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U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2008

Tribal Numismatics

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which God is found depicted on Yaudheya coins?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: D

Concept Coins issued by autonomous tribes like the Yaudheyas often depicted their *Iṣṭadevatā
(preferred deity) to signify both their religious identity and their martial prowess.

Explanation
Yaudheya coins predominantly feature Kartikeya (Skanda), the god of war. As a warrior tribe situated in the Southeast Punjab and Rajasthan regions, they revered Kartikeya as their tutelary deity.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: The coins often show Kartikeya holding a spear, symbolizing the tribe’s martial nature.
Logic 2: The inscriptions are typically in Brahmi script, asserting the tribe's autonomy after the decline of the Mauryas and during the Kushan period.
Logic 3: While Shiva (Kartikeya's father) and Vasudeva appear on other contemporary coins, Kartikeya is the unique hallmark of the Yaudheyas.

Active Recall

Question

Where were the Yaudheya tribes primarily located?

Answer

They were warrior tribes inhabiting the regions that comprise modern-day Southeast Punjab and Haryana.

Core Insight

The depiction of Kartikeya on tribal coinage illustrates how religious symbols were used to galvanize the identity of independent republican tribes against imperial powers.

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