ZODIAC SIGNS ON STAMPS

The twelve astrological signs or zodiac signs have now been documented on Indian postage stamps, it is the most elaborate set of twelve stamps Rs.5/- x 12 and a miniature sheet Rs.60/- issued on 14^th April 2010. The designs are based on Indian folk art and reflect the elements of earth, air, fire and water. A well balanced set and sheet designed by Bharti Mirchandani. All the twelve stamps are available in sheets of 35 stamps each, printed in wet offset by India security press, Nasik, Quantity 8 Lakh each stamp and 8 lakh miniature sheets.A miniature sheet depicting all thwe twelve astrological signs is illustrated below:-

ASTROLOGY

Canada Post has also documented four Zodiac signs on stamps. They are Aries, Taurus, Gemini and Cancer

Astrological signs on sytamps of Canada

 It is a step to popularise the study of astrological signs.

Astrological signs represent twelve equal segments or divisions of the zodiac. According to astrology, celestial phenomena reflect or govern human activity on the principle of “as above, so below“, so that the twelve signs are held to represent twelve basic personality types or characteristic modes of expression.^[1] There are “sun” signs and “moon” signs, which both depend on your date of birth.

Various approaches to measuring and dividing the sky are currently used by differing systems of astrology, although the tradition of the Zodiac‘s names and symbols remain consistent. Western astrology measures from Equinox and Solstice points (points relating to longest, equal and shortest days of the tropical year), while Jyotiṣa or Vedic astrology measures along the equatorial plane (sidereal year). Precession results in Western astrology’s zodiacal divisions not corresponding in the current era to the constellations that carry similar names,^[2] while Jyotiṣa measurements still correspond with the background constellations.^[3]

In Indian astrology, the twelve signs are associated with constellations, while in Chinese astrology and Western Astrology there is no connection with constellations, as it is simply the line of the equator that is divided into twelve equal segments.^{[citation needed]}

In Western and Asian astrology, the emphasis is on space, and the movement of the Sun, Moon and planets in the sky through each of the zodiac signs. In Chinese astrology, by contrast, the emphasis is on time, with the zodiac operating on cycles of years, months, and hours of the day. A common feature of all three traditions however, is the significance of the ascendant or rising sign, namely the zodiac sign that is rising (due to the rotation of the earth) on the eastern horizon at the moment of a person’s birth.

From the viewpoint of earth (geocentric), the Sun appears to move along a circular orbit across the celestial sphere, this circular orbit is called the ecliptic. The zodiac refers to the thin band along the ecliptic composed of the zodiac signs and constellations. The zodiac is divided into twelve different signs each of which is 30 degrees long and begins at Aries. In Tropical Astrology Aries begins at the vernal equinox. The order of the zodiac signs is Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. It is believed that the concept of the zodiac had evolved from Babylonian astronomy, and was later influenced by Hellenistic astronomy.

During ancient times, people monitored the passage of the sun because it was useful in predicting the change of seasons. Over time, however, people have begun to associate the zodiac sign, or Sun’s position in the zodiac, with birth dates and characteristic

 Zodiac symbolism

ASTROLOGOCAL SYMBOLS

Astrologicaln Signs

ASTROLOGICAL SIGNS

 

 

The aforesaid symbols used in Western astrology to represent the astrological signsThis table shows the zodiac names in Latin with their English translation. It also shows the element and quality associated with each sign.

Symbol	Sign names	English name	Element	Quality	Polarity	Planet	Period of birth[5]
	Capricorn	The Sea-goat	Earth	Cardinal	Negative	Saturn	December 23 – January 20
	Aquarius	The Water-Carrier	Air	Fixed	Positive	Uranus	January 21 – February 19
	Pisces	The Fish	Water	Mutable	Negative	Neptune	February 20 – March 20
	Aries	The Ram	Fire	Cardinal	Positive	Mars	March 21 – April 20
	Taurus	The Bull	Earth	Fixed	Negative	Venus	April 21 – May 20
	Gemini	The Twins	Air	Mutable	Positive	Mercury	May 21 – June 21
	Cancer	The Crab	Water	Cardinal	Negative	Moon	June 22 – July 22
	Leo	The Lion	Fire	Fixed	Positive	Sun	July 23 – August 22
	Virgo	The Virgin	Earth	Mutable	Negative	Mercury	August 23 – September 23
	Libra	The Scales	Air	Cardinal	Positive	Venus	September 24 – October 23
	Scorpio	The Scorpion	Water	Fixed	Negative	Pluto	October 24 – November 22
	Sagittarius	The Archer/Centaur	Fire	Mutable	Positive	Jupiter	November 23 – December 22

 

 

BRAHMANI DAK OF MEWAR STATE

BRAHMINI DAK  OF MEWAR STATE UDAIPUR

BRAHMINI DAK POST MARKS

In 18th century a prvate postal system existed in the States of Malwa and Mewar in India. It is known as Brahmini Dak because it was run by Brahmins which wa streated as the highest caste in Hindus and they were held in high esteem. In those days the safest way sending letters was to entrust it to a travelling Brahmin. A Brahmin named Keshoram Sharma is said to have organised this popular method of sending mail in  Mewar State and in Malwa region which . This post was in due course was called Brahmini Dak. In Mewar State this postal system continued even after India became independent and all the Princely States merged.

In Mewar State Maharana Sajjan Singh granted a monopoly for carriage of internal mail service  to Jadu Ram the son of Kashi Ram.  The agreement was dated Jeth Sudi Dooj of Vikram Samvat 1906 ( Gregarian calebder 24th May, 1849 A D Wednesday) .

SANAD DATED JETH SUDI 2SAMVAT1906MAP BRAHMINI DAK POST OFFICES and Routes in MEWAR STATE

During this period Imperial post office also served in Mewar State. However it didnot connect all the remote places . Therefore , Brahmini Dak filled this lacuna. Mail was carried by Hakaras (mail runners), camels, horses, bullock carts till the railway and motor bus service came in to operation. Brahmnini Dak was a well orgaised postal system. A nominal amount was charged for this service. The rates were uniform irrespective of the distance. Ordinary “Post paid” letters were charged upto 5 tolas weight were charged 4pies Chittori upto 1942 A D .* Pies Chittori upto 1948 and 9Pies Kaldar Chittori upto 1950 A D . The local currency was Chittori or Kaldar Chittori, where Two Annas chottri was equivalent to one and a half annas imperial . The registered letter rate was 2 Annas Chittori upto1941 A D  and 4 Anaas Chittori upto 1950 A D . The parcel post was introduced in 1931 A D and chraged according to weight and distance carried. Teh document illustrated below is a picture of the last receipt book for the Registered letter posted on 25-3-1950 from the Brahmini Dak Post Office in Udaipur.

BRAHMINI DAK last day in its Udaipur p'o'

The postage could be paid in cash by the the sender and such letters were marked as “MAHSUL CHUKA “(महसूल चुका  ) in Hindi; and it could be paid by the receiver of the letters in which case the covers were marked as ” MAHSULI” (महसूली )in Hindi .

Hand stamps were introduced in1871 A D. Postmarks were not uniform in all post offices. Early postmarks were crude in form but later on they were improved and somewhat looked like imperial postmarks with vernacular script for dames and date slots etc. There are interesting array of these postmarks found in various clours like blue, green, black violet etc. After 1939 A D imperial type of  post marks are found.

BRAHMINI DAK RARE POST MARKSPOST MARKS of Brahmini Dak

This system operated for almost101 years.

It is a very interesting subject of collecting the postal history material of this Pincely State of India. I illustrate some items from my collection of Brahmini Dak:

IMG_0003

"MAHJAMA"मह्जामा intaglio Post Mark

Any further information provided by the readers will be thankfully acknowledged and included in the blog. 

Thank you

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