Early Temple Architecture – A Numismatic Approach

 

Dr. Sushil Kumar  Singh

 

Ancient Indian coins provide us so many valuable information for reconstructing history. The matter of a coin is directly related to economics but it gives a brief account about issuer name, state or institution and through a new light on contemporary language, script, art, religion, administration, society and metallurgy etc. The main subject of this paper is to discuss the ancient Indian coins and that how it throw a new light on early temple architecture.

           

From the earliest time religion is being the main part of every Indian life. In Harappan civilization we find so many sculptures like Pashupatinath, meditated man and mother goddess but we have not found any evidence of temple from harappan site. In vedic literature we got a lot of evidence about sculpture of vedic god like Indra, Mitra, Varuna etc. At that time man worshiped these gods by hymn (stuti or mantra ). There was no concept of temple. For the first time description about temple is found in Shathpath Brahmana¹. On the ground of archaeological evidences  generally it is accepted that the making of temple is started in Kushana  or in later period. In this context coins of  Panchala and some of Tribal like Puru, Trigart and Audumbar are very useful. Study of their coins threw a new light on early forms of Indian temple during second century B.C. and later period. First time parmeshwarilal Gupta point out the importance of coins as a source of temple architecture². After seeing that architectural form of temple on their coins we find a systematic development . Mostly we can see early form of temple on coins of Panchala. Panchala region is very famous for archaeological remains and Ramnagar (ancient Ahichhatra) was its capital. There we find a numerous series of coins with mitra, gupta, pala and sena ending name. J. Allan published some of them in their catalogue³. On Panchala coins we find very simple form of temple like a platform (jagati) having two pillars (stambh) on both sides. Between  these two pillars god is depicted either in symbolic or in anthropomorphic form. Coins of Suryamitra, Vishnumitra, Agnimitra, Indramitra, Dhruvmitra represent early form of temple. These form of temple⁴ are shown on coins of Panchala as -

 

After observing these forms it can be said  that in those time making of temple is in primitive stage. On the basis of script and language scholars have put them between second century to rise of Kushana power.

 

Later on we find some developed form of temple architecture on the coins of Puru and Trigart. The earliest information about Puru is found in Rigveda. After it we find to Pauras, a great Indian king who fought against Sikandar was releted to Puru. Allan published the coins of Puru with coins of Audumbara. On Puru coins we find a single story building which is supported on four pillars (stambh) standing on big platform(jagati)⁵ . The figure is as -

 

Panini discussed about Trigart in his great work Astadhyayi⁶. Patanjali also gave an account about this tribal in Mahabhasya⁷. A copper square coin is associated with this tribal. It was acquired by J.P.Rolins⁸. It represent a beautiful depiction of four storied building. There is also another three storied building structure (torandwar or gopuram) behind the main temple. Ichnographically it reminds us of Gopuram in Dravidian style temple of south India. The figure of temple architecture on coin⁹ is depicted as below -

                    

Audumbara was a famous tribal of ancient India. Panini described it as a habitat around Jalandhar region. Coins legends with Audumbar are found in upper Vyas region. Cunningham published coins of Audumbar in his great work. In this context coins of Audumbara represent a significant features. A very beautiful three storied building with trishul-parasu is depicted on it¹⁰. Ichnographically this architectural form represent to Shiva temple (Shiwala). Three storied building is made in such a way that they are one over another and in which all the pillars are visible. This figure is depicted as-

 

These Numismatic evidences are so important for the origin and development of early temple architecture. We know very well that the available evidences of temple architecture are related to Kushana or Gupta period. In this context these coins threw a new light on origin and development temple architecture, architectural science and highly skilled experts who were capable to construct multistoried building.

 

REFERENCES:

1.      Sahay, Shachidanand, Mandir-Sthapatya Ka Itihas, pp.3

2.      Gupta, Parmeshwarilal, Bharat Ke Purva-Kalik Sikke, pp.148

3.      Allan, J, Catalogue of The Coins of Ancient India, pp.193-203

4.      Shrimali, K. M., History of Panchala, vol-1,pp.90

5.      Gupta, Parmeshwarilal, op-cit, pp.145

6.      Panini, Ashtadhyayi, 5/3/116.

7.      Patanjali, Mahabhashya, 4/1/178.

8.      Gupta, Parameshwarilal, op-cit, pp.147.

9.      ibid, pp.147.

10.     ibid, pp.154.

11.