Terminal Sign 17

Iravatham Mahadevan believes that the terminal sign used here is actually a combination of two signs. The bottom part (figure carrying) denotes a bearer of office. The top represents a jar, which is related to priestly duties in early historical Indian culture. He would therefore suggest that this sign denotes an officer with priestly duties.

He notes that the famous early Andhra dynasty in central India whose kings called themselves Satavahanas or Salavahanas, where the word vahana denotes carrying or bearing.