Indian Epigraphy c11.t9.5

c11.t9.5

The small seals generally contain only the representation of the emblem that was the crest of the family to which the issuer of the grant belonged. Often, however, the name of the king is found in addition to the emblem. Such emblems were generally associated with the religious persuasion of particular royal families. As Śaivism was the dominant religion in different parts of the country in all the ages of history, the representation of the bull (Śiva's *vāhana* called Nandin) is very often noticed on the seals of royal as well as private personages. The boar (representing an incarnation of Viṣṇu), Garuḍa (Viṣṇu's *vāhana*), Lakṣmī, Śiva, Viṣṇu, Dharma-cakra (the Buddhist wheel of Law), etc., are found on many seals. A number of seals also bear emblems without obvious religious association. Thus animals like the elephant and tiger figure on the seal of certain royal families,¹ while on some seals we have representations like a gate-way, a pair of fish, etc.²