7.1. AN INSCRIBED TAMIL COIN OF FIRST CENTURY C.E A copper coin a historic interest was found by the Curator of Karūr Museum in Tamiḻnāṭu. The coin was found totally encrusted, beyond any recognition. It was gifted to the Karūr Museum by a vessel merchant of Karūr along with a number of coins, mostly modern, including two coins of Rājarāja Cōḻa, a common variety. Some of the encrusted coins were sent to the Chemist of the conservation laboratory in the Tamiḻ Nadu State Department of Archaeology. Half way through cleaning, the coins were examined by me and to my surprise I found that this particular coin showed signs of Brāhmi legends. A photograph was taken and the cleaning continued with extreme care. After full cleaning, we found the coin had Brāhmi legend. I give below the description of the coin before sketching its historical importance. Description of the Coin Obverse: Portrait of a king (figure) standing majestically beneath a toraṇa (with four turrets). In his extended right arm the king wields a sword with its point planted on the ground. With his left arm he holds a shield, also resting on the ground. But for the Tamiḻlegend, the portrait with its posture and attire, would be mistaken for a Roman Soldier. Around the periphery is seen a legend in Brāhmi characters reading “Ko-l-i-p-pu-rai” (six letters). Reverse: Bow and arrow shown prominently. At a corner is seen a wavy line inside which are seen two fishes swimming. At the other corner is seen the hill motif, representation of Mēru. Below this is seen a square in the middle of which is an animal probably representing a tiger. Further down is seen Nandīpāda partially. The legend on the observe as mentioned earlier reads “Ko-l-i-p-pu-rai”. The paleography of the Tamiḻ legend is assignable to the beginning of Current era. The word “Kolippurai” consists of two words - Koli and Purai. Kolli is the name of a hill and Purai is the name of the Cēra dynasty. The legend on the coin, therefore, stands for the Cēra, the ruler of Kolli hill. Before we discuss the significance of this legend, we may briefly notice the hill as known to the ancient Tamiḻs. 7.2. The Kolli Hill The Kolli hill is in the Salem district of Tamiḻnāṭu, and lies about 40 km north-northeast of the ancient Karūr, capital of the Cēras of Saṅgam age. The hill with its lofty peaks is graphically and frequently described in the Saṅgam literature assignable from second century B.C.E., to second century C.E. The Kolli hill on account of its height, was covered with cloud sand received good rainfall. It abounded in good fragrant flowers like malli (Jasmine), iruvātchi and kāntal. A special variety of paddy was grown here. Gaint size beetles were found in the hill. The hill was more popular in the Saṅgam age for the beautiful sculpture of a Goddess called kollip-pāvai (identical with Durga) carved on the western slopes of the hill. The way in which it was described it seems was an impressive piece of art, charming and well known throughout the Tamiḻ country. Incidently, it was perhaps the earliest rock-cut sculpture from Tamiḻnāṭu, though it has not been located so far. The Kolli hill was said to gladden the hearts of the visitors and in all probably it was an image of Durga, who is called frequently as Pāvai in the Cilappatikāram. At the same time it infused an awe and inexplicable fear on others. It was called bayam keḻu kolli. The hill and its adjoining area were called the territorial division of Kolli - Kollik-kūṟṟam. 7.3. The Rulers of Kolli Two rulers namely the Chieftain Valvil Ōri and the Cēra ruler Perum Cēral Irumporai are referred to in the Saṅgam works as the rulers of the Kolli hills. References to the hill appear over eighteen times in the various works of Saṅgam collections, Ōri appearing as the lord of Kolli in seven instances and the Cēra, in nine instances. It is of great interest to note that almost all the celebrated poets of the Saṅgam age such as Paraṇar, Kapilar, Auvaiyār, Arisilkiḻār, Perumchitṟanār Kallādanār and others have sung the Kolli hill. Among them Kapila, Vanparaṇa Nattattaṉ and Perumchitṟaṉ refer to Valvil Ōri as the lord of Kolli hill, whereas the poetess Auvaiyār and poets like Kurumkoḻiyūr Kiḻar, Perumkunṟūr Kiḻar, Tāyam Kaṇṇanar, celebrate Cēra of this hill as under the rule of Poraiyaṉ Kolli and Vānavaṉ Kolli. However, the greatest poet among the Saṅgam poets - Paraṇar, mentions in one verse that Kolli belonged to Ōri the chieftain - Ōri Kolli and in other verses praises Cēra as the lord of Kolli hill - Poraiyaṉ Kolli. This must be considered significant, which will be discussed in the sequence. The other significant reference to Kolli occurs in the Tamiḻ text, in which the Cēra is praised as the ruler of Kolli - by the poet Ilaṅgo aḍigaḷ, the author of the Cilappatikāram. 7.4. Valvil Ōri Ōri, the lord of Kolli hill, was celebrated as one of seven great vaḷḷal - patron of the Saṅgam age. He was a great archer and hence, came to be called Valvil Ōri of powerful bow. He was probably the son of Ādaṉ and was called Ādan Ōri. He had a swift horse also named Ōri. From the description of him found in the works, it is seen he was a great connoisseur of music and dance. The dancers who came to his court were honoured with great fortunes and a golden garland with kuvaḷai flowers fastened to silver threads. Because of his bountiful gifts to dancers and musicians, he came to be included among the seven celebrated patrons. It is said that the wealth bestowed on the dancers, made them forget even their art. A pāṇaṉ is said to have sung a vaṇṇam composition on him. The viralis accompanying the pāṇaṉ layed on yaḻ, little drum, the great flute and patalai as orchestra. Twenty-one forms of musical compositions are said to have been composed in his honour by the musicians. Ōri’s great valour, love for poetry, music and dance and also bountiful gifts endeared him to the poets. This chieftain picked up an enmity with then Cēra ruler whose capital Karūr was hardly forty kilometers from this hill. However, Ōri was a great friend of Atiyamāṉ Nedumāṉ Añji, another chieftain, who had his capital at Tagadūr. These chieftains enlisted the help of the two crowned rulers - the Cōḻa and Pāṇḍyā against the Cēra. It is difficult to be precise on the chronology of events. It would be interesting to briefly note the history of the Cēra ruler under reference. 7.5. Perum Cēral Irumporai The Cēra King Perum Cēral Irumporai was the son of Selva Kaduṅkō Vāli Ādaṉ, through his queen Padumandevi. The Patiṟṟup-pattu - 8th decade gives him 17 years of rule. It is seen that Karūr, the capital of the Cēra was captured by the Cōḻa ruler Kiḷḷi Vaḷavaṉ and the Cēra fought back and wrested it from the Cōḻa and assumed the title Ko-perum-cēral-irumporai - who ascended the throne at Karūr. Probably this was the strife between the Cēra and the Cōḻa, in which the other chieftains were drawn in. The Cēra used to wear excellent ornaments, made at the village of Kodumaṇam. Wearing the hide of the spotted deer decorated with pearls, he performed the Vedic sacrifice with his queen in the sacrificial altar laid in the form of eagle - (the Syena citi), and as a result obtained heroic sons. The kindness he bestowed on a poet, Mosi Kīraṉ, who unknowingly slept on the seat of the royal drum, is celebrated in the Saṅgam works. Another great event in his life was the gift he made of his entire kingdom to the poet who but the latter returned it to the king and who is said to have gifted 9,00,000 gold kāṇams (coins) to the poet. 7.6. The Conflict The Cēra Perum Cēral Irumporai was a great friend of another great chieftain Malaiyamāṉ Tirumuḍi Kāri, who had his capital at Tirukkōyilūr. This capital was besieged by Adigaimaṉ (Adiyamāṉ) of Tagadūr. An inscription in Brāhmi characters of the first century C.E., pointing to the occupation of the region has been recently found at a village called Jambai near Tirukkōyilūr, thus confirming the literary data. This led to counter expeditions. The chieftains Adigaimāṉ and Ōri and the rulers the Cōḻa and the Pāṇḍyā allied themselves and opposed the Cēra. The latter was assisted by Kāri of Tirukkōyilūr. A decisive battle was fought at a place called Nikkūr in the territorial division of Kollikūṟṟam. The two Kings - the Cōḻa and the Adigaimāṉ were routed. Abandoning their weapons and war drums they escaped from the battlefield. Kāri of Tirukkōyilūr engaged Ōri of Kolli hill, killed him in the battle, captured the Kolli hill and presented it to the Cēra. The Cēra on his part chased Adigaimāṉ into his capital Tagadūr, besieged the town, and finally killed Adigaimāṉ. This victorious march to Tagadūr by the Cēra is celebrated (besides a number of Saṅgam works) in a great work called Tagadūr Yāttirai. The capture of Kolli Kuṟṟam and Tagadūr by the Cēra and the fierce battle are prominently mentioned in Pattiṟṟup-pattu work. The conquest of Kolli hill is one of the most significant events in the life of Perum Cēral Irumporai. From then on the poets started addressing the Cēra king Perum Cēral Irumporai, as the lord of Kolli hills, and the hill as that of Poraiyaṉ - Poraiyaṉ Kolli 7.7. The Issuer of the Coin The coin under discussion bearing the legend Kollipurai obviously an issue of this Cēra, “the ruler of” or “the victor of Kolli”. Poraiyaṉ is one of the dynastic name of the Cēra. A number of rulers of the third dynasty were called Poraiyaṉ. At least a few names are well known, viz - Kōpperum Cēral Irumporai, Iḷam Cēral Irumporai, Māntaram Cēral Irumporai. However, it is only the first mentioned ruler Kōpperum Cēral Irumporai, who is credited with the capture of Kolli hill. The coin is certainly a commemorative coin, celebrating the conquest of Kolli, (like the later coins bearing the legends Gaṅgaikonda Cōḻa, Cōnādukoṇḍāṉ and Talakkadukoṇḍāṉ ) The prominence given to the dynastic emblem ‘the bow’ on the reverse clearly establishes the Cēra origin of the coin. The fish shown swimming and the caged tiger, indicate the Cēra's suzerainty over the Pāṇḍyā and the Cōḻa. Subsequent to the find of this coin, a few more copper coins of the same issue has been found and are in possession of Dr. Krishnamurthy of Dinamalar and Alakkudi Sitaraman. They show an additional letter at the end which reads now as “Kollirum Puraiyaṉ”. A few other points also deserve notice at this stage. Most of the Tamiḻ works give the name of the Cēra dynasty as PORAIYAṈ whereas in this coin it occurs as PURAIYAṈ. 7.8. The Cēra of the Pugalūr Inscription In this connection, the most important epigraphical notice on the hill of Pugalūr (Āṟnāṭṭār malai - ஆற்நாட்டார் மலை), about 15 km from Karūr, the ancient capital of Cēras, deserve notice. The inscription is in Brāhmi characters, assignable to the beginning of the current era. It records the gift of a rock memorial to a Jaina ascetic, by a Cēra ruler, Iḷam Kaduṅkō. While referring to the Cēras, the names of three generations of the Cēras are mentioned as Kō-Ādaṉ-cel-Irumpoṟai, his son Perum Kaduṅkō and Iḷam Kaduṅkō, son of Perum Kanduṅgo. The same inscription is inscribed twice on the face of the rock. The first time the name of the first ruler occurs as Irumpoṟai; but in the second instance the name occurs as Irumpuṟai. The name Poṟai is also spelt as Puṟai in the first century C.E, the age of the coin under discussion. Besides mentioning the three generations of Cēra rulers, the Pugalūr inscription mentions gold merchants from Karūr, and a couple of names of commanders of the Cēra like Pittaṉ and others. Among the three generations of Cēra rulers mentioned in this inscription, the second named Perum Kaduṅkō, was the actual ruler, when the record was issued, on the occasion of crowning the next as a prince. The actual ruler Perum Kaduṅkō is identified with Perum Cēra Irumpoṟai the conqueror of the Kolli and Tagadūr. Thus, the coin under discussion was issued by the Cēra ruler - Perum Kaduṅkō of the Pugalūr record. As the Pugalūr record does not refer to the conquest of Kolli, it was probably issued early in his reign whereas the Kollipuṟai coin was issued later, when the conquest of Kolli was effected. The coin under discussion is significant in two ways. First this is the earliest coin from Tamiḻ Nadu, with the portrait of the ruler with his name inscribed on the obverse. The portrait it may be noted, is shown in full standing posture. It must be remembered that in the early centuries of the Current era, the Roman trade was at its height with the Chera kingdom especially with Karūr. It is also known that several thousand Roman coins were found in and around Karūr. Recent excavations at Karūr under the direction of the author, further confirmed Roman contact by the presence of amphorae, rouletted ware and arretine ware. The Saṅgam Tamiḻ works further testify to the active Roman trade. Obviously the Cēra ruler has been influenced by the Roman tradition in figuring his portrait on the coin. That the protrait resembles a Roman soldier has been mentioned earlier. The Āṟnāṭṭār hill of Pugalūr on which the Cēra lithic record is found is on the southern bank of the river Kāvēri. If one crosses the river at this point and takes the route leading to the north, the Kolli hill is on the route and further north is Tagadūr, the capital of Atiyamāṉ Nedumāṉ Añji. The coin also throws interesting light on another aspect, the name of the hill, is Kolli. The actual meaning of the word has so far eluded satisfactory interpretation. The present coin clarifies the meaning and indicates why the hill was called Kolli, Kol in Tamiḻ means ‘to kill’; ‘I’ means ‘beetle’, Thus, Kol-i, stands for ‘gaint size beetles’, that were capable of causing great harm to the visitors. Therefore, the hill was dreaded by visitors and came to be called the hill with dreadful beetles. The Kollipuṟai coins is not only a unique find, but also raises many other interesting questions; it would not, however, be possible to discuss all of them in this paper. Before finishing this account, I would like to illustrate one more coin, also found in the group presented by the Karūr vessel dealer. Obverse: Standing figure of a tiger with a bow like emblem in front of it. Above the animal at the back is an emblem resembling a couch. Reverse: A symbol which looks like branches with leaves. The leaves, however, are shown as triangle. In the absence of any legend, it is difficult to assign it to any particular ruler. Quite a number of early Tamiḻ coins are known. Most of them are square, or rectangular in shape bearing the figure of an elephant with aṣṭamaṅgaḷa signs eight auspicious symbols. Some coming from the Cōḻa port Pumpūhar show a standing tiger, obviously the Cōḻa emblem. However, present Kollipuṟai coin, proves the issue of circular coins in the early Current era, in Tamiḻnāṭu. The tiger shown standing is obviously the Cōḻa emblem. Typologically, the coin is early and may also assigned to the Saṅgam age, (first century C.E) probably issued by a Cōḻa. However, the tiger differs in form from the tigers seen on coins of the age. The second point worthy of note is that the metal (unlike the Kollipuṟai coin which is excellent copper) is like brass. The identification is only tentative. The only justification for its inclusion here is that it was also be found with “Kollipuṟai coin” and is certainly an early issue, that deserves notice.
Cēra coins of the Saṅgam Age Depicting the Royal Emblem, Bow and Arrow, found at Karūr
