Coin of the Yaudheyas with depiction of Kumāra Karttikeya

Obverse & Reverse

Coin of the Yaudheyas with depiction of Kumāra Karttikeya, 1st century BCE, Punjab.

Yaudheya were the rulers of South-Eastern Punjab and Rajasthan Like many other tribes they declared their independence after the death of Pushyamitra Sunga in the middle of the second century B.C.E. Yaudheya clan has also been mentioned in Ashtadhyayi of panini as well as in Ganapatha. They have also been referred in Mahabharata and Puranas, Chandravyakarana and Kashika. From about 200 BCE to 400 CE they were at the peak of their power. The existence of this powerful clan has come to light from their coins and coin-moulds found in large number in Sutlej, Multan, Bhatner, Sirsa, Hansi and Panipat. Most of these coins depicted the god Karttikeya or also known as Brahmanyadeva.

Yaudheya as we know it were an ancient republican city state or tribe of traders and warriors. The name ‘Yudha’ itself means a proficient fighter. Yaudheyas claim that they descended from Yudhishthira. Many ancient texts have mentioned this tribe; also historians of Alexander wrote about people ‘living in exceedingly fertile territory and good at agriculture and brave in war’. Ancient accounts of Kautilya mention many ganas (republic states) living by the profession of trades and arms and after the death of Pusyamitra Sunga started moving south wards, probably under the pressure of Indo-Greeks and occupied the region of North of Saraswati. Yaudheya had a high social and political status; thus surviving the longest reign. Yaudheya’s were probably at the height of their power and glory during the period extending from circa mid-second century BCE to the fouth century CE when they struck coins as well.

Bijayagadh Inscription of Yaudheyas 

Image Courtesy: Wikipedia. 

COINAGE:

Though coins are small in size they open up window various aspects of culture, political life, economic progress, trade and commerce of people. Especially the coins of ancient cultures where there are barely any other evidences available. The movement of various tribes can be traced from its coin. The Yaudheya issued their earliest coinage in copper, bronze and potin with the brahmi legend ‘Yoaudheyanam’. Karttikeya being the warrior god was the main deity on coins of Yaudheya and also peacock is widely depicted.