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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;ALRIK, post: 778229, member: 22498&quot;]<b>information ramatanka</b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>----------------------------------------------------------</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>[FONT=&amp;quot]Indian temple tokens of this type called ramatankas, were used as Hindu festive gifts and votive offerings at temples.[/FONT]</b><span style="color: #0063AB">[FONT=&amp;quot]</span></p><p><span style="color: #0063AB">[/FONT]</span><span style="color: black">[FONT=&amp;quot]While silver remained relatively inexpensive and routinely used for coinage, ramatankas and other temple tokens continued to be made in silver, with varying degrees of fineness. After World War I the use of silver for coinages was restricted and temple tokens more and more came to be minted in brass with a silver coating. By the second quarter of the 20th century they were made solely in brass and other copper-based alloys of lower grades. Some were crudely cast rather than struck from dies.[/FONT]</span></p><p>&nbsp; <span style="color: black">[FONT=&amp;quot]THE &#039;DUBAR&#039; SCENE (Ram Dubar)</span></p><p><span style="color: black">Designs on all ramatankas were inspired by scenes from the great Hindu epic, the Ramayana (meaning Rama&#039;s journey). This tells the story of Rama’s banishment, exile and eventual triumphant return to his claim his kingdom at Ayodhya. Dubar scenes on ramatankas always include the main characters of the Ramayana – Rama, his wife Sita, his half-brothers Lakshman, Baratha and Satrughra. The monkey god Hanuman, a loyal devotee of Rama is always there as well, giving devotion to Rama. Hanuman played a central role and provided invaluable assistance to Rama.</span></p><p><span style="color: black"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: black">During his coronation celebrations, Rama sits on a platform (dubar) while to his right sits Sita. Lakshman, his half-brother, stands to the far left holding the royal parasol. Opposite right are Rama’s other half-brothers, Baratha and Satrughna. Hanuman god sits or kneels beneath the platform offering prayers and devotion to Lord Rama.</span></p><p><span style="color: black"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: black">The smaller coin shows minor variations such as the addition of an attendant standing behind Lakshman and Satrughna holding a cooling fan or fly-whisk.</span></p><p><span style="color: black"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: black">The Dubar scenes on the coins photographed are a simplified version showing only the six main characters. Earlier versions on temple tokens were more crowded showing several attendants and sometimes inscriptions. From the early 18th century inscriptions rarely accompanied the Dubar scene.</span></p><p><span style="color: black"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: black">REVERSE SIDE - RAMA &amp; LAKSHMAN</span></p><p><span style="color: black">The two figures on this side are Rama with his half-brother and inseparable companion, Lakshman. They are always shown holding their bow and arrows, sometimes a trident as well (as in these coins). Both were legendary in their archery skills.</span></p><p><span style="color: black"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: black">Around the edge is a Devanagari inscription invoking names from the Ramayana. A rough translation reads ‘rama ladamana janaka jabala hanamanaka’ but there are also many corrupted variations of the same. ‘ladamana’ refers to Lakshman, ‘janaka’ was king Janaka, father of Sita, ‘jabala’ was Jambavat, king of the bears who helped Rama on his way to Lanka and ‘hanamanaka’ refers to Hanuman, the monkey god.[/FONT]</span>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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