மழு ஆயுதம் காட்டும் ’கேரளாந்தகன்’ ஸ்ரீ ராஜராஜ சோழனின் இரண்டு பொற்காசுகள்

 
Two Gold Fanams of Rajaraja Chozhan I
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A brief note on a Rajaraja Chozhan I gold coin. The king appropriates the frequent Chera emblems, Mazhu and Ankusham, after his first prominent victory over the Cheras. This note has appeared in the 2022 Deepavali Malar of OmSakthi magazine, Coimbatore.
https://archive.org/details/rajaraja-cholan-battle-axe-coin/page/n3/mode/2up

Oswal Auction company has put on sale a coin with the legend, Keralandakan. This gold coin weighs 0.27 grams. Sri. Alakkudi A. Seetharaman has explained that this is the coin issued by Rajaraja Chozan I after his first major victory against Cheras in battle, “Kaandaluurc caalai kalam aRuttu aruLi”. It is highly likely that the letter "ma" (ம) in front of the cockerel represents Mazhu 'battle-axe' as it becomes clear when the second associated coin is studied.

Figure 1. Rajaraja I coin, with the legend, KeraLaantakan (Reverse side)

There is another related gold coin, of the same weight (0.27 grams), issued by Rajarajan I. This is put on sale by Marudhar Arts, Bangalore (Figure 2). In this coin, there is no inscription in Tamil script. Instead, there is a battle-axe (Mazhu), and an elephant-goad “ankusham”. Note that both ankusham and Mazhu are typically seen in Chera coins in Sangam era or even in Venad Chera coins when Cheras became under the rule of Chozha sovereignty. “vEzham uDaittu malainADu”- Auvaiyar. It appears that Chola chakravarti appropriates the typical Chera symbol, Parashu/Mazhu and uses it. It is interesting that the elephant goad, usually standing vertically along with bow-arrow in Chera coins is shown in a fallen position under the Cholas. In his later years, he builds the famous Dakshina-Meru at Tanjore, as Cheras are driven slowly from their Sangam Age capital, Vanji (Karur) first to Dharapuram, and then to AnjaikkaLam by Imperial Cholas. The hill in the Vanji city was called Meru ‘Axis Mundi’ and was used for Rajya Pattabhishekam by Cheras. The original Chera capital, Karur’s degrading was accomplished by Chozha kings’ campaign. This can be seen in Tiruppukazh, Kudaiyuur kaifiyat (Colin Mackenzie mss.) etc.,

Figure 2. Rajaraja I coin, with battle-axe and elephant-goad on the reverse side.

On the Reverse side:
Outline of the large Mazhu ‘Battle Axe’. Note the Ankusham ‘elephant goad’ of Cheras shown in the “fallen” horizontal position. Both are usually seen in Chera coins even in Sangam age.

On the Obverse side:
Outline of the (single-bitted) Axe, with its handle, is shown in red. Note the rooster standing above the buffalo (like Durga) is wearing a garland of human heads, those fallen in the warfront. There is a single-bitted Axe called Mazhu in Tamil above the right horn of the buffalo head.  There are four human heads around the left horn of the buffalo.

I've marked  the battle field (களம்) or battle ring (கழல்) in blue color on the obverse side. To study this Chola gold coin, no rotation of the reverse side should be done. The seller has placed carefully the views of both obverse and reverse sides. As sellers of 1000s of ancient coins, observe carefully their photo of the two sides of the Chola gold coin showing the top-bottom orientation of the coin on both sides. See the elephant-goad (Ankusham), the Chera emblem, fallen due to Sri Rajaraja Devar's war at Kandalur Salai on the reverse side. Also, see the body parts cut by the battle-axe on the reverse side shown in red color. ~NG