Vāsishka
Vāsishka | |
---|---|
Greco-Bactrian script, Vasishka, nimbate, diademed, and crowned, standing facing, head left, sacrificing over an altar to left, and holding trident in left hand; filleted trident to left; "Vira" in Brahmi script to inner left at feet; "Va" in Brahmi between legs; "Chu" in Brahmi script in inner right field.Reverse: ΔXOO in Greco-Bactrian script, nimbate and diademed tamgha to left.[1] | |
Reign | 247–265 CE |
Predecessor | Kanishka II |
Successor | Kanishka III |
Kushan emperors 30 CE–350 CE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vāsishka (Bactrian: BAZHÞKO Bazēško; Middle
Rule
The rule of Vāsishka in the area of Punjab is attested by inscriptions,[4] as well as in the area of Mathura (Isapur inscription).[2] His rule is recorded as far south as Sanchi, where one and possibly another inscription in his name have been found, dated to the year 22 (The Sanchi inscription of "Vaskushana"-i.e. Vasishka Kushana) and year 28 (The Sanchi inscription of Vasaska-i.e. Vasishka) of a Kushan era (widely thought to be the second century of the Kanishka era). This would place his reign c. 247–265.
Inscriptions and statuary
Vasishka appears in four known inscriptions, including a Kharoshti inscription in the Indus region.[4]
Sanchi Bodhisattava
Several statues or statue fragments from the
L.1 ........ sya [rā] j[ā] t[i] r [ā] jasya Dēvaputrasya sh[ā]hi V[ā]s[ī]shkasya sa[ṁ] 20 8 he I di 5 as ya purv [āyāṁ] Bhaga[va]
L.2 sya jambuchhāyā-śailagṛi [ha]sya Dharmadēva vihārē pratishṭāpita Virasya dhitare Madhuriaka
L.3 [Anē]na deyadharma-pari [tyāgena]
"Success : In the year 28 of Mahārāja Rājatirāja Devaputra Shāhi Vāsishka, in the first month of winter, on the fifth day, on this date, Madhurika, daughter of Vīra, installed (an image) of Bhagavat (Bodhisattva) sitting on the hill under the shade of the Jambu (rose-apple) tree in the Dharmadāvavihāra.
By this gift.... " [6]
Sanchi pedestal
Another Mathura fragment found in Sanchi is the pedestal of a statue of a
L.1 ..... rājño Vaskushāṇasya sa 20 2 va 2 di 10 Bhagavato Sakkyam[un]eḥ pratimā pratishṭāpita Vidyamatiye pu
L.2 ......mātā-pitṛiṇa sarvva-satvanā ca hita-su
"In the (reign) of King Vaskushāṇa, the year 22, the 2nd month of the rainy season, on the 10th day, (this) image of the Bhagavat Sakyamuni was installed by Vidyamati for ...... and for the welfare and happiness of (her) parents and all creatures."[9]
Ara inscription
Vāsishka appears in the "Ara inscription" of
Isapur inscription of Vasishka, Year 24
An inscription in the name of Vasishka in pure
Coinage
The coinage of Vasishka became smaller than his predecessors, being minted on increasingly small flans, and the metal quality becoming debased.[4] The deities appearing on the reverse of his coinage are similar to those in the coins of Huvishka and Vasudeva I.[4]
Several of Vāsishka's coins have been found together with those of the
The coins of Vasishka usually have the legend in
Some coins with a slightly different name (Obverse legend þAONANOþAO BAZOΔΗO/BOZOΗO KOþANO "King of King Bazodeo the Kushan") have been attributed to "Vaskushana", generally equaled with Vasishka himself.[14][15]
References
- "Ancient Indian Inscriptions", S. R. Goyal, 2005
- "From Persepolis to the Punjab: Exploring Ancient Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan", Elizabeth Errington and Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis, 2007.
- The Crossroads of Asia: Transformation in Image and Symbol", Elizabeth Errington and Joe Cribb, 1992.
References
- ^ CNG Coins notice
- ^ a b c d Rosenfield, John M. (1967). The Dynastic Arts of the Kushans. University of California Press. p. 57.
- ^ Konow, Sten, Kharoshṭhī Inscriptions with the Exception of Those of Aśoka, Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum, Vol. II, Part I. Calcutta: Government of India Central Publication Branch, p. 163
- ^ a b c d Rezakhani, Khodadad (2017). From the Kushans to the Western Turks. p. 203.
- ^ a b Mitra, Debala (2001). Sanchi. Archeological Survey of India. p. 7 Note 1.
- ^ a b c Kuraishi, Mohammad Hamid; Kak, Ram Chandra; Chanda, Ramaprasad; Marshall, John Hubert (1922). Catalogue of the Museum of Archaeology at Sanchi, Bhopal State. Calcutta, Superintendent Government Printing, India. pp. 29–32.
- ISBN 9789231028465.
- ISBN 9788170418597.
- ^ Marshall, Sir John (1902). Monuments Of Sanchi Vol.1. p. 386.
- ^ Konow, Sten (1929). Kharoshthi Inscriptions With The Exception Of Those Of Asoka. p. 163.
- ^ Catalogue Of The Archaeological Museum At Mathura. 1910. p. 189.
- ISBN 9781474400312.
- ^ Singh, Arvind Kumar (1996). Coins of the Great Kushanas. Parimal Publications. p. 23.
- ISBN 9780871840097.
- ^ "The coins bearing the legend 'ShaonanoShao Ba-Zodeo/Bozoeo Koshano', ('PAONANOPAO BA-ZOAHO / BOZOHO KOPANO') starts at 1 o'clock have 46 been attributed to Vaskushana (Vasishka) by Gobl." in Bhavan, Bharat Kala; Sharma, Savita (1999). Gold Coins of Imperial Kushāṇas and Their Successors in Bharat Kala Bhavan. Bharat Kala Bhavan, Banaras Hindu University. p. 51.