Rian Ngoen Thawarawadi Inscription (Mueang Dong Khon 1)

Script

Pallava

Date

12th Buddhist century

Language

Sanskrit

Face/Line

1 face ; contains 2 lines of writing

Material

silver

Form

circle flat coin, the picture of the mother cow and a calf to face right is on the front of the coin, and the inscription is on back

Size

1.70 cm. diameter

Found at

Mueang Dong Khon Achaeological Site, Ban Dong Khon, Dong Khon Locality, Mueang District, Chai Nat Province

Description

The inscription reads: ‘śrīdvāravatī śvarapuṇya’ or ‘Phra Chao Śrī Dvāravatī who is fully meritorious.” Thus, confirming the very existence of the Dvāravatī Kingdom. This is in line with both contemporary Chinese documents and archaeological items and sites along the Thachin-Mae Klong-Pasak river basins in Thailand. Regarding the picture of the mother cow and her calf on the front of the coin, Professor Dr. Phasuk Inthrawut has explained in the book ‘Dvāravatī’: An analytical study from archaeological evidence, that: “The cow is a symbol of the power of natural production, which relates to the belief of respecting Mother God or the goddess of crop fertility, as well as the belief in worshiping Gaja-Lakṣmi (the goddess of wealth and fertility). The symbol of the mother cow and her calf is one of the 108 auspicious scenes. This symbol, representing the abundance of crops and livestock, was also on the seal of the kings of Nakhon City, an independent western state of India around the 9th and 10th Buddhist century. The fact that the kings of the Dvāravatī Kingdom chose this symbol to be on their seal was to indicate that they could control nature in order to yield fertility.” Silver coins of similar appearance have been found in many parts of Thailand, particularly in the ancient cities of Nakhon Pathom, U-Thong (Suphan Buri), Khu Bua (Ratchaburi), Khu Mueang (Sing Buri), Phrommathin (Lop Buri), Dong Khon and U Taphao (Chai Nat).

Reference

Edited by : The Inscriptions in Thailand Database Project Staffs (2552 B.E.), SAC, from :
1) Cha-em Kaeokhlai, “Sri Dvaravati,” Silpakorn 34, 2 (March-April 2534) : 58-59 (in Thai).
2) Methini Chirawatthana, “Old decorations found at Thai, 11th-15th Buddhist century,” Silpakorn 34, 2 (March-April 2534) : 69-86 (in Thai).
3) Phasuk Inthrawut, “3.3.2 Seals were used as a medium of commerce,” in Dvaravati : a critical study based on archaeological evidence (Bangkok : Akson Samai Press, 2542), 124-133 (in Thai).
4) Phuthon Phumathon, Mueang Dong Khon Achaeology (Bangkok : Ammarin Printing Group, 2530), 24-25 (in Thai).