Note: This gold mohur is most likely a ceremonial or presentation issue associated with the Badrinath Temple, struck in the name of Sudarshan Shah, Raja of Tehri Garhwal. The coins of Sudarshan Shah bear the date in Vikram Samvat 1872, corresponding to his year of accession. He ruled Tehri Garhwal under British suzerainty until his death in June 1859.

Sudarshan Shah was the heir of Parduman Shah, whose kingdom of Garhwal was conquered by the Nepalese in 1804. After the Gorkha War, the British restored part of Garhwal to him in 1815, whereupon he established Tehri as his capital, giving the state its later name Tehri-Garhwal. Throughout his reign, Sudarshan Shah maintained cordial relations with the British authorities and is noted for his loyalty during the events of the 1857 Mutiny, during which he did not rebel against the British Raj.

The inscription “Badrinath” on the coin refers to the renowned Hindu temple near the source of the Alakananda River, one of the principal tributaries of the Ganges. In his study, Nicholas Rhodes suggested that this coin may represent a donative or religious presentation issue, possibly struck to gain spiritual merit. While Rhodes was unable to fully read the reverse legend, Dr. Shailendra Bhandare later interpreted the Devanagari inscription as: परो तले मेरा पनाह है. The accompanying “wings” are understood to represent the wings of Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. This same motto appears on the coat-of-arms of the Tehri Garhwal State, awarded at the Imperial Assemblage (Delhi Durbar) of 1877, reinforcing the dynastic and symbolic importance of the phrase.

This issue is of exceptional significance, as it remains the only known Indian coin to explicitly mention the Badrinath Temple, one of the four sacred Dhams of India. The Badrinath Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Badrinarayan) in a meditative form, is among the most revered pilgrimage sites in the subcontinent.

This gold mohur represents a rare convergence of royal authority and religious devotion, making it an important and highly desirable rarity in Indian numismatics.

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