Guest guest Posted September 29, 2008 Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 Dear all, We are aware that the kingdom was well developed at least by the time of Yajur Veda and Brahmanas. The trading systems and monetary economy must have developed too , at least to a functional level, as we know that there were various kingdoms and most of these kingdoms were in contact with one another. However, the Great War of Mahabharat , in spite of achieving the dream of Yudhistir to build up a unitary empire (hence, the core of Maha Bharat epic was named Jayam), has totally destroyed the institutions of the State, perhaps the monetary systems with this. A vacuum of Authority was created in the aftermath of Mahabharat war, in more ways than one. The Varna system, the well laid Social Order, has taken a beating, as feared by Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita and Varna sankara by way of endogamous marriages and break of professional rules has followed. There was no authority to control the economic and sociological systems. The people had had no king , or at least a strong king, to look upto. Under the circumstances, the Merchant Guilds have come forward to build up towns as trading centers and in the absence of a centrally sponsored monetary system, tried to introduce their own money systems. In all probability, the vaccum must have been felt by some entrepreneurs, who have noticed the market for Kulli perfumes and other goods in Mesopotamia,(2500 bce) which must have prompted them to build the trading towns of IVC(Indus Valley Civilization) . These cities are not mere residential towns , grown from the earlier settlements. They have been built with a specific purpose. Romila Thapar in her Early India comments that the cities of Indus valley have been built with an eye on the trade routes. Now, we notice that there was no State or Institutions of State observed in these towns/cities, just in tune with the general condition I have presented above. More over, a lot many seals were found in these cities, which have spread to Mesopotamia too. It is understood that the traders of IVC actually lived in Mesopotamia , which means that these cities are more meant to be merchant Towns (Later, Artha Sastra denote these towns as Panyapattanas and demands that it must be a State function to build and control such towns), than residential towns. I feel that the seals found in these sites must be the tokens of exchange, the money, with which they have paid the suppliers of commodities. It is very difficult to understand the supply of goods, which is almost unilateral, if there was no monetary system present. For eg., Ganeswar was supplying metals to IVC and there was no return supply of any kind of commodities and this precludes barter system. Now, we have to understand that each family of merchant or each guild of merchants must have been responsible for minting such money, as is clear in the varied nature of the seals.This is not an isolated case of private minting of money in India. In fact, such private publication was present in India till the times of Nanda- only thing changing is the later times have shifted from clay seals to punch marked coins. " Indian Numiscmatic Studies " (K D Bajpai, 2004) inform us that " the recent studies of the punch marked hoards from different regions of the country tend to indicate that some of the Janapadas in the Buddha's time and after wards were issuing the silver and copper coins with definite marks of their own. " Sri Bajpai quotes V A Smith, who thought that some of the earliest coins of India were issued by moneyers, who impressed their own symbols on them. It is again Artha sastra which has insisted upon the issue of the money by the State (II, 14) Thus, we can argue that these seals of the IVC are tokens of monetary system followed by the merchant guilds, rather than amulets or totems as suggested by DD Kosambi or tablets of scripts, as suggested by others.best regards,Kishore patnaik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 30, 2008 Report Share Posted September 30, 2008 Cowries were also being used as currency in the earstwhile Cochin State. I am not remembering the exchange ratio between cowries and the metallic currency.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Please visit my blog at:http://paliakara.blogspot.com ; ; IndiaArchaeology ; hinducivilization ; akandabaratam From: oddisilab1Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:29:51 +0530Re: Re: Monetary system in IVC Cowrie was used as a legal tender in Orissa even in 1866, during the Great Famine, East India Co. days. Dr.db - kishore patnaik ; ; indiaarchaeology ; hinducivilization ; akandabaratam Monday, September 29, 2008 10:03 PM Re: Monetary system in IVC I feel that the seals found in these sites must be the tokens of exchange, the money, with which they have paid the suppliers of commodities. http://tinyurl.com/kishore Cowrie is sea Shell which was used as subsidiary currency in East Africa till recently was found in IVC sites also. Kishore patnaik MSN Technology brings you the latest on gadgets, gizmos and the new hits in the gaming market. Try it now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 30, 2008 Report Share Posted September 30, 2008 1. There is Sant Kabir's doha ... kavadi kavadi maya jodi, rupiya lakh karod! 2. A marathi phrase: "phutaki kavadi" Such a proverb would not exist without hard fact. Regards, -Deepali. --- On Mon, 9/29/08, Naren Phanse <captnarendra wrote: Naren Phanse <captnarendraRe: Re: Monetary system in IVC Date: Monday, September 29, 2008, 12:17 PM The erstwhile Kutch State, where Dhola Vira is located, had its own currency. Curiously, it was called Kori - the local slang word for Cowrie.Capt. Narendra I feel that the seals found in these sites must be the tokens of exchange, the money, with which they have paid the suppliers of commodities. http://tinyurl.com/kishore Cowrie is sea Shell which was used as subsidiary currency in East Africa till recently was found in IVC sites also. Kishore patnaik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 30, 2008 Report Share Posted September 30, 2008 Cowries are till date sold in Orissa. They are used in vary many rituals and also as ingradient for herbal medicine. Normally they measure around 1-1.5 Cms, are white and brown spotted, beautiful design. Right now one can get it near Lingaraj and Puri temples in numerous shops and temporary vendors. All most all haats and big traditional markets have at least one dealer, who sale Cowries (cowdi). Dr. Bhattacharya - NS Paliakara Tuesday, September 30, 2008 8:43 AM RE: Re: Monetary system in IVC Cowries were also being used as currency in the earstwhile Cochin State. I am not remembering the exchange ratio between cowries and the metallic currency.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Please visit my blog at:http://paliakara.blogspot.com ; ; IndiaArchaeology ; hinducivilization ; akandabaratam From: oddisilab1 (AT) dataone (DOT) inDate: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:29:51 +0530Re: Re: Monetary system in IVC Cowrie was used as a legal tender in Orissa even in 1866, during the Great Famine, East India Co. days. Dr.db - kishore patnaik ; ; indiaarchaeology ; hinducivilization ; akandabaratam Monday, September 29, 2008 10:03 PM Re: Monetary system in IVC I feel that the seals found in these sites must be the tokens of exchange, the money, with which they have paid the suppliers of commodities. http://tinyurl.com/kishore Cowrie is sea Shell which was used as subsidiary currency in East Africa till recently was found in IVC sites also. Kishore patnaik MSN Technology brings you the latest on gadgets, gizmos and the new hits in the gaming market. Try it now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 What are the medical uses, I have never heard of this, can you please shed some light? Thanks Sandhya - ODDISILAB Tuesday, September 30, 2008 6:53 PM Re: Re: Monetary system in IVC Cowries are till date sold in Orissa. They are used in vary many rituals and also as ingradient for herbal medicine. Normally they measure around 1-1.5 Cms, are white and brown spotted, beautiful design. Right now one can get it near Lingaraj and Puri temples in numerous shops and temporary vendors. All most all haats and big traditional markets have at least one dealer, who sale Cowries (cowdi). Dr. Bhattacharya - NS Paliakara Tuesday, September 30, 2008 8:43 AM RE: Re: Monetary system in IVC Cowries were also being used as currency in the earstwhile Cochin State. I am not remembering the exchange ratio between cowries and the metallic currency.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Please visit my blog at:http://paliakara.blogspot.com ; ; IndiaArchaeology ; hinducivilization ; akandabaratam From: oddisilab1 (AT) dataone (DOT) inDate: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:29:51 +0530Re: Re: Monetary system in IVC Cowrie was used as a legal tender in Orissa even in 1866, during the Great Famine, East India Co. days. Dr.db - kishore patnaik ; ; indiaarchaeology ; hinducivilization ; akandabaratam Monday, September 29, 2008 10:03 PM Re: Monetary system in IVC I feel that the seals found in these sites must be the tokens of exchange, the money, with which they have paid the suppliers of commodities. http://tinyurl.com/kishore Cowrie is sea Shell which was used as subsidiary currency in East Africa till recently was found in IVC sites also. Kishore patnaik MSN Technology brings you the latest on gadgets, gizmos and the new hits in the gaming market. Try it now! ****************************************************VirusFree, Spamfree, power packed email service.Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited **************************************************** **************************************************** VirusFree, Spamfree, power packed email service. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited **************************************************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 It is sold in Vaidya stores. They can tell. I have verified that they are used. Gen info :- The couries are sub class of Xacus pyrum. They are 100%pure CaCo3. The material is rubbed and the non hygrosopic dust is used. In others it is burnt and the hygroscopic powder is used. - Sandhya Jain Wednesday, October 01, 2008 11:28 AM Re: Re: Monetary system in IVC What are the medical uses, I have never heard of this, can you please shed some light? Thanks Sandhya - ODDISILAB Tuesday, September 30, 2008 6:53 PM Re: Re: Monetary system in IVC Cowries are till date sold in Orissa. They are used in vary many rituals and also as ingradient for herbal medicine. Normally they measure around 1-1.5 Cms, are white and brown spotted, beautiful design. Right now one can get it near Lingaraj and Puri temples in numerous shops and temporary vendors. All most all haats and big traditional markets have at least one dealer, who sale Cowries (cowdi). Dr. Bhattacharya - NS Paliakara Tuesday, September 30, 2008 8:43 AM RE: Re: Monetary system in IVC Cowries were also being used as currency in the earstwhile Cochin State. I am not remembering the exchange ratio between cowries and the metallic currency.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Please visit my blog at:http://paliakara.blogspot.com ; ; IndiaArchaeology ; hinducivilization ; akandabaratam From: oddisilab1 (AT) dataone (DOT) inDate: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:29:51 +0530Re: Re: Monetary system in IVC Cowrie was used as a legal tender in Orissa even in 1866, during the Great Famine, East India Co. days. Dr.db - kishore patnaik ; ; indiaarchaeology ; hinducivilization ; akandabaratam Monday, September 29, 2008 10:03 PM Re: Monetary system in IVC I feel that the seals found in these sites must be the tokens of exchange, the money, with which they have paid the suppliers of commodities. http://tinyurl.com/kishore Cowrie is sea Shell which was used as subsidiary currency in East Africa till recently was found in IVC sites also. Kishore patnaik MSN Technology brings you the latest on gadgets, gizmos and the new hits in the gaming market. Try it now! ****************************************************VirusFree, Spamfree, power packed email service.Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited **************************************************** ****************************************************VirusFree, Spamfree, power packed email service.Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited **************************************************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 but what is the illness cured? - ODDISILAB Wednesday, October 01, 2008 1:05 PM Re: Re: Monetary system in IVC It is sold in Vaidya stores. They can tell. I have verified that they are used. Gen info :- The couries are sub class of Xacus pyrum. They are 100%pure CaCo3. The material is rubbed and the non hygrosopic dust is used. In others it is burnt and the hygroscopic powder is used. - Sandhya Jain Wednesday, October 01, 2008 11:28 AM Re: Re: Monetary system in IVC What are the medical uses, I have never heard of this, can you please shed some light? Thanks Sandhya - ODDISILAB Tuesday, September 30, 2008 6:53 PM Re: Re: Monetary system in IVC Cowries are till date sold in Orissa. They are used in vary many rituals and also as ingradient for herbal medicine. Normally they measure around 1-1.5 Cms, are white and brown spotted, beautiful design. Right now one can get it near Lingaraj and Puri temples in numerous shops and temporary vendors. All most all haats and big traditional markets have at least one dealer, who sale Cowries (cowdi). Dr. Bhattacharya - NS Paliakara Tuesday, September 30, 2008 8:43 AM RE: Re: Monetary system in IVC Cowries were also being used as currency in the earstwhile Cochin State. I am not remembering the exchange ratio between cowries and the metallic currency.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Please visit my blog at:http://paliakara.blogspot.com ; ; IndiaArchaeology ; hinducivilization ; akandabaratam From: oddisilab1 (AT) dataone (DOT) inDate: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:29:51 +0530Re: Re: Monetary system in IVC Cowrie was used as a legal tender in Orissa even in 1866, during the Great Famine, East India Co. days. Dr.db - kishore patnaik ; ; indiaarchaeology ; hinducivilization ; akandabaratam Monday, September 29, 2008 10:03 PM Re: Monetary system in IVC I feel that the seals found in these sites must be the tokens of exchange, the money, with which they have paid the suppliers of commodities. http://tinyurl.com/kishore Cowrie is sea Shell which was used as subsidiary currency in East Africa till recently was found in IVC sites also. Kishore patnaik MSN Technology brings you the latest on gadgets, gizmos and the new hits in the gaming market. Try it now! ****************************************************VirusFree, Spamfree, power packed email service.Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited **************************************************** ****************************************************VirusFree, Spamfree, power packed email service.Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited **************************************************** ****************************************************VirusFree, Spamfree, power packed email service.Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited **************************************************** **************************************************** VirusFree, Spamfree, power packed email service. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited **************************************************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 1, 2008 Report Share Posted October 1, 2008 To satisfy some curiosity, I am giving below the value of cowry in good old days. One Kori ( 1/4 rupee ) = 16 Dokda or paisa one paisa = 20 cowri one cowri = 4 Badam ( with shell ) You may wonder what to buy with it !!!!! Two hundred years ago One kori could buy 40 kgs of wheat The rest you may work Good old days !!!! E. & O.E. R T Somaiya--- On Wed, 1/10/08, Dinesh Prabhu <dinprabhu wrote: Dinesh Prabhu <dinprabhuRe: Re: Monetary system in IVC Date: Wednesday, 1 October, 2008, 3:41 PM I found this to be intriguing too, and searched the web on the medicinal use of cowry. I got one relevant hit - a paper by a Nigerian in the Pakistan Journal of Nutrition. Here is the link http://www.pjbs. org/pjnonline/ fin709.pdf This is about as close to any "medicinal use" that I could find. All other hits were on the use of cowries as currency or as ornaments/talismans .. Dinesh On Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 2:40 AM, Sandhya Jain <sandhya206 (AT) bol (DOT) net.in> wrote: but what is the illness cured? - ODDISILAB Wednesday, October 01, 2008 1:05 PM Re: Re: Monetary system in IVC It is sold in Vaidya stores. They can tell. I have verified that they are used. Gen info :- The couries are sub class of Xacus pyrum. They are 100%pure CaCo3. The material is rubbed and the non hygrosopic dust is used. In others it is burnt and the hygroscopic powder is used. - Sandhya Jain Wednesday, October 01, 2008 11:28 AM Re: Re: Monetary system in IVC What are the medical uses, I have never heard of this, can you please shed some light? Thanks Sandhya - ODDISILAB Tuesday, September 30, 2008 6:53 PM Re: Re: Monetary system in IVC Cowries are till date sold in Orissa. They are used in vary many rituals and also as ingradient for herbal medicine. Normally they measure around 1-1.5 Cms, are white and brown spotted, beautiful design. Right now one can get it near Lingaraj and Puri temples in numerous shops and temporary vendors. All most all haats and big traditional markets have at least one dealer, who sale Cowries (cowdi). Dr. Bhattacharya - NS Paliakara Tuesday, September 30, 2008 8:43 AM RE: Re: Monetary system in IVC Cowries were also being used as currency in the earstwhile Cochin State. I am not remembering the exchange ratio between cowries and the metallic currency.++++++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ ++Please visit my blog at:http://paliakara. blogspot. com ; ; IndiaArchaeology; hinducivilization; akandabaratamoddisilab1 (AT) dataone (DOT) inMon, 29 Sep 2008 22:29:51 +0530Re: Re: Monetary system in IVC Cowrie was used as a legal tender in Orissa even in 1866, during the Great Famine, East India Co. days. Dr.db - kishore patnaik ; ; indiaarchaeology ; hinducivilization ; akandabaratam Monday, September 29, 2008 10:03 PM Re: Monetary system in IVC I feel that the seals found in these sites must be the tokens of exchange, the money, with which they have paid the suppliers of commodities. http://tinyurl. com/kishore Cowrie is sea Shell which was used as subsidiary currency in East Africa till recently was found in IVC sites also. Kishore patnaik MSN Technology brings you the latest on gadgets, gizmos and the new hits in the gaming market. Try it now! ************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ****VirusFree, Spamfree, power packed email service.Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited ************ ********* ********* ********* ********* **** ************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ****VirusFree, Spamfree, power packed email service.Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited ************ ********* ********* ********* ********* **** ************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ****VirusFree, Spamfree, power packed email service.Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited ************ ********* ********* ********* ********* **** ************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ****VirusFree, Spamfree, power packed email service.Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited ************ ********* ********* ********* ********* **** -- Dinesh K. Prabhu, Ph.D.dinprabhu (AT) gmail (DOT) com Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Invite them now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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