Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 15,900

Date uploaded in London –21 June 2026

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

xxxx 

Yaudheyas who ruled Northwest part of India had issued Skanda- Kartikeya -Murugan Coins 2000 years ago. They ruled Sapta Sindhu area (Punjab, Haryana regions) from 200 BCE to 300 CE. They issued various types of Skanda coins. The surprising thing is that they were the one who issued Skanda (Murugan in Tamil) coins with his Six Heads and his vehicle peacock. Later Gupta rulers issued such coins. Six Headed Skanda is called Shanmukha in Sanskrit and Aarumukham in Tamil. Adi Sankara who formed six groups of worship called Skanda worship Kaumaram because Kalidas made that name (Kumaara) popular 2200 years ago.

Sangam Tamil literature has one whole work written by a Brahmin poet named Nakkirar on Skanda and it is called Tiru Murugatruppadai. Anti God Dravidians dubbed it as a later interpolation, but Yaudheya coins explode such arguments. Added to this Patanjali’s Mahabhashya reference to Skanda, a commentary on world’s first grammar book by Panini known as Ashtadhyayi. In the 2200-year-old Mahabhasya, Patanjali gives us information about selling Murtis/figures of Skanda -Vishaka. This also gives credence to Sangam book Tiru Murugatruppadai.

Through this we come to know that the Skanda worship was popular from Himalayas to Kanyakumari 2000 years ago.

***

Who are Yaudheyas?

Panini  refers to them specifically as an Ayudhajivin Sangha—a community of warriors who lived by the profession of arms. He explains that the suffix “-ya” was used in Sanskrit to signify martial and warrior tribes, a linguistic detail that fits the Yaudheyas’ historical reputation as a formidable military force

The tribal republics or Janapadas like Audumbara, Kuninda and Yaudheya issued their coins in the name of their presiding deities-Mahadeva. Chitresvara and Brahmanya. The early tribal republics of the 2nd century B.C.E, refer to their names and places in Brahmi script. Some republics issued coins with their names and title Raja or Maharaja. Copper was used as the prime metal for such issues. A few tribes issued coins in silver too.

Monarchies like Surasena and Panchala that sprang up during this period were located in the Ganga-Yamuna plain. The kingdom of Panchala issued copper coins bearing the names of no less than 35 kings.

***

Gupta Coins on Skanda

The golden age of Indian history was the rule of Guptas. They were great worshippers of Vishnu and they called themselves Parama Bhagavatas. But the world famous poet Kalidasa changed them into Saivites. Kalidasa lived in the first or second century BCE. His work Kumarasambhava on the birth of Kumara/ Skanda made Guptas to name their children Skanda Gupta, Kumara Gupta etc.  They issued coins with Skanda with peacock.

Even Asvagosha , author of Buddha Carita in Sanskrit, compared Skanda with Buddha! According to Hindu literature in Tamil and Sanskrit, Skanda was a war god. He was the commander in chief of the Divine army. He married Indra’s daughter Devasena. In spite of his association with war, red colour and planet Mars, Asvagosha compared him to Buddha because of Kalidasa. In Raghuvamsa, Kalidasa compared three kings to Skanda. Tamils of Sangam age also followed Kalidasa and compared the kings with Muruga. Such was the influence of Kumarasambhava Kavya. Not only this, Tamil Sangam poets used the first ten slokas on Himalayas in Kumarasambhava, in their poems.

The greatest Art Historian of India Mr Sivaramanurti (Curator of Madras Museum) was a Sanskrit scholar. He argued Literature comes first Sculptures follow it like the Tamil saying Literature comes first Grammar follows it. He placed Kalidasa in Pre Gupta period,because Gupta coins show whatever Kalidasa said in his seven works.

***

Other coins on Muruga/Skanda/Kartikeya

Huvishka,successor of Kanishka, issued coins on all Hindu gods including Kartikeya around first century CE. Earlier rulers used pictures of Siva only. Huvishka used names in Mahabhashya such as Masena/ Mahasena , Skandakumaro Vizaka . His coins show that Skanda holding Trisula/trident like Shiva.

They spelt the names in strange ways

Shiva – oeso, uma – ommo

***

Yaudheya coins showed Skanda holding a spear; Vel in Tamil.

Kumara Gupta 415-450 CE issued beautiful Skanda coins in gold. The legend on his coin was Mahendrakumarah.

Gold coin issued by Chalukya Vikramaditya of Badami/Vatapi 655-681 CE has the figure of Kartileya. Peacock feather and snake are also seen.

Though  kanda Murugan is called Tamil God, we don’t have any ancient coin with Muruga!

As late as seventeenth century, king Ragunatha Nayak of Thanjavur displayed standing figure of Kartikeya in his coin.

Later Kanthirava Narasaraja Wodeyar (1638-56) of Mysore issued coins with Kartikeya seated on a peacock.

***

Maurya dynasty was named after Peacock (Mayura) growers. Asoka was very fond of peacock meat. Even after spreading Buddhism, he never stopped killing peacocks for food, but he ordered to kill lesser number of the birds. Their coins show peacock with its feather. Since India made peacock its national bird, we can even say that India’s national God is Lord Skanda, Mahasenatipati, Commander in Chief!

–Subham—

Tags- Oldest coin, on Muruga, Kartikeya, Skanda, Visaka, Shanmuka, Yaudheya, Gupta, Chalukya, Peacock ,