amazing what a seal can imply - incl the famed victory arch of srivijaya's vijaya thorana... > > http://tamilartsacademy.com/articles/article29.xml > E. THE SEAL The royal seal of this copper plate charter is preserved remarkably well (Ph. 17). It shows the seated tiger and two fish in the centre placed on a bow, representing the emblems of the Chola-s, the Pandya-s and the Chera-s respectively. Behind the tiger are in a row, lamp on stand, a sword placed vertically on its handle, an arrow (?) a spear and an ankusa. On the other side behind the fish are shown a lamp on stand, a sword, a spear, an arrow and a parasu. Above these emblems, is shown the royal parasol flanked by fly- whisks (cauri). Further up are seen, a svastika, a cakra and an indistinguishable object. The last one is also found on the Karandai seal and also on the Tiruvalangadu seal, where however it is clearly identified as an opened lotus. Beneath the bow are seen a seat on a tripod, a board and an entrance torana. It would be interesting to notice the significance of these emblems. The cakra which tops the parasol and all other emblems, is the sign of a Cakravartin. This emblem is not found in the Karandai or Tiruvalangadu seals. Obviously Rajendra has completed all his conquests when this seal was issued in his 25th year which included conquests of gangetic plain and overseas territories, and he has felt the power of Cakravartin which he sought to symbolise in his seal. The boar, is the emblem of the Calukya-s -who were conquered again and again by the Chola-s. The Pandya-s represented by fish, the Chera-s by their bow, and the Calukya-s by their boar, were subdued and brought under the rule of the Chola-s as shown by the umbrella under which protection, all were brought. The cauri, the svastika and the flower are auspicious symbols, which occur in another seal of Rajendra as well. The significance of the tripod seat is uncertain. The emblem of an entrance with festoons is noticed for the first time in this seal; Rajendra during his conquest of the Srivijaya and Kadara countries captured and brought as war trophy--the Vidyadhara torana of Kadara ruler, Sri Mara Vijayottunga-varman. Obviously it is the capture of this torana, mentioned significantly in his records, which is also figured on this seal. The seal bears on its periphery Rajendra Chola's well known sasana. Rajad-rajanya-makuta-sreni-ratnesu sasanam, Etad Rajendra Colasya parakesarivarmanah.
--- > > Hi, if you have the colas by KAN - i think you will have the picture > in the last few pages - karandai plates. i will try and scan it and > put it in the files tmmrw > > rgds > vj > have uploaded the pdf file in the files section. karandai plate.
A doubt... Why all seals n chola coins show the pandyan conquest with two upright fishes. While they themselves are shown as one seated tiger, chera bow is also one... What is the significance of the two fishes.
Also some weeks bk venkat has mentioned that a completed pandya temple gopuram was signed of by sculpting two fish facing each other ....I have a few such pictures, inbetween the two fish there is a king of instrument ....like a curved hook or shepherds stick...any pointers??
Two Fish If this is any help: the yoked fish [facing the same way] is also one of the Buddhist & Jaina 12 auspicious symbols, standing for, I read somewhere, abundance. Mahavir's mother dreams of the 12 before giving birth to Mahavir. Correct me please if my memory is faulty. Kathie