Complete Set of 8 nos (setenant 4 pairs) of commemorative postage stamps on the Panchatantra, an ancient Indian collection of inter-related animal fables in Sanskrit, written by Vishnu Sharma :

Issued by India

Issued on Oct 17, 2001

Type : Stamps, Mint Condition

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 400 Paise each (4/Setenant)

Overall size : 3.91 x 8.7 cms. (Setenant)

Printing Size : 3.91 x 8.7 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported Unwatermarked stamp paper

Stamps Printed : 3 million Each

Number per issue sheet : 18 Setenant

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Madras Security Printers Ltd.

About : 

• The Panchatantra is an evergreen classic in the world of children’s literature. Widely attributed to Vishnusarman, a versatile teacher, the stories were originally written in Sanskrit probably around 500 A.D. Pancha means five and tantra means doctrines of conduct or modes of action. According to legend, a king who had three foolish sons engaged Vishnusarman to reform them and enable them to grow up into worthy adults. The teacher achieved this by weaving a wondrous world of fables which bought out the five tantras which were innate in them, namely, confidence, creation of prosperity, earnest endeavour, friendship and knowledge.
• The first stamp tells the story of the friendship between a monkey and a crocodile which turned sour when the crocodile fell prey to the evil influence of his greedy wife. The wife crocodile convinced the husband that she was ill and could be cured only by eating the heart of a monkey. Pretending to take him home for dinner, the crocodile got the monkey to travel on his back, but half way through the river he told him the truth. The monkey did not loose his presence of mind and replied that he had kept his heart safely in the tree on the river bank and he could happily give it to the crocodile if his wife needed it. The foolish crocodile turned back towards the river bank, where the monkey jumped off to safety.

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