Kalachuris of Mahishmati Krishnaraja Silver Rupaka (Drachm) Historical Coin

Kalachuris of Mahishmati, King Krishnaraja, (6th–7th Century CE), Denomination: Rupaka (Drachm), Composition: Silver, Weight: 1.71 grams, Diameter: 12 mm, Reference: MAC# 5093, MNI# 285, About Very Fine, Scarce.

Obverse: Bust of the king facing right.

Reverse: Bull Nandi seated right with Brahmi legend around reading “parama maheswara mata pitri padanudhyata sri krishnaraja”.

The Kalachuris of Mahishmati, also known as the Early Kalachuris or Haihayas, were an important early medieval Indian dynasty that ruled during the 6th–7th centuries CE. Their capital was Mahishmati, a prominent city situated on the banks of the Narmada River. At the height of their power, the Kalachuris controlled parts of present-day Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra before their influence declined with the rise of the Badami Chalukyas. Important rulers of this dynasty included Krishnaraja, Shankargana, and Buddharaja.

The city of Mahishmati itself holds great historical and literary significance. It is mentioned in ancient Indian texts such as the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and the Buddhist Digha Nikaya. Classical Sanskrit poet Kalidasa also referred to Mahishmati in his famous work Raghuvamsa, describing it as an important city in the southern region of the Avanti kingdom and later within the Anupa region.

This silver rupaka (drachm) was issued by King Krishnaraja during his rule at Mahishmati. The obverse displays the bust of the king facing right, while the reverse features the sacred bull Nandi, symbolizing devotion to Lord Shiva, along with a Brahmi inscription declaring the king as a devout follower of Maheshwara. Coins of the Early Kalachuris are relatively scarce today and represent an important phase in the development of early medieval Indian coinage traditions.