Lot

Hindu Medieval, Rashtrakutas, (c. 10th Century AD), Copper Unit, 0.52 gms, 9.50x13.65mm, Obverse: Traces of Horse rider to right, Reverse: Nagari legend in two lines reading as ‘ShriMada(na)/vata(ra)’ (Shri Madana Avatar), Lotus with three petals below, Dotted border around, Unlisted in Major Publications, fine to very fine, (about four specimens known) extremely rare.

Madana Avatar was an epithet of Maruladeva (961–963 AD), the Western Ganga king and son-in-law of the imperial Rashtrakuta emperor Krishna III (939-967 AD). Maruladevahad fought successfully on behalf of Krishna III in many wars such as with the Cholas, Pandyas and Kalingas. Hence, Krishna III conferred upon him the epithet ‘Madana Avatar’ along with a parasol (royal umbrella). It is quite plausible that this coin was struck by the Rashtrakutas to commomerate the conferring of the epithet to Maruladeva.