Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c26.s2.615

v2.c26.s2.615

*Varāha*. S. K. Tel. Tam. A gold coin so named from its originally bearing the figure of a boar (*Varāha*) or of Viṣṇu in the boar avatāra. The *varāha* was especially the signet of the Vijayanagara kings. It was subsequently more usually termed by the Muhammadans *Hun*, or by the Europeans *Pagoda*, the latter from its having on one face a Hindu temple. (W., p. 542). It is denoted by the symbol *ga*. *Varāha-tūka*, a gold weight of 9 *fanams* or 1.92 drachms (Av.) in South Kanara and 1/8ths *tōla* in North Kanara. (N., p. 171). A *Varāha* is generally worth Rs. 3½ but some times Rs. 3 and sometimes Rs. 4. (B. & C., III, p. 1500).