(Please read other articles on Vahanas posted already: swami)
Picture shows Kushana gold coin with Kartikeya and cock in his hand
Art Historian Sri Sivaramamurthi and others have done lot of research into Vahanas and sculptures. We have got Vahanas on coins from 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] or 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] century BC and beautiful sculptures from Gupta period. Gupta gold coins depict Vahanas. Following coins are well known specimens with Vahanas:
1.Shiva and Bull on coins issued by Wima Khadpises (95 AD)
2.Vasudeva also issued coins with Bull and Shiva (190 AD)
3.Samudra Gupta issued coins with Makara at the Goddess Ganga’s feet (335 AD)
4. Goddess seated on lion on coins issued by Chandra Gupta II and Kumara Gupta (380 and 455 AD)
5.Kartikeya is shown seated on peacock on a coin which is exclusive to Kumara Gupta (455 AD)
6. Mother or Earth Goddess seated on (Nana/ Nanna/ Nanasao) a lion on coins issued by Kanishka (127 AD).
7. Hamsa and Goddess on a coin issued by Samachara Deva (early 6[SUP]th[/SUP] Century AD)
(The above information was furnished by Biswajeet Rath in his publication Deities on Indian coins).
8. Yaudheya Coins with Kartikeya on Peacock (2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Century BC)
Yaudheya dynasty in North West India issued coins of Kartikeya with peacock vahans.
Picture shows Kushana gold coin with Shiva and Bull
On sculptures:
Gupta period sculptures in the caves of Deogarh show several Gods on Vahanas. So Kalidasa must have lived well before this time. Anything that comes in literature takes the shape of coins or sculptures on a later date. This is finding of art historians and archaeologists. References in literature comes first, sculptures come next.
Following Vahanas are on stone sculptures:
1.Shiva and Parvati on Bull: Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh, 5rh century AD
2.Agni on the Ram: Bhoganandiswara Temple, Nandi, 9[SUP]th[/SUP] century AD
3.Figure on Fish (Ascetic or Varuna?): Jalakandeswara Temple,16[SUP]th[/SUP] Century
4.Rati on Parrot: Gwalior Museum, 9[SUP]th[/SUP] Century AD
5.Varuna on Makara: Delhi National Museum, 13[SUP]th[/SUP] Century AD
Picture shows goddess on lion-Gupta gold coin
6.Indra on Elephant: Nandi, 9[SUP]th[/SUP] Century AD
7. Rati on swan: Meenakshi Temple,Madurai, 16[SUP]th[/SUP] Century AD
8. Agni on Ram, 9[SUP]th[/SUP] Century AD, Calcutta Archaeological gallery
The above only re examples of Vahana sculptures spanning over 1000 years. It is not a comprehensive list. Indra on elephant Airavata is found in many of the world including South East Asian countries. Vishnu on Garuda Vahana is also found from Gupta or earlier times.
If we consider figures on coins and sculptures together, the Vahanas cover a period of 2200 years without a break! We see coins with Hindu gods on vahanas up to East India Company period. It disappeared completely from those things only after the “Secular Indian Government” started ruling India from 1947!
Next post will cover the mythological stories about Vahanas: swami.
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Picture shows Kushana gold coin with Kartikeya and cock in his hand
Art Historian Sri Sivaramamurthi and others have done lot of research into Vahanas and sculptures. We have got Vahanas on coins from 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] or 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] century BC and beautiful sculptures from Gupta period. Gupta gold coins depict Vahanas. Following coins are well known specimens with Vahanas:
1.Shiva and Bull on coins issued by Wima Khadpises (95 AD)
2.Vasudeva also issued coins with Bull and Shiva (190 AD)
3.Samudra Gupta issued coins with Makara at the Goddess Ganga’s feet (335 AD)
4. Goddess seated on lion on coins issued by Chandra Gupta II and Kumara Gupta (380 and 455 AD)
5.Kartikeya is shown seated on peacock on a coin which is exclusive to Kumara Gupta (455 AD)
6. Mother or Earth Goddess seated on (Nana/ Nanna/ Nanasao) a lion on coins issued by Kanishka (127 AD).
7. Hamsa and Goddess on a coin issued by Samachara Deva (early 6[SUP]th[/SUP] Century AD)
(The above information was furnished by Biswajeet Rath in his publication Deities on Indian coins).
8. Yaudheya Coins with Kartikeya on Peacock (2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Century BC)
Yaudheya dynasty in North West India issued coins of Kartikeya with peacock vahans.
Picture shows Kushana gold coin with Shiva and Bull
On sculptures:
Gupta period sculptures in the caves of Deogarh show several Gods on Vahanas. So Kalidasa must have lived well before this time. Anything that comes in literature takes the shape of coins or sculptures on a later date. This is finding of art historians and archaeologists. References in literature comes first, sculptures come next.
Following Vahanas are on stone sculptures:
1.Shiva and Parvati on Bull: Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh, 5rh century AD
2.Agni on the Ram: Bhoganandiswara Temple, Nandi, 9[SUP]th[/SUP] century AD
3.Figure on Fish (Ascetic or Varuna?): Jalakandeswara Temple,16[SUP]th[/SUP] Century
4.Rati on Parrot: Gwalior Museum, 9[SUP]th[/SUP] Century AD
5.Varuna on Makara: Delhi National Museum, 13[SUP]th[/SUP] Century AD
Picture shows goddess on lion-Gupta gold coin
6.Indra on Elephant: Nandi, 9[SUP]th[/SUP] Century AD
7. Rati on swan: Meenakshi Temple,Madurai, 16[SUP]th[/SUP] Century AD
8. Agni on Ram, 9[SUP]th[/SUP] Century AD, Calcutta Archaeological gallery
The above only re examples of Vahana sculptures spanning over 1000 years. It is not a comprehensive list. Indra on elephant Airavata is found in many of the world including South East Asian countries. Vishnu on Garuda Vahana is also found from Gupta or earlier times.
If we consider figures on coins and sculptures together, the Vahanas cover a period of 2200 years without a break! We see coins with Hindu gods on vahanas up to East India Company period. It disappeared completely from those things only after the “Secular Indian Government” started ruling India from 1947!
Next post will cover the mythological stories about Vahanas: swami.
*********************
