Tripti Rai
The Audumbaras had an important place amongst the all ancient
Indian Tribes. They also known as the Udumbaras or Odumbaras. There are lots of
literary and archaeological sources to give sufficient light of his tribe their
coins had an important place to give knowledge about them which have been
discoverd by archaeologist. Cunninghum1 found six of their coins at
Pathankot in Gurudaspur district in north Punjab2 along with the
Indo Greek and Kusan coins. A large number of conis of this tribes were
discovered at Irippal in the district of kangra in north Punjab. On the basis
of provenances of their coins, Allan3 has located the Audumbaras in
the area formed by the valley of the Beas or perhaps the wider region between
the upper Sutlej and the Ravi.
Pliny places them on the mouth of the Indus the Vinaypitak6
and the Mahamayuri7 refer to a place called Udumbara which evidently
was named of the town or district in which their coin are discovered.8
If we talk about Aubumbaras origin there is a story in
kalikapuran9 which establish the association of Visvamitra’s birth
with the Audumbra tree indirectly connects the tribe with the fig tree the
Purans also assign the tribe to Kusika Kausika gotra.10 this story
is mentioned in the Mahabharat11 also. Brough12 also says
that Udumbara is the name of the descendant of the sage Visvamitra who is the
founder of the gotra of the Kausika group. K.P. Jaiswal13 also
asserts that Visvamitra was probably there national hero.
The most important fact of this story is that the mother of
Visamitra embraced an Audumbara, tree to have a child. This story contains
miraculous and unbelievable things of course but the association of Visamitra’s
birth with the Audumbara tree is useful in explaining the occurrence of his
name and figure on the coins of the Audumbaras. The name of the tribe evidently
being derived form the Visvamitra or Udumbara tree, the tree was worshiped by
the tribe as a symbol of relationship.14
So for as their antiquity is Concern numismatic consideration
tend to place the Audumbaras in the period extending from the 2nd
century B.C to 1st century A.D. but literary references to the tribe
indicate that they flourished long
before the 2nd Cen B.C.15 The earliest references of this
tribe is given by Panini. Panini includes them in Rajanya groups of republics.16
Audumbaras have been referred to be in association with the people of
Jalandhara in the Ganapatha Patanjali17 on Panini18 has
made a mention of rever Udumbaravati which probably flowed the territory of the
Audumbaras.
Thus Audumbaras had independent position about the 2nd
cen B.C. to Ist cen B.C During this period they issued coins. It is
just possible that they too might have submitted to Mightly Maurya like the
other two tribes namely the Kunida and
the Yaudheya of course they might have raised their head after the fall of the Mauryas.19
The Audumbaras seems to have merged with other tribes or
dwindled in importance as they have left no independent coinage in the 3rd-4th
A.D which can be attributed to them. Numismatic and other sources definitely
establish their independent existence in the earlier periods. The absence of
their name in the Allahabad pillar Inscription of Samudragupta also supports of
this fact.20
So we have discussed about the origin and antiquity of
Audumbaras now I would like to focus on the main aspect of my topic that is the
Religion which was followed by the Audumbaras. To know about their religion we
have to study of their coins because literary sources did not give much
information about this, so on the basis of the symbol and legend of their coins
we have to find out about their religion.
The Audumbaras coins were struck in the name of the community
and the king.21 According to S.K. Chakrabortty22 their
coins, date form the Ist century B.C. and have legends in both
Kharosthi and Brahmi. Jaiswal asserts that the Kharosthi scripts indicates the
time near about 100 B.C and they came under the influence of the starapas like their neighbors of the Punjab and were
finally absorbed.23 These coins resemble in every respect, the
hemidrachms of the Greek prince Apollodotus and are found together with them.
Rapson aftirms that there is a great similarity in style between Visvamitra
type and those of Azilises.
The Audumbaras coins are very rare. on the basis of their
metal and their shape they may be grouped into three classes.25
i.
A series of square copper pieces ii A few silver issues, and
iii A group of round
Copper billion coins, without the name of the tribe.
There
are many important devices and symbol on their coins that help to create their
religious History. These symbols and devices are:-
i.
Bearded Human Figure: - The figure on the silver coins of
Dharghosha has been described by Cunningham to be the figure of Siva26
but it seems incorrect because the name of Visvamitra is inscribed on the
coins. Literary sources also proved the connection of Visvamitra with
Audumbaras the beard noticed on the face also highlight the saintly nature of
the figure.
ii. Elephant: - Elephant is a very common symbol on
ancient Indian coin. It is found on the punchmarked, 27 indo-Greek,
Tribal and satavahan coins, found by Cunningham. The animal is shown as walking
to left with a tree in enclosure in front, while on others only the fore part
to left with tree in enclosure in front is depicted According to D.Handa since
the tree in enclosure has been identified with fig-tree which was sacred to the
Audumbaras the elephant may symbolize the king going to worship the sacred
tree.28
iii.Tree in enclosure :- The tree depicted on Audumbaras coins
considered Udumbara ficus glomerata,
fig-tree the depiction of the tree in an enclosure bespeaks of its sacred
nature. The Udumbara was especially sacred to the Audumbaras as this patron
saint was born as a result of his mother embracing the fig-tree. The depiction
of this tree in Audumbaras coins may
have even been the sthala- vriksha of the area of the Audumbaras during the
period of the currency of these coins.29
iv.
Trident with battleaxe: - Trident with battleaxe (Trisula) is a
sacred symbol for Hindu, Buddhist and the Jains. The trident with battleaxe
attached to its shaft is definitely a Saiva weapon. On the Silver coin of
Dharghosha. This symbol is shown with a fillet a sign of sanctity and
importace. According to Devendra Handa the Kettle-drum has also been attached
to the shaft just below the prongs of the tridents on Dharghosho’s silver
coins. Kettle drum is also an attribute of Siva there. These remains absolutely
little doubt to its being a saiva
Praharana (weapon) shown along side a Siva temple.30
v. Pointed
roofed temple :- On the
silver coins of Dharghosa and the square copper coins have an object resembling
a temple. Cunningham also describes this object as a pyramidal temple of two or
three storey, the lower storey is supported by 4 of 6 pillars the trident
battleaxe shown on the right near the temple is a very important feature of the
structure. Many scholars admits that the tridents battleaxe vouches for the
temple being dedicated to siva. The name of Sivadasa and Rudradaa also
corroborate the saiva inclination of the rulers. J.N. Banerjea also accepts
this view and has describe, the temple on the Audumbaras coins as a Saiva
shrine with double domes and multiple pillars.
vi.
Three-arched Hill: - This symbol is generally referred to as
a chaitya or hill/ mountain symbol. According to D Handa if it represent the
hill or mountain, its existence on the coins of Audumbaras may signify the
hilly region of Kangra occupied be the tribe but if it represents a religious
structure the presence of the lion with
it on the reverse of some rare coins may be taken to interpret this symbol as
the temple of Durga. It is however notable that the Siva temple exists on
almost all square copper coins (except on the anonymous coin pl. vl-1 where the
temple is accompanied by a svastika and a chakra- dhvaja indicating its
dedication to Vishnu) The symbolic representation of the Durga temple is
therefore no surprise.
vii.
Lion :- Lion is a common symbol and found on ancient
According to Hindu mythology, it is the vehicle of Durga the sopuse of Siva but
it is not sure that its was depicted for representation of Durga.
Besides of the
above symbols there are some other symbol also depicted on Audumbaras cons like
Branmi ma, Jayadhvaja, Nandipada, Sun etc.
The symbol is
described as Brahmi Ma with two books below. Princep describe this symbol as a
Jayadhvaja. The last two symbols is probably a solar one, the second is the
well known nandipada symbol. Some of the above symbols like Brahmi ma and
Jaydhvaja appear in the Panchala series and rest two symbol appears also on
some coins found at Ayodhya and the latter on some Kunidas coins.
Thus on the basis
of these symbols depicted on Audumbaras coins. It appears that they were
follower of Savism. The obverse and reveres devices of these coins clearly
indicate the saivite leaning of the Audumbara. The depication of Nandipada and
the trident, and trident- battleaxe proves about that some of these coins also
contain a Saiva temple The identification of the temples as that of Siva is
suggested by the tridents and trident battleaxe.
The coins of
Audumbaras bear identical legends that reveal the faith of shavism. Audumbaras
coins have legends on both sides written in Brahmi on the obverse and Kharosthi
on the reverse. Among the coin legend of the king- Sivadasa, Rudradasa and
Dharghosha, the word mahadeva is found as part of the inscription the legends
are of four kinds:-
i.
Mahadevasa
rana Dharghoshans Odu (m) barisa.
ii.
Mahadevasa
rana Rudradasasa Odu (m) barisa.
iii.
Mahadevasa
rana Sivdasasa Odu (m) barisa.
iv.
Mahadevasa
rana Odu (m) barisa.
The word Mahadeva
is also the name of Siva one may be inclined to interpret the legend in a like
manner. The name of the kings like the Rudradasa, Sivadasasa also indicate that
they were a devotee of god Mahadeva.
In Conclusion it
can be said that the Audumbaras followed the Brahmanical sacrificial religion
and they were the devotee of lord Siva. The Audumbaras coins of the later
period do’nt contain any important material with regard to their religion. Some
of the coins of Audumbaras kings Aryamitra Mahimitra and Mahabhutimitra, Shows
a male figure standing and holding a spear in right hand. This figure may be
identified with kartikeya as it is shown holding a spear. On the basis of this
in later period Audumbaras were also the worshippers of Kartikeya.
Reference
1.
CASR, XIV. P- 115-17
2.
N.S XXIII, P- 247
3.
CCBM P. IXXX VII
4.
CCIM PP- 160-161
5.
JUPHS, XV 2. PP 28-42
6.
ASR V, pp 154-55 XIV
p. 116
7.
Kalikapuran
(Varansi Ed). Chap. 82
8.
Mbh
Santi Parva Chp- 49, 51, 6 to 30 (Gita press ed)
9.
The
early Brahmammical system of Gatra and Pravara pp-147-48, 153, 157
10.
Jaiswal
K.P. 1943 Hindu Polity the Bangalore
Printing and Pub co. Ltd p-159
11.
Saran,
M.K. 1972 Tribal coins- A study Abhinav
Publication p- 217
12.
Dasgupta,
K.K. 1973 A tribal History of India,
Calcutta p- 40
13.
Saran
M.K. op cit p 21
14.
Chakrabartty
S.K.1931 A Study Of Ancient Indian Numismatics.p- 56
15.
Rapson,
E.J. IC. p-11 M.K. Saron p- 235
16.
C f. A.
Cunningham, Coins of Ancient India
pp- 66-67
17.
Cunningham
op cit p – 67
18.
Handa
Devendra p-34
Tripti
Rai
Research
Scholar, Deptt. Of AIHC & Archaeology
B.H.U.
Varanasi
