Indian Antiquary Vol 56

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 216

188
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[OCTOBER, 1927
Rama Raja as he was called Râjârâm by the Marathâs was the second son of Sivaji by Sôyerå Bås. When Sivajî died Râjârâm was ten years of age. Søyerå Bai wanted to set aside the claims of Sambhaji, the first son of Sivaji, and to place Rajaram on the throne. She did so but Sambhaji captured by force the fort of Raigarh where Rajaram was, made him a prisoner and ascended the throne in 1680 A.D. Sambhaji continued to rule, but the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb marched to reduce the South of India to his rule, and having blotted out Bijapur and Golconda turned his arms against the Marathas. Aurangzeb was gradually closing in upon the Maratha country and suddenly captured Sambhaji and put him to death. Then the Maráthás unanimously declared Rájárám, Regent during the minority of Sivaji, the son of Sambhaji who ruled subsequently as Sâbu. Aurangzeb was pushing on his campaign and was taking fort after fort when Sahu and his mother were taken captives. Rajaram now thinking that his personal safety was in danger decided to proceed to Gingee which was their stronghold, wherefrom he could conduct the administration of his kingdom securely and not fall into the hands of Aurangzeb. As soon as he reached Gingee, Râjârâm was formally seated on the throne, and he established a court on the plan of his father. The new court began to exercise all the powers of Government. Gold bangles, cloths, shawls and letters announcing the event were secretly forwarded to all the principal Hindus throughout the Marâthâ kingdom, and inams and jagîrs bestowed, by which acts the sympathy of all Maráthâs was secured. It was from Gingee that the whole administration of the Marathå country was conducted. It is therefore clear that Rajârâm did occupy the throne, but some of the Marathâs "jealous of the right of the elder branch do not admit that he ever sat on the throne, but they say that he sat on the gadees merely as regent holding the powers of the State in trust for his nephew." Whatever it may be. he was virtually ruling the Maratha country and was in power. It was with this king that the authorities of the East India Company in Madras negotiated to purchase the fort of Dêvanam patnam. The firmant which he issued to the East India Company was drafted for his signature by the writers of the Company at Madras, and it begins thus:-“ Wbereas we Ram Raja by the Providence of God king of the Chengie kingdome and territories have at the desire of the Honorable Elihu Yale Governor and Council of the citty and castle of Maddras." Here he is stylod as Ram Raja, and so it is clear that Râm Râja is no other than Rajárám, the second son of Sivaji. In the records of the East India Company he was styled Ram Raja.
Gingees was under the sway of Sivaji and his son Râm Raja between 1677 and 1698. In 1698 it fell into the hands of the Mughals. These coins were therefore issued by Râm Raja during the period from 1683 to 1698. These may be called Rama Raja fanams as their weight is the same as that of other known fanams of South India.
The lines and dots on the obverse side of the coins may at first sight appear to repre. sent a dagger but from a knowledge of coins generally we know that the dagger is not usually used alone. But it is sometimes used in seals on grants with other emblems of royalty, with the sun and moon to denote eternity. We know also that in ancient times these lines and dots were in some cases used conventionally to represent some figure or other. So I think that the lines and dots on the coins now being discussed may represent only the figure of the Raja, and this view receives confirination from the Devanagari legend on the reverse side. We learn that coins similar in design were minted by the French at Pondicherry and by the Dutch at Negapatam with their respective bale mark on the reverse. The figure
3 Jámes Grant Duff's History of the Mahrattas, revised by 8. M. Edwarder, 1921, vol. I, p. 283. 3 James Grant Duft's History of the Mahrattan, p. 371 note. 4 South Arcot District Gazetteer, p. 41.
6 Ibid. p. 3150, and foot-note under. 8 Cto Maurin Nahuy's Numismatique des Neerlandaiver, part II, page 14.