The Visuddhimagga and the Silver Bent-Bars
By Rabis C. Kar
Summary
In 'The Visuddhimagga and the Silver Bent‑Bars' Rabis C. Kar analyses a numismatic problem arising from a passage in Buddhaghosa’s Pali compendium Visuddhimagga. The text lists various types of currency and mentions dirgha karshapana or long coins, which commentators have translated as 'long coined money.' Kar proposes that these references correspond to silver bent bars unearthed at Taxila and other north‑western Indian sites. These bars, about 3–4 inches long with tapering ends, were cast in silver of standard weight and bear no inscriptions. Archaeologists have identified them as early forms of currency circulating during the Achaemenid and post‑Achaemenid periods in north‑west India. By comparing the weights of the bars with the dharana weight standard mentioned in ancient texts, Kar argues that each bar represented several silver karshapanas and was broken into pieces for smaller transactions. He surveys evidence from Greek numismatics, Persian sigloi, and bent bars from Taxila, exploring how foreign monetary forms influenced Indian coinage. He also considers the role of the Mauryan empire, noting that the Arthashastra describes silver ingots and bars used in trade. Kar further analyses the dating of these bars, concluding they likely fall between the fifth and third centuries B.C., predating both the Indo‑Greek and Kushan coinages. Turning back to the Visuddhimagga, he contends that Buddhaghosa’s description of dirgha and heranj (gold) coins reflects contemporary monetary practice rather than purely theoretical categories. The article thus bridges textual and archaeological evidence, showing that Buddhist exegetes and lay people were familiar with a variety of currency forms. Kar’s study underscores the need to correlate Pali canonical texts with material culture to interpret economic history. He concludes that the identification of the dirgha karshapana as a silver bent bar enriches our understanding of pre‑Mauryan currency and demonstrates how Indian monetary terms evolved in contact with foreign economic systems.
Conclusion
Kar’s interdisciplinary approach links a seemingly obscure textual reference to tangible archaeological artefacts. By situating Buddhaghosa’s description of long coins in the context of silver ingots recovered from Taxila, he provides a persuasive interpretation of early Indian currency. The study highlights how the economic vocabulary of Pali literature mirrors actual trade practices and emphasises the importance of integrating numismatic evidence with textual analysis. This synthesis not only clarifies the meaning of dirgha karshapana but also sheds light on the broader monetary landscape of north‑west India before the advent of punch‑marked and Greek‑style coinage.