27/02/2020

05/02/2020- ANCIENT INDIAN COINS- MAHAJANAPADAS- 6.Matsya Mahajanapada


ഇന്നത്തെ പഠനം
അവതരണം
Augustine Stephen D'souza
വിഷയം
ANCIENT INDIAN COINS
ലക്കം
56

16 MAHAJANAPADAS
6. Matsya Mahajanapada


Matsya or Machcha (Sanskrit for fish) Mahajanapada was located south of Kurus and west of Yamuna river which separated it from the Kingdom of Panchalas. It roughly corresponded to the former state of Jaipur in Rajasthan, and included the whole of Hindaun, Alwar with portions of Bharatpur. The capital of Matsya was at Viratanagarai (present day Bairat) which is said to have been named after its founder king Virata. In Pali literature, the Matsya tribe is usually associated with the Surasena. The western Matsya was the hill tract on the north bank of Chambal River. The Puranas mention a fisherman becoming king as origin of the name "Matsya"

In the early 6th century BC, Matsya was one of the 16 Mahajanapadas but its power had greatly dwindled and it was of little political importance by the time of Buddha. Upaplavya was a notable city of the Matsya Mahajanapada.

The coin below is a complex and intricate geometric maze, flower, wavy lines etc in an incuse punch, weighs approximately 3 g (Karshapana Standard) and dated to 500 - 400 BC.  The coins are found mostly around Agra region.


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