Kahavanu
Encyclopedia
Kahavanu is a medieval currency from Sri Lanka
.
This anonymous gold coinage appears to have been initiated shortly before Rajaraja Chola invaded Lanka
in 990 AD, and struck through the period when the Cholas dominated the island (1017-1070), and continued by closely similar coins struck for Vijayabahu (1055-1110) after he re-established Sinhala
independence in 1070. Like other Lankan coins from around 11th Century no date is indicated. It is not certain whether the Kahavanu was introduced at Ruhuna
, the region in the south of the island to which the Sinhala court had been obliged to move as a result of Rajaraja's conquests.
Medieval Sri Lanka
The General description of the Lanka type gold Kahavanu, is as follows :
The obverse is a standing figure, head to right, crowned in a dhoti
(garment), indicated by the curved line on either side of, and sometimes by one or more between the legs, and standing on a lotus plant stalk with varying finials. The left arm is bent and holds a flower or other object before the face; the right arm is extended with hand over a symbol consisting of a straight shaft with short cross pieces, ending in four prongs, which are narrow and curve upward and downward. The elbow is over a similar symbol but with a plain shank and upside down. To the right is a varying number of annulet
s or balls. There is a beaded circle along the periphery of the coin.
The reverse is a figure, head right, crowned, squatting upon an asana
(bed-like throne), represented by an oblong frame divided lengthwise by a line and crosswise by a varying number of lines; dhoti represented by one or more lines between the legs, the two ends at the waist appearing at either side of the body. The right arm is pendant
over the right knee, which is drawn up; the left arm is bent and holds an object as in the obverse. In field to right, there is a Devanagari
legend in three lines: Sri Lanka Vibu. Vibhu is a title of Vishnu
. There is a beaded circle along the periphery of coin.
The three main types and subtypes as defined in Codrington are adopted in general. Types I and II are more rare and characterized by elaborate formations of the Sri, the fineness of the lettering and the more sinuous lines of the body. In Type III with coarser figures the Sri
resembles that of the Chola King Rajaraja; the letters of the legend are thicker and letters on the right slightly higher than those on the left.
puts a footnote to the word "genuine": How rare genuine specimens are I am inclined to think very few people thoroughly recognize. Gold "Lankesvaras" and "Vijaya Bahus" are turned out wholesale in Kandy
now, and are so skillfully done that most of them are duly absorbed into collections. The improved manufacture of late is marked"
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
This anonymous gold coinage appears to have been initiated shortly before Rajaraja Chola invaded Lanka
Lanka
Sri Lanka is the name given in Hindu mythology to the island fortress capital of the legendary king Ravana in the great Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata...
in 990 AD, and struck through the period when the Cholas dominated the island (1017-1070), and continued by closely similar coins struck for Vijayabahu (1055-1110) after he re-established Sinhala
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
independence in 1070. Like other Lankan coins from around 11th Century no date is indicated. It is not certain whether the Kahavanu was introduced at Ruhuna
Ruhuna
Ruhuna is a region of southern Sri Lanka. It was the centre of a flourishing civilization and the cultural and economic centres of ancient Sri Lanka, Magama, Tissamaharama and Mahanagakula , were established here....
, the region in the south of the island to which the Sinhala court had been obliged to move as a result of Rajaraja's conquests.
Medieval Sri LankaSri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
gold coin
| Type | Struck |
| Diameter | 19.2 mm |
| Thickness | 2.8 mm |
| Weight Std. | 4.54 g |
| Edge | Plain |
| DieAxis | 0° |
The General description of the Lanka type gold Kahavanu, is as follows :
The obverse is a standing figure, head to right, crowned in a dhoti
Dhoti
The dhoti or pancha is the traditional men's garment in the in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. A similar garment is worn in some rural areas of Punjab province in Pakistan, but the use is fast declining...
(garment), indicated by the curved line on either side of, and sometimes by one or more between the legs, and standing on a lotus plant stalk with varying finials. The left arm is bent and holds a flower or other object before the face; the right arm is extended with hand over a symbol consisting of a straight shaft with short cross pieces, ending in four prongs, which are narrow and curve upward and downward. The elbow is over a similar symbol but with a plain shank and upside down. To the right is a varying number of annulet
Annulet
Annulet can refer to:* Annulet , a mark in distinction* Annulet , a fillet or ring encircling a column* The Annulet, Charissa obscurata, a species of moth in the family Geometridae...
s or balls. There is a beaded circle along the periphery of the coin.
The reverse is a figure, head right, crowned, squatting upon an asana
Asana
Asana is a body position, typically associated with the practice of Yoga, originally identified as a mastery of sitting still, with the spine as a conduit of biodynamic union...
(bed-like throne), represented by an oblong frame divided lengthwise by a line and crosswise by a varying number of lines; dhoti represented by one or more lines between the legs, the two ends at the waist appearing at either side of the body. The right arm is pendant
Pendant
A pendant is a loose-hanging piece of jewellery, generally attached by a small loop to a necklace, when the ensemble may be known as a "pendant necklace". A pendant earring is an earring with a piece hanging down. In modern French "pendant" is the gerund form of “hanging”...
over the right knee, which is drawn up; the left arm is bent and holds an object as in the obverse. In field to right, there is a Devanagari
Devanagari
Devanagari |deva]]" and "nāgarī" ), also called Nagari , is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal...
legend in three lines: Sri Lanka Vibu. Vibhu is a title of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
. There is a beaded circle along the periphery of coin.
The three main types and subtypes as defined in Codrington are adopted in general. Types I and II are more rare and characterized by elaborate formations of the Sri, the fineness of the lettering and the more sinuous lines of the body. In Type III with coarser figures the Sri
Sri
Sri , also transliterated as Shri or Shree or shre is a word of Sanskrit origin, used in the Indian subcontinent as polite form of address equivalent to the English "Mr." in written and spoken language, or as a title of veneration for deities .-Etymology:Sri has the root meaning of radiance, or...
resembles that of the Chola King Rajaraja; the letters of the legend are thicker and letters on the right slightly higher than those on the left.
Fraudulent copies
In 1907 John StillJohn Still
John Still , bishop of Bath and Wells enjoyed considerable fame as a preacher and disputant. He was formerly reputed to be the author of the early English comedy drama Gammer Gurton's Needle .-Career:...
puts a footnote to the word "genuine": How rare genuine specimens are I am inclined to think very few people thoroughly recognize. Gold "Lankesvaras" and "Vijaya Bahus" are turned out wholesale in Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
now, and are so skillfully done that most of them are duly absorbed into collections. The improved manufacture of late is marked"