weight: 1.90 gm., Diameter: 14x12 mm.
Obv.: Tree-on-hill.
Rev.: Four Ujjain symbols.
Reference: Pieper 399 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, tree type
Weight: 4.58 gm., Diameter: 14 mm.
Obv.: Railed tree.
Rev.: Double-orbed Ujjain symbol.
Reference: Pieper 388 (plate specimen)




Ujjain, anonymous AE 1/2 karshapana, tree type
Weight: 4.19 gm., Diameter: 15x14 mm.
Obv.: Tree-on-hill on right and six-armed symbol on left.
Rev.: Ujjain symbol with alternating taurines and svastikas in the orbs.
Reference: Pieper 400


Ujjain, anonymous lead 1/2 karshapana, tree type
Weight: 4.37 gm., Diameter: 16x16 mm.
Obv.: Railed tree on the right; on the left six-armed symbol above Indra-
     dhvaja; taurine left and svastika right of the Indradhvaja.
Rev.: Double-orbed Ujjain symbol with a taurine in each angle.
Reference: Pieper 401 (plate specimen)


Ujjain, inscribed AE 1/2 karshapana, 'tank between trees' type
Weight: 5.62 gm., Diameter: 14x14 mm.
Fishtank from which a water channel is branching flanked by two railed
     trees; Brahmi legend part below reading 'sidhatho(madana)'
Ujjain symbol
Reference: Pieper 409 (plate specimen)


Until now the legend on this coin type had been read as 'rathimadana'. This is the first specimen to show at least the first three letters of the legend clear beyond doubt. Credit goes to Harry Falk to have read the legend as 'sidhato'. The second part of the name appears to have been correctly identified from the available specimens except for the last letter which still is somewhat doubtful but '...madana' is well possible. In that case the complete name would be 'Sidhathomadana'. [unquote]





-- Wilfried Pieper



http://coinindia.com/galleries-ujjain1.html





मण्डन adorning , ornament , decoration MBh. Ka1v. &c. Thus, Siddhato madana means decorting or adorning with siddha symbol of accomplishment. The Siddham symbol is a dot with semicircle below it, orthographically stylized.







सिद्ध one who has attained the highest object , thoroughly skilled or versed in (dat. or comp.) MBh. R. &c (Monier-Williams) siddha सिद्ध p. p. 1 Accomplished, effected, performed, achieved, completed. -2 Gained, obtained, acquired. -3 Succeeded, successful; one who has attained his object; याताबला व्रजं सिद्धा मयेमा रंस्थथ क्षपाः Bhāg.1.22.27. (Apte)





Siddha2 [pp. of sijjhati] ended, accomplished Mhvs 23, 45, 78; successful Miln 247. -- (m.) a kind of semi -- divine beings possessed of supernatural faculties, a magician Miln 120, 267 [cp. Sk. siddha Halāyudha 1, 87; Yogasūtra 3, 33; Aufrecht remarks: "This is a post -- vedic mythological fiction formed on the analogy of sādhya"].

   -- attha one who has completed his task Miln 214. (Pali)









There are two hieroglyphs in the dotted circle: 1. Dot; 2. Circle. The dot is an orthographic style to signify a strand (like a strand of thread inserted through a perforated bead). The circle hieroglyph also a livelihood activity, duty, office; the word is vatta ‘circle’ rebus:-ʻduty, office’ (Pali).


 


Thus, together, the hypertext of dotted ciecle signifies:  dhã̄i 'strand' rebus: dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stoneʼ dhatu 'mineral ore' PLUS vaṭa'string' vaṭṭa 'circle' together rebus expression: dhāvaḍ 'smelter'. Thus, the Ujjaini symbol used as an Indus Script hypertext on Rojdi potsherd reads: dhāvaḍ kaṇḍa 'smelter implements'. cf.dāya 'roll of one in dice game' தாயம் tāyam, n. < dāya. 1. Patrimony, inheritance, wealth of an ancestor capable of inheritance and partition (R. F.); பாகத்திற்குரிய பிதிரார்ச்சிதப்பொருள். 2. Share; பங்கு. (யாழ். அக.) 3. Paternal relationship; தந்தைவழிச் சுற்றம். (யாழ். அக.) 4. A fall of the dice; கவறுருட்ட விழும் விருத்தம். முற்பட இடுகின்ற தாயம் (கலித். 136, உரை). 5. Cubical pieces in dice-play; கவறு. (யாழ். அக.) 6. Number one in the game of dice; கவறுருட்ட விழும் ஒன்று என்னும் எண். Colloq. 


 


Hieroglyph, circle is: vr̥ttá ʻ turned ʼ RV., ʻ rounded ʼ ŚBr. 2. ʻ completed ʼ MaitrUp., ʻ passed, elapsed (of time) ʼ KauṣUp. 3. n. ʻ conduct, matter ʼ ŚBr., ʻ livelihood ʼ Hariv. [√vr̥t1]1. Pa. vaṭṭa -- ʻ round ʼ, n. ʻ circle ʼ; Pk. vaṭṭa -- , vatta -- , vitta -- , vutta -- ʻ round ʼ; L. (Ju.) vaṭ m. ʻ anything twisted ʼ; Si. vaṭa ʻ round ʼ, vaṭa -- ya ʻ circle, girth (esp. of trees) ʼ; Md. va'ʻ round ʼ GS 58; -- Paš.ar. waṭṭəwīˊk, waḍḍawik ʻ kidney ʼ ( -- wĭ̄k vr̥kká -- ) IIFL iii 3, 192? 2. Pk. vaṭṭa -- , vatta -- , vitta -- , vutta -- ʻ passed, gone away, completed, dead ʼ; Ash. weṭ -- intr. ʻ to pass (of time), pass, fall (of an avalanche) ʼ, weṭā -- tr. ʻ to pass (time) ʼ; Paš. wiṭīk ʻ passed ʼ; K.ḍoḍ. buto ʻ he was ʼ; P. batāuṇā ʻ to pass (time) ʼ; Ku. bītṇo ʻ to be spent, die ʼ, bitauṇo ʻ to pass, spend ʼ; N. bitāunu ʻ to pass (time), kill ʼ, butāunu ʻ to extinguish ʼ; Or. bitibā intr. ʻ to pass (of time), bitāibā tr.; Mth. butāb ʻ to extinguish ʼ; OAw. pret. bītā ʻ passed (of time) ʼ; H. bītnā intr. ʻ to pass (of time) ʼ, butnā ʻ to be extinguished ʼ, butānā ʻ to extinguish ʼ; G. vĭ̄tvũ intr. ʻ to pass (of time) ʼ, vatāvvũ tr. ʻ to stop ʼ(CDIAL 12069)


 



Rebus: Pa. vatta -- n. ʻ duty, office ʼ; Pk. vaṭṭa -- , vatta -- , vitta -- , vutta -- n. ʻ livelihood ʼ; P. buttā m. ʻ means ʼ; Ku. buto ʻ daily labour, wages ʼ; N. butā ʻ means, ability ʼ; H. oūtā m. ʻ power ʼ; Si. vaṭa ʻ subsistence, wages ʼ.


vārttā -- ; *ardhavr̥tta -- , *kaṇavr̥tta -- , *dyūtavr̥tta -- ,  (CDIAL 12069)



 


Hieroglyph: dhāˊtu n. ʻ substance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour) ʼ Mn., ʻ ashes of the dead ʼ lex., (CDIAL 6773)











Rebus: dhāˊtu*strand of rope ʼ (cf. tridhāˊtu -- ʻ threefold ʼ RV., ayugdhātu -- ʻ having an uneven number of strands ʼ KātyŚr.). [√dhā]Pa. dhātu -- m. ʻ element, ashes of the dead, relic ʼ; KharI. dhatu ʻ relic ʼ; Pk. dhāu -- m. ʻ metal, red chalk ʼ; N. dhāu ʻ ore (esp. of copper) ʼ; Or. ḍhāu ʻ red chalk, red ochre ʼ (whence ḍhāuā ʻ reddish ʼ; M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron -- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ); -- Si. dā ʻ relic ʼ; -- S. dhāī f. ʻ wisp of fibres added from time to time to a rope that is being twisted ʼ, L. dhāī˜ f.(CDIAL 6773






Alishar Hüyük (in modern Yozgat Province, Turkey) was an ancient Near Eastern city. It is near the modern village of Alişar, Sorgun....Alishar Hüyük was occupied beginning in the Chalcolithic Period, through the Bronze Age and the Hittites, and into Phrygian times. A number of Hittite-era cuneiform tablets in Old Assyrian of the Cappadocia type were found there. Mention in those tablets of the town Amkuwa has caused speculation that the site is the Ankuwa mentioned in other Hittite texts...The site was excavated between 1927 and 1932 by a team from the Oriental Institute of Chicago. The work was led by Erich Schmidt...About 12km northwest of Alishar Huyuk, there's another important archaeological site named Cadir Hoyuk (Çadır Höyük in Turkish alphabet).Recent excavators of Cadir Hoyuk have identified this site tentatively with the Hittite city of Zippalanda.Evidence of the first known settlement at Cadir Hoyuk has been radio-carbon dated to the Early Chalcolithic (5300-4500 BC); nevertheless the occupation may well be even earlier than that, and go back to Neolithic (ca. 5500 BC)...Cadir Hoyuk appears to have flourished during the Middle and Late Bronze Age (2000-1100 BC), continuing into the Iron Age.(I. J. Gelb, Inscriptions from Alishar and Vicinity, Oriental Institute Publications 27, The University of Chicago Press, 1935) Hans Henning von der Osten and Erich F. Schmidt, Researches in Anatolia 2. The Alishar Hüyük Season of 1927, Part 1, Oriental Institute Publications 6, The University of Chicago Press, 1930; Hans Henning von der Osten. Researches in Anatolia 9. The Alishar Hüyük Seasons of 1930-1932, Part 3, Oriental Institute Publications 30, The University of Chicago Press, 1937 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali%C5%9Far_H%C3%BCy%C3%BCk






Vessel with a quatrefoil mouth, Alishar, Middle Bronze Age III, 1750-1650 BC, ceramic - Oriental Institute Museum, University of Chicago









"Phyrgian painted pot (A65608) from the site of Alishar Huyuk in Turkey. The circles in the background behind the deer on the pot are thought by some scholars to be snow." (Oriental Institute). I submit that the dotted circles are NOT snow but signifiers of dhā̆vaḍ 'iron smelters’. The markhor is also an Indus Script hieroglyph: miṇḍā́l 'markhor' rebus: meḍho a ram, a sheep rebus मृदु mṛdu, mẽṛhẽt, meḍ 'metal', iron'. Thus the Phyrgian pot Indus Script hypertext signifies Meluhha iron smelters at work.









Indus Script Cipher explains the sign zero (circle) as a hypertext in Meluhha (Bhāratiya sprachbund, speech union) to signify  vaṭṭa 'circle' rebus: baṭa 'iron'.




In the context of using the sign zero in place value notation, the same pair of homonyms (similar sounding words) signify: vaṭṭa 'circle' rebus: vartana 'interval or landing point in numeration'







Zero hieroglyph was chosen because it signifies  hieroglyph: vr̥ttá ʻroundedʼ ŚBr. rebus: vr̥ttá ʻturnedʼ RV. The cognates in Bhāratīya sprachbund with pronunciation variations are: வட்டம் vaṭṭam Circle, circular form, ring-like shape; கிழமைவட்டம் kiḻamai-vaṭṭam, n. < id. +. Week, as the cycle of seven kiḻamai;baṭṭa 'that is round' rebus: baṭṭa 'barrenness'. Given these semantics, the choice of sign zero as a circle reads: vr̥ttá 'turned' to signify a landing point or 'interval, vartana' of ten in numeration count on base 10.





A good example of the circle to signify baṭṭa 'that is round' is on this cylinder seal read rebus in Meluhha:








Sign zero is shown flankedby two bisons in the bottom register.




Impression of an Indus-style cylinder seal of unknown Near Eastern origin (After Fig. 6 


http://www.akhabataku.com/IndusScript.htm) "One of the two anthropomorphic figures carved on this seal wears the horns of water buffalo while sitting on a throne with hoofed legs, surrounded by snakes, fishes and water buffaloes. Copyrighted photo by M. Chuzeville for the Departement des antiquites orientales, Musee du Louvre." (Christian Carpelan & Asko Parpola, 2001, On the emergence, contacts and dispersalof Proto-Indo-European, Proto-Uralic andProto-Aryan in an archaeological perspective, pp. 55-150 in: Carpelan, Parpola & Koskikallio 2001, Memoires de la Societe Finno-Ougrienne 242, Helsinki. Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura). The Meluhha Indus Script readings are: 





dula 'two' rebus: dul 'metal casting'


ranga 'buffalo' rebus:  rango 'pewter'. ranga, rang pewter is an alloy of tin, lead, and antimony (anjana)  


baṭṭa 'rounded' rebus: baṭa 'iron' bhaṭa 'furnace' 


śyena 'eagle' aśani 'thunderbolt' rebus: āhangar 'blacksmith'


eraka 'wing' rebus: eraka 'molten cast, copper'


gaṇḍá4 m. ʻ rhinoceros ʼ lex., °aka -- m. lex. 2. *ga- yaṇḍa -- . [Prob. of same non -- Aryan origin as khaḍgá --1: cf. gaṇōtsāha -- m. lex. as a Sanskritized form ← Mu. PMWS 138]1. Pa. gaṇḍaka -- m., Pk. gaṁḍaya -- m., A. gãr, Or. gaṇḍā. 2. K. gö̃ḍ m., S. geṇḍo m. (lw. with g -- ), P. gaĩḍā m., °ḍī f., N. gaĩṛo, H. gaĩṛā m., G. gẽḍɔ m., °ḍī f., M. gẽḍā m.Addenda: gaṇḍa -- 4. 2. *gayaṇḍa -- : WPah.kṭg. geṇḍɔ mirg m. ʻ rhinoceros ʼ, Md. genḍā ← H. (CDIAL 4000). காண்டாமிருகம் kāṇṭā-mirukam , n. [M. kāṇṭāmṛgam.] Rhinoceros; கல்யானை. (Tamil) Rebus: kāṇḍa ‘tools, pots and pans and metal-ware’ (Gujarati)  


ayo 'fish' rebus: aya 'iron' ayas 'alloy metal'


kolmo 'rice plant' rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'


kuṭhi a sacred, divine tree, kuṭi 'temple' rebus kuṭhi 'a furnace for smelting iron ore'.


kūdī 'twig' kuṭhi 'smelter' PLUS  ḍhangra 'bull' rebus:  ḍhangar 'blacksmith' PLUS koḍ 'horn' rebus:koḍ 'workshop'


kola 'tiger' rebus: kol 'working in iron' kolhe 'smelter' PLUS dula 'pair' rebus: dul 'metal casting'


फडा phaḍā f (फटा S) The hood of Coluber Nága Rebus: phaḍa फड 'manufactory, company, guild'







 Ivory rod, ivory plaque with dotted circles. Mohenjodaro. [Musee National De Arts Asiatiques Guimet, 1988-1989, Les cites oubliees de l’Indus Archeologie du Pakistan.]











m1654 Ivory cube with dotted circles Dotted circle hieroglyphs on each side of the cube (one dotted circle surrounded by 7 dotted circles): dhātu 'layer, strand'; dhāv 'strand, string' Rebus: dhāu, dhātu 'ore'.(smelter) PLUS vaṭṭa 'circle' rebus: baṭa 'iron' . Together, dhā̆vaḍ 'iron-smelters'. 














m1654A ivory cubem1654B ivory cube m1654D ivory cube dhāˊtu 'strand' Rebus: mineral: dhāˊtu n. ʻ substance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour) ʼ Mn., ʻ ashes of the dead ʼ lex., ʻ *strand of rope ʼ (cf. tridhāˊtu -- ʻ threefold ʼ RV., ayugdhātu -- ʻ having an uneven number of strands ʼ KātyŚr.). [√dhā] Pa. dhātu -- m. ʻ element, ashes of the dead, relic ʼ; KharI. dhatu ʻ relic ʼ; Pk. dhāu -- m. ʻ metal, red chalk ʼ; N. dhāu ʻ ore (esp. of copper) ʼ; Or. ḍhāu ʻ red chalk, red ochre ʼ (whence ḍhāuā ʻ reddish ʼ; M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron -- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ); -- Si. dā ʻ relic ʼ; -- S. dhāī f. ʻ wisp of fibres added from time to time to a rope that is being twisted ʼ, L. dhāī˜ f. (CDIAL 6773).








Ivory counters. Mohenjo-daro. The hypertexts signify creation of hard alloys from mineral ores. Hieroglyphs: karaṇḍa 'duck' (Sanskrit) karaṛa 'a very large aquatic bird' (Sindhi) Rebus: करडा [karaḍā] Hard from alloy--iron, silver &c. (Marathi)  






dhāˊtu 'strand' Rebus: mineral: dhāˊtu n. ʻ substance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour) ʼ Mn., ʻ ashes of the dead ʼ lex., ʻ *strand of rope ʼ (cf. tridhāˊtu -- ʻ threefold ʼ RV., ayugdhātu -- ʻ having an uneven number of strands ʼ KātyŚr.). [√dhā] Pa. dhātu -- m. ʻ element, ashes of the dead, relic ʼ; KharI. dhatu ʻ relic ʼ; Pk. dhāu -- m. ʻ metal, red chalk ʼ; N. dhāu ʻ ore (esp. of copper) ʼ; Or. ḍhāu ʻ red chalk, red ochre ʼ (whence ḍhāuā ʻ reddish ʼ; M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron -- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ); -- Si. dā ʻ relic ʼ; -- S. dhāī f. ʻ wisp of fibres added from time to time to a rope that is being twisted ʼ, L. dhāī˜ f. (CDIAL 6773).


 Ivory rod, ivory plaque with dotted circles. Mohenjodaro. [Musee National De Arts Asiatiques Guimet, 1988-1989, Les cites oubliees de l’Indus Archeologie du Pakistan.]



 m1951a Hieroglyph: dhāˊtu 'strand' Rebus: mineral: dhāˊtu n. ʻ substance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour) ʼ Mn., ʻ ashes of the dead ʼ lex., ʻ *strand of rope ʼ (cf. tridhāˊtu -- ʻ threefold ʼ RV., ayugdhātu -- ʻ having an uneven number of strands ʼ KātyŚr.). [√dhā] Pa. dhātu -- m. ʻ element, ashes of the dead, relic ʼ; KharI. dhatu ʻ relic ʼ; Pk. dhāu -- m. ʻ metal, red chalk ʼ; N. dhāu ʻ ore (esp. of copper) ʼ; Or. ḍhāu ʻ red chalk, red ochre ʼ (whence ḍhāuā ʻ reddish ʼ; M.dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron -- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ); -- Si. dā ʻ relic ʼ; -- S. dhāī f. ʻ wisp of fibres added from time to time to a rope that is being twisted ʼ, L. dhāī˜ f. (CDIAL 6773).









m2113ABD धातु ‘strand, element’ rebus: ‘primary element of the earth, mineral, metal’  dhātu n. ʻ substance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour) ʼ Mn., ʻ ashes of the dead ʼ lex., ʻ *strand of rope ʼ (cf. tridhāˊtu -- ʻ threefold ʼ RV., ayugdhātu -- ʻ having an uneven number of strands ʼ KātyŚr.). [√dhā] Pa. dhātu -- m. ʻ element, ashes of the dead, relic ʼ; KharI. dhatu ʻ relic ʼ; Pk. dhāu -- m. ʻ metal, red chalk ʼ; N. dhāu ʻ ore (esp. of copper) ʼ; Or. ḍhāu ʻ red chalk, red ochre ʼ(whence ḍhāuā ʻ reddish ʼ; M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron -- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ); -- Si. dā ʻ relic ʼ; -- S. dhāī f. ʻ wisp of fibres added from time to time to a rope that is being twisted ʼ, L. dhāī˜ f.(CDIAL 6773)






dāṭu 'cross' rebus: dhatu = mineral (Santali) Hindi. dhāṭnā 'to send out, pour out, cast (metal)' (CDIAL 6771). 




dula ‘duplicated’ rebus; dul ‘metal casting’ PLUS kolmo 'rice plant' rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'.


kanka, karṇika 'rim of jar' rebus: karṇī 'supercargo, scribe' कर्णिक 'steersman, helmsman'












m2089A m2089BC


dhāi 'strand' (Rigveda) tri- dhāu 'three strands' rebus: dhāu 'red ore'. त्रिधातुः (magnetite, hematite, laterite) -- ferrite ores PLUS copper ore M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron-- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ(CDIAL 6773)


kanac 'corner' rebus: kancu 'bell-metal' PLUS sal 'splinter' rebus: sal 'workshop'. Thus bronze/bell-metal workshop.


meḍ ‘body’ rebus: mẽṛhẽt ‘metal’, meḍ ‘iron, copper (red ores)’ (Mu. Ho. Slavic) < mr̥du ‘iron’ mr̥id‘earth, clay, loam’ (Samskrtam)



(Deśīnāmamālā)









m2090 dhāi 'strand' (Rigveda) tri- dhāu 'three strands' rebus: dhāu 'red ore'. त्रिधातुः (magnetite, hematite, laterite) -- ferrite ores PLUS copper ore M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron-- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ(CDIAL 6773)



kanac 'corner' rebus: kancu 'bell-metal' PLUS sal 'splinter' rebus: sal 'workshop'. Thus bronze/bell-metal workshop.


meḍ ‘body’ rebus: mẽṛhẽt ‘metal’, meḍ ‘iron, copper (red ores)’ (Mu. Ho. Slavic) < mr̥du ‘iron’ mr̥id‘earth, clay, loam’ (Samskrtam)
(Deśīnāmamālā)






















m2091m2092 मेंढा [ mēṇḍhā ] A crook or curved end (of a stick) Rebus: meḍ 'iron'


(lozenge) Split parenthesis: mũh, muhã 'ingot' or muhã 'quantity of metal produced at one time in a native smelting furnace.' PLUS kolmo 'rice plant' rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'.


meḍ ‘body’ rebus: mẽṛhẽt ‘metal’, meḍ ‘iron, copper (red ores)’ (Mu. Ho. Slavic) < mr̥du ‘iron’ mr̥id‘earth, clay, loam’ (Samskrtam)



(Deśīnāmamālā)





kanac 'corner' rebus: kancu 'bell-metal'


kanka, karṇika 'rim of jar' rebus: karṇī 'supercargo, scribe' कर्णिक 'steersman, helmsman'


PLUS mũh, muhã 'ingot' or muhã 'quantity of metal produced at one time in a native smelting furnace.'


khareḍo = a currycomb (G.) Rebus: kharādī ' turner' (Gujarati) PLUS kāmsako, kāmsiyo = a large sized comb (G.) Rebus: kaṁsa'bronze' (Telugu) kharaḍa ‘account day-book’


dāṭu 'cross' rebus: dhatu = mineral (Santali) Hindi. dhāṭnā 'to send out, pour out, cast (metal)' (CDIAL 6771). 




m2093 kolmo ‘rice plant’ rebus: kolilmi ‘smithy, forge’. Thus, metal casting forge. 


dhāi 'strand' (Rigveda) tri- dhāu 'three strands' rebus: dhāu 'red ore'. त्रिधातुः (magnetite, hematite, laterite) -- ferrite ores PLUS copper ore M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron-- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ(CDIAL 6773)


धातु ‘strand, element’ rebus: ‘primary element of the earth, mineral, metal’  dhātu n. ʻ substance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour) ʼ Mn., ʻ ashes of the dead ʼ lex., ʻ *strand of rope ʼ (cf. tridhāˊtu -- ʻ threefold ʼ RV., ayugdhātu -- ʻ having an uneven number of strands ʼ KātyŚr.). [√dhā] Pa. dhātu -- m. ʻ element, ashes of the dead, relic ʼ; KharI. dhatu ʻ relic ʼ; Pk. dhāu -- m. ʻ metal, red chalk ʼ; N. dhāu ʻ ore (esp. of copper) ʼ; Or. ḍhāu ʻ red chalk, red ochre ʼ(whence ḍhāuā ʻ reddish ʼ; M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron -- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ); -- Si. dā ʻ relic ʼ; -- S. dhāī f. ʻ wisp of fibres added from time to time to a rope that is being twisted ʼ, L. dhāī˜ f. (CDIAL 6773)




















https://tinyurl.com/y84vdkn8









Kikkuli Hittite Text shows that Kikkuli was a Meluhha शहाणा śahāṇā 'expert' from Sarasvati Civilization




We have seen that Kikkuli uses the expression vattana from Indo-Aryan (Meluhha, Bhāratīya sprachbund) to signify, 'intervals, rounds' in the context of horses put through paces of specific number of rounds during training. Kikkuli uses terms such as:  Vedic eka-, tri-, pañca- sapta-, nava-vartana. The numeral compounds used from Indo-Aryan are: aiga-, tera-, panza-, satta-, nāwa-wartanna ("one, three, five, seven, nine intervals"). See: 




The Hindu–Arabic numeral system, base-10. An ancient landing point in numeration is a count of ten which forms a set. Digits 1 to 9 gain their multiples of tens by the way they are positioned in a number. for example 




10 signifies One Tens place 




11 signifies One Tens place + numeral 1; 




22 signifies Two tens place PLUS numeral 2; 




123 signifies One Hundreds place + two tens place + numeral 3




Positional notation or place-value notation is a method of representing or encoding numbers. Positional notation is distinguished from other notations (such as Roman numerals) for its use of the same symbol for the different orders of magnitude (for example, the "ones place", "tens place", "hundreds place").









The word used for such placement system of counted numbers in Bhāratīya sprachbud (speech union) isvartana, vaṭṭa 









வட்டம்1 vaṭṭam, < Pkt. vaṭṭa < vṛtta. n. 1. Circle, circular form, ring-like shape; மண்ட லம். (தொல். சொல். 402, உரை.) 2. Halo round the sun or moon, a karantuṟai-kōḷ; பரிவேடம். (சிலப். 10, 102, உரை.) (சினேந். 164.) 3. Potter's wheel; குயவன் திரிகை. (பிங்.) 4. Wheel of a cart; வண்டிச்சக்கரம். (யாழ். அக.). cf. āvṛtti. Turn, course, as of a mantra; தடவை. விநாயகர் நாமத்தை நூற்றெட்டு வட்டஞ் செய்து (விநாயகபு. 74, 214).









வட்டன்2 vaṭṭaṉ, part. < வட்டம்1. Each, every. See தோறும். ஆட்டைவட்டன் முக்குறுணி நெற் பொலிசையாக (S. I. I. ii, 69, 3).









வட்டம்1 vaṭṭam Boundary, limit எல்லை. தொழுவல்வினை யொல்லை வட்டங்கடந் தோடுத லுண்மை (தேவா. 5, 9).









வட்டம்1 vaṭṭam Curve, bend; வளைவு. வில்லை வட்டப் பட வாங்கி (தேவா. 5, 9). 




கிழமைவட்டம் kiḻamai-vaṭṭam, n. < id. +. Week, as the cycle of seven kiḻamai; மண்டலித்துவரும் வாரம். (W.)









The following words from Bhāratīya sprachbund indicate that vaṭṭa signifies 'circle, round'.




Ka. baṭā, baṭṭa, baṭṭu bareness, voidness. Tu. baṭā̆ open, wide. Te. vaṭṭi empty, vacant, void, blank, mere, simple, vain, useless, bare, naked, false, untrue, groundless. Pa. baṭṭi bare ground.(DEDR 5233)











vr̥ttá ʻ turned ʼ RV., ʻ rounded ʼ ŚBr. 2. ʻ completed ʼ MaitrUp., ʻ passed, elapsed (of time) ʼ KauṣUp. 3. n. ʻ conduct, matter ʼ ŚBr., ʻ livelihood ʼ Hariv. [√vr̥t1]1. Pa. vaṭṭa -- ʻ round ʼ, n. ʻ circle ʼ; Pk. vaṭṭa -- , vatta -- , vitta -- , vutta -- ʻ round ʼ; L. (Ju.) vaṭ m. ʻ anything twisted ʼ; Si. vaṭa ʻ round ʼ, vaṭa -- ya ʻ circle, girth (esp. of trees) ʼ; Md. va' ʻ round ʼ GS 58(CDIAL 12069)







varta1 m. ʻ *turning round ʼ, ʻ livelihood ʼ lex. [√vr̥t] S. vaṭu m. ʻ twist ʼ; H. baṭṭā m. ʻ exchange ʼ; -- Si. vaṭa ʻ subsistence, livelihood ʼ or < vr̥ttá -- .(CDIAL 11346) *vartakara ʻ making turns (of the quail) ʼ. [Pop. etym. for vártikā -- (vartīra -- m. Suśr., ˚tira -- m. lex.)? -- varta -- 1, kará -- 1]Ku. B. baṭer ʻ quail ʼ; Or. baṭara, batara ʻ the grey quail ʼ; Mth. H. baṭer f. ʻ quail ʼ; -- → P. baṭer, ˚rā m., ˚rī f., L. baṭērā m., S. baṭero m.; K. bāṭuru m. ʻ a kind of quail ʼ, baṭēra m. ʻ quail ʼ.(CDIAL 11350) *vartakaraṇa ʻ twisting instrument ʼ. [varta -- 1, káraṇa -- ]N. baṭernu ʻ the stick on which a rope is twisted ʼ.(CDIAL 111351) vartana n. ʻ turning, rolling ʼ Nir., vartanī -- f. ʻ spindle ʼ Lalit. [√vr̥t1]Pa. vaṭṭana -- n. ʻ turning round ʼ, vaṭṭani -- f. ʻ ring, globe ʼ, vaṭṭanāvali -- f. ʻ line of spindles(?) ʼ; Pk. vaṭṭaṇā<-> f., vattaṇa -- n., ˚ṇā -- f. ʻ revolving ʼ; Ḍ. b*lc̣*lṇi f. ʻ disc fixed on large spindle ʼ (c̣?); Kho. bartun ʻ wooden disc fixed on spindle ʼ (a?); K. watan f. ʻ small circular piece of leather or wood or metal for fastening chain of bolt ʼ, watüñü f. ʻ do. used as a toy ʼ; S. vaṭiṇo m. ʻ spindle ʼ; L. vaṭnā m. ʻ stick for twisting rope P. vaṭṭṇā, vaṭṇū m., ˚ṇī f., baṭṇā, ˚ṇū m., ˚ṇī f.; Ku. baṭṇī ʻ twisting, twist (of a cord) ʼ; B. bāṭnā ʻ grinding ʼ; Bi. baṭanī ʻ fringemaker's wooden reel ʼ; H. baṭnā m. ʻ stick for twisting rope ʼ; G. vāṭṇɔ, ˚ṇiɔ m. ʻ long round stone used in crushing or beating on a slab, muller ʼ.(CDIAL 11354) vartáyati ʻ causes to turn, whirls ʼ RV. [√vr̥t1] Pa. vaṭṭēti tr. ʻ turns, twists ʼ; Pk. vaṭṭēi, vattaï tr. ʻ turns, rolls into a ball, makes exist, covers ʼ; Dm. baṭyāy -- ʻ to wrap ʼ; Paš.lauṛ. waṭṭ -- tr. ʻ to pass or spend (time) ʼ; K. waṭun ʻ to fold up, roll up, close up, collect ʼ; S. vaṭaṇu, srk. ˚ṭiṇu ʻ to twist, plait, wring ʼ; L. vaṭṭaṇ, (Ju.) vaṭaṇ ʻ to twist ʼ, awāṇ. vaṭṭuṇ ʻ to coil ʼ; P. vaṭṭṇā ʻ to twist ʼ; WPah.bhad. baṭṭnū ʻ to twist (rope or thread) ʼ, bhal. baṭṭnū ʻ to fold, roll up (cloth) ʼ, (Joshi) bāṭṇu ʻ to knead ʼ; Ku. bāṭṇo ʻ to twine, wreathe, fashion ʼ; N. bāṭnu ʻ to twist, plait, weave ʼ; A. bāṭiba ʻ to twist, grind ʼ; B. bāṭā, bã̄ṭā ʻ to pound, crush ʼ; Or. bāṭibā ʻ to pound ʼ; Bi. baṭnāi ʻ act of rope -- twisting ʼ; H. bāṭnā ʻ to twist, twine ʼ; G. vāṭvũ ʻ to pound by rolling ʼ; M. vāṭṇẽ ʻ to grind finely by rolling with a muller ʼ, vaṭṇẽ ʻ to scutch cotton (by rolling) ʼ; Si. vaṭanavā tr. ʻ to turn round ʼ; Md. vařan ʻ to twist, braid ʼ; -- Pa. vaṭṭāpēti ʻ causes to be turned ʼ, S. vaṭāiṇu; P. baṭāuṇā ʻ to cause to be twisted, change ʼ (whence vaṭṇā, ba˚ ʻ to be exchanged ʼ = H. baṭnā ʻ to be twisted ʼ); G. vaṭāvvũ, vatāvvũ ʻ to exchange, cash ʼ. Addenda: vartáyati: WPah.kṭg. baṭṇõ ʻ to knead ʼ, J. bāṭṇu; A. baṭiba ʻ to pound ʼ AFD 333; Md. vařanī ʻ twists, surrounds ʼ (in sense ʻ rubs on ʼ < údvartatē?). (CDIAL 11356)vártman n. ʻ track of a wheel, path ʼ RV. [J. Bloch StudII 19 *vartmā nom. sg. m. after ádhvā m. (cf. pánthā -- ) became f. in MIA. -- √vr̥t1]Pa. vaṭuma -- n. ʻ path, road ʼ, Pk. vaṭṭa -- n.m., vaṭṭā<-> f., vaṭṭamaya -- , vaḍū˘maga -- n., K. wath, dat. ˚ti f., pog. wat, S. vāṭa f., P. vāṭ, bāṭ f., ḍog. batta f., kgr. bat f., bhaṭ. batt, WPah.bhad. bhal. paṅ. cam. batt f., pāḍ. cur. bat; Ku. bāṭ ʻ path, pass ʼ, bāṭo m. ʻ path ʼ, N. bāṭo (obl. bāṭa postp. ʻ from ʼ), A. B. bāṭ; Or. bāṭa ʻ path, place ʼ; Mth. bāṭ ʻ path ʼ, Bhoj. bāt, OAw. OMarw. bāṭa f., H. bāṭ f., G. M. Ko. vāṭ f.; Si. vaṭuma ʻ road ʼ (← Pa.?), devaṭa ʻ lane ʼ (de -- < dēśá -- ?); -- Sh. bāṭṷ m. ʻ wheel ʼ; G. vāṭɔ m. ʻ tire ʼ (semant. cf. vartaní -- f. ʻ felly of wheel, path ʼ RV., Pa. vattanī -- f. ʻ track, path ʼ, Pk. vaṭṭaṇī -- f. ʻ road ʼ). -- Deriv.: N. baṭuwā ʻ traveller ʼ; B. beṭo ʻ of the road ʼ < *bāṭuāODBL 491; Or. bāṭuā ʻ traveller ʼ, G. vāṭvɔ m. -- X mārga -- q.v. -- Si. vat ʻ road ʼ (LM 404, EGS 155) extracted from māvat < *mahāpanthā -- . -- See vartís -- from which some of above NIA. feminine words may phonet. equally well derive.Addenda: vártman -- : WPah.kṭg. bāt, kc. bāṭ f. (obl. -- a), J. bā'ṭ f.; Garh. bāṭu ʻ way ʼ. (CDIAL 11366)




















Field Symbol 118 is ‘dotted circle’.Field Symbol figure 123 These hypertexts are also likely to be related to the orthography (and semantics) of ‘dotted circle + string’. Field Symbol figure 123 is associated with a ‘portable furnace’ indicating the possibility of production of ‘crucible steel’.





These signs (ASI 1977 Mahadevan corpus) may be semantic variants of the ‘dotted circle+ string’ orthography of Sign 397.













Sign 397 dhāī 'strand' PLUS vata, 'string'; together, the expression is:





a dotted circle + string which signifies dhā̆vaḍ ''iron-smelter' who performs the act of purification to win the wealth, the metal from mere earth and stone -- replicating the immeasurability of cosmic phenomena. This symbol is worn on the fillets of the Mohenjo-daro priest (on his forehead and on his right shoulder).






Cross-section view of a strand (say, through a bead), ‘dotted circle’: धातु ‘strand, element’ rebus: ‘primary element of the earth, mineral, metal’  dhātu n. ʻ substance ʼ RV., m. ʻ element ʼ MBh., ʻ metal, mineral, ore (esp. of a red colour) ʼ Mn., ʻ ashes of the dead ʼ lex., ʻ *strand of rope ʼ (cf. tridhāˊtu -- ʻ threefold ʼ RV., ayugdhātu -- ʻ having an uneven number of strands ʼ KātyŚr.). [√dhā] Pa. dhātu -- m. ʻ element, ashes of the dead, relic ʼ; KharI. dhatu ʻ relic ʼ; Pk. dhāu -- m. ʻ metal, red chalk ʼ; N. dhāu ʻ ore (esp. of copper) ʼ; Or. ḍhāu ʻ red chalk, red ochre ʼ(whence ḍhāuā ʻ reddish ʼ; M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron -- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ); -- Si. dā ʻ relic ʼ; -- S. dhāī f. ʻ wisp of fibres added from time to time to a rope that is being twisted ʼ, L. dhāī˜ f. (CDIAL 6773)





dula ‘duplicated’ rebus: dul ‘metal casting’PLUS kolmo ‘rice plant’ rebus: kolilmi ‘smithy, forge’. Thus, metal casting forge. 






 m1272





Or. kāṇḍa, kã̄ṛ ʻstalk, arrowʼ(CDIAL 3023) rebus: kaṇḍa 'implements'.




a




aren,'lid' Rebus: aduru 'native unsmelted metal’ PLUS ko




a 'one' rebus: ko




 'workshop'




kuṭila ‘bent’ CDIAL 3230 kuṭi— in cmpd. ‘curve’, kuṭika— ‘bent’ MBh. Rebus: kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin) cf. āra-kūṭa, 'brass'  Old English ār 'brass, copper, bronze' Old Norse eir 'brass, copper', German ehern 'brassy, bronzen'. kastīra n. ʻ tin ʼ lex. 2. *kastilla -- .1. H. kathīr m. ʻ tin, pewter ʼ; G. kathīr n. ʻ pewter ʼ.2. H. (Bhoj.?) kathīl, °lā m. ʻ tin, pewter ʼ; M. kathīl n. ʻ tin ʼ, kathlẽ n. ʻ large tin vessel ʼ(CDIAL 2984) कौटिलिकः kauṭilikḥ




कौटिलिकः 1 A hunter.-2 A blacksmith  PLUS dula ‘duplicated’ rebus: dul ‘metal casting’. Thus, bronze castings.




kanka, karṇika 'rim of jar' rebus: karṇī 'supercargo, scribe' कर्णिक 'steersman, helmsman' PLUS sal‘splinter’ rebus: sal ‘workshop’




khaṇḍa 'division'. rebus: kaṇḍa 'implements'




dhāi 'strand' (Rigveda) tri- dhāu 'three strands' rebus: dhāu 'red ore'. त्रिधातुः (magnetite, hematite, laterite) -- ferrite ores PLUS copper ore M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron-- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ(CDIAL 6773)





m1350 2599 ranku antelope’ rebus: ranku ‘tin’





kuṭila ‘bent’ CDIAL 3230 kuṭi— in cmpd. ‘curve’, kuṭika— ‘bent’ MBh. Rebus: kuṭila, katthīl = bronze (8 parts copper and 2 parts tin) cf. āra-kūṭa, 'brass'  Old English ār 'brass, copper, bronze' Old Norse eir 'brass, copper', German ehern 'brassy, bronzen'. kastīra n. ʻ tin ʼ lex. 2. *kastilla -- .1. H. kathīr m. ʻ tin, pewter ʼ; G. kathīr n. ʻ pewter ʼ.2. H. (Bhoj.?) kathīl, °lā m. ʻ tin, pewter ʼ; M. kathīl n. ʻ tin ʼ, kathlẽ n. ʻ large tin vessel ʼ(CDIAL 2984) कौटिलिकः kauṭilikḥ




कौटिलिकः 1 A hunter.-2 A blacksmith  PLUS dula ‘duplicated’ rebus: dul ‘metal casting’. Thus, bronze castings.









kanka, karṇika 'rim of jar' rebus: karṇī 'supercargo, scribe' कर्णिक 'steersman, helmsman' PLUSखांडा khāṇḍā A jag, notch, or indentation (as upon the edge of a tool or weapon) rebus: khaṇḍa 'implements'.




(lozenge) Split parenthesis: mũh, muhã 'ingot' or muhã 'quantity of metal produced at one time in a native smelting furnace.' PLUS kolmo 'rice plant' rebus: kolimi 'smithy, forge'. Thus, ingot forge. 




adar ‘harrow’ rebus: aduru ‘native metal’




ayo 'fish' rebus: aya 'iron' ayas 'alloy metal' (R̥gveda)




dhāi 'strand' (R̥gveda) tri- dhāu 'three strands' rebus: dhāu 'red ore'. त्रिधातुः (magnetite, hematite, laterite) -- ferrite ores PLUS copper ore M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a guild of iron-- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ(CDIAL 6773)




kolmo ‘rice plant’ rebus: kolilmi ‘smithy, forge’




m1381A1m1381A2 1559 Seal Impression on a pot




dhāi 'strand' (R̥gveda) tri- dhāu 'three strands' rebus: dhāu 'red ore'. त्रिधातुः (magnetite, hematite, laterite) -- ferrite ores PLUS copper ore M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron-- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ(CDIAL 6773)




sal ‘splinter’ rebus: sal ‘workshop’




kāru pincers, tongs. Rebus: khār खार् 'blacksmith' 




dula ‘duplicated’ rebus: dul ‘metal casting’ PLUS dhāḷ 'slanted stroke' rebus: dhāḷako 'ingot' PLUS kolom‘three’ rebus: kolimi ‘smithy, forge’





 m1648shell dhāi 'strand' (Rigveda) tri- dhāu 'three strands' rebus: dhāu 'red ore'. त्रिधातुः (magnetite, hematite, laterite) -- ferrite ores PLUS copper ore M. dhāū, dhāv m.f. ʻ a partic. soft red stone ʼ (whence dhā̆vaḍ m. ʻ a caste of iron-- smelters ʼ, dhāvḍī ʻ composed of or relating to iron ʼ(CDIAL 6773)












m1684a Field symbol:  kõda ‘young bull-calf’. Rebus: kũdār ‘turner’. sangaḍa ‘lathe, furnace’. Rebus: samgara ‘living in the same house, guild’. sãgaḍa (double-canoe, catamaran) Hence, smith guild.