Lord Narasimha the 4th avatar of Vishnu Nayakas of Madurai Copper Coin Narasimha seated in Yogabandha pose

Nayakas of Madurai Kingdom, Circa, 1600-1700 CE, Lord Narasimha the 4th avatar of Vishnu, Denomination: AE Cash, ‘Sri Veera’ type, Obv: Narasimha seated in Yogabandha pose, Rev: Kannada legend Sri Veera, Weight: 3.44 grams, Diameter: 18 mm, Unlisted in KM Catalogue, about extremely fine, very rare.

The Nayakas of Madurai ruled large parts of southern India after the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century. Originally appointed as governors under the Vijayanagara rulers, the Nayakas gradually became independent and established powerful regional kingdoms centered at Madurai. Their coinage reflects strong religious symbolism, particularly devotion to Hindu deities such as Vishnu and his avatars. The depiction of Lord Narasimha, the man-lion incarnation of Vishnu who symbolizes divine protection and the destruction of evil, was a popular motif in South Indian religious art and coinage. The reverse legend “Sri Veera” in Kannada likely refers to royal valor and divine blessing associated with the ruling authority. Coins of the Madurai Nayakas were mainly struck in copper for local circulation and temple-related economic activities. Pieces with clear iconography and well-preserved legends are scarce today, making this type a desirable example of late medieval South Indian coinage.