Indian Epigraphy c11.t9.9

c11.t9.9

The emblem on the seal of a family of rulers represented its crest or coat of arms, often called the *lāñchana*. In many cases, the same emblem is also found on the coins of the kings in question, both seals and coins being called the *mudrā*. Often the banner of the rulers of a particular family, generally called the *dhvaja*, bore a different emblem sometimes called *cihna*. Thus the Raṭṭas of Saundatti and Belgaum had the *Suvarṇa-garuḍa-dhvaja* (i. e. the banner of gold-colured Garuḍa) but the *Sindhura-lāñchana* (i.e. the elephant crest) and the Kadambas of Banavasi and Goa the *Śākhācarendra-dhvaja* or *Vānara-mahādhvaja* (i. e. the monkey banner) but the *Siṃha-lāñchana* (i.e. the lion crest).³ The seal of the Pāla kings of Bengal and Bihar bore the representation of the Buddhist wheel of law and was mentioned in the charters of the family as the *Dharmacakra-mudrā*.⁴ But the Nesari plates of Rāṣṭrakūṭa Govinda III suggest that the banner of the Pāla king Dharmapāla bore the figure of the Buddhist goddess Tārā.¹ The Nanda or Nandodbhava kings of Orissa had the bull crest on their seals, but are stated to have had *Sitadhātumaya-godhā-śikhari-kṛta-lohitalocan-āmbara-dhvaja*, probably meaning a piece of cloth having the representation of a white alligator above that of a snake or of two eyes in red.² There were, however, cases where the same emblem was represented on the seal and banner of the kings of a family. The Nesari plates quoted above show that the Pallavas, Gaṅgas, Cālukyas, Coḷas and Pāṇḍyas had respectively the bull, elephant, boar, tiger and fish represented on their banners. But the bull also occurs on the seals of the Pallava kings.³ The elephant adorning the banner of the Western Gaṅgas is also found on their seal.⁴ That the Eastern Cālukyas had the boar on their seal is well known.¹ The Coḷa and Pāṇḍya seals bear the representations of the tiger, double-fish and bow,² although it is difficult to say whether, on their banners, the same group appeared or only one of the three emblems.