Panjtar Stone Inscription of a Kushana King

Written by Alok Mohan on May 23, 2022. Posted in Uncategorized

The kushanas

Panjtar Stone Inscription of a Kushana King
Year 122 (65 AD)
Provenance: Salimpur near Panjtar (72° 31′ E 34°4′ N)
Below the Mananan Range between the Swat and the indus, near the borders of Peshāwar and Hazara districts, Pakistan.
Script Kharoshthi
Language Prakrit
References:
Cunningham, J.A.S.B, XXIII, 1854
page 705, Plate 4; XXXII, 1863. pp.141, 145. 150 AS.I. V, Page 616 f, Plate XVI, 4 Senart. J.A. VIII,
1880, p-130 No i, IX, Xiii, 1899, page.535; Buhlar academy 1896, no 1252,
page 368: W.Z.K.M. X,
Page 173, R.D Banerji, I.A. XXXVII, 1908, pp.31,44, Fleet J.R.A.S, 1913, Pp 1010, f 1914, pp 81n; 758
NG Majumdar list no 47, Konow, S.B.A.W, 1916, pp 802 f, Ep Ind XIV, p 134, (For remarks only) C.I.I, II, pp 67-70, D C Sircar, Sel.Inss, I, pp 130 ff

Sircar, Sel.Inss, I, p 230 n.l, suggests identification with some semi-imdependent governor of the indian possession of Wema Kadphises.
Reference may actually be to Wema Kadphises himself. This is not official record. The private individual Moyika, out of ignorance or carelessness fails to record royal titles and even the ruling Prince.

1. From C.I.I. IIC Plate XIII.4, facing, p. 64 (two, different prints a & b of presumably the original copy. The stone bearing the inscription had however disappeared before 1853 from the Lahore residency, where Cunningham had deposited it. Reading of line 3 is doubtful.
2. Konow suggests कसुअस or केसुअस
possibly the old name of Salimpur or Panjtar. Sircar. Sel.Inss, I, p130: स्वसुअस
3. Konow Cunningam had read the whole phrase as
“कत्र विदेशि वथल खत्र दमे”
4. Cunningham: हमुख
English Translation of the inscription

In the Year 122 of the first day of the month sravana, in the reign of the great King Gushana, these were the eastern region of kesuva, where there is a Siva temple, got constructed by Moyika, the son of Urmuja. Therein my gift are two trees, conferer of merit, new immortal (Everlasting) and pleasing temple of Siva.

As per many historians, Kushanas were  among one of the five branches of the Yuezhi confederation, an Indo-European nomadic people of possible Tocharian origin, who migrated from northwestern China (Xinjiang and Gansu) and settled in ancient Bactria. and the Kushan Empire had linked the seagoing trade of the Indian Ocean with the commerce of the Silk Road, via the Indus Valley, while providing security that encouraged travel across the Khunjerab Pass and facilitated the spread of Mahayana Buddhism to China. But with the translation of this Panjtar stone Inscripiton it is now evident that the Kushana had not only built Buddhist temples but had also constructed Shiva temples in Bactria region..
The Kushan Empire in South Asia originally formed in the early 1st century CE, in the territories of ancient Bactria, around the Oxus River in Central Asia

Alok Mohan

The admin, Alok Mohan, is a graduate mechanical engineer & possess following post graduate specializations:- M Tech Mechanical Engineering Production Engineering Marine engineering Aeronautical Engineering Computer Sciences Software Engineering Specialization He has authored several articles/papers, which are published in various websites & books. Studium Press India Ltd has published one of his latest contributions “Standardization of Education” as a senior author in a book along with many other famous writers of international repute. Alok Mohan has held important positions in both Govt & Private organisations as a Senior professional & as an Engineer & possess close to four decades accomplished experience. As an aeronautical engineer, he ensured accident incident free flying. As leader of indian team during early 1990s, he had successfully ensured smooth induction of Chukar III PTA with Indian navy as well as conduct of operational training. As an aeronautical engineer, he was instrumental in establishing major aircraft maintenance & repair facilities. He is a QMS, EMS & HSE consultant. He provides consultancy to business organisations for implimentation of the requirements of ISO 45001 OH & S, ISO 14001 EMS & ISO 9001 QMS, AS 9100, AS9120 Aero Space Standards. He is a qualified ISO 9001 QMS, ISO 14001 EMS, ISO 45001 OH & S Lead Auditor (CQI/IRCA recognised certification courses) & HSE Consultant. He is a qualified Zed Master Trainer & Zed Assessor. He has thorough knowledge of six sigma quality concepts & has also been awarded industry 4, certificate from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation Knowledge Hub Training Platform  He is a Trainer, a Counselor, an Advisor and a Competent professional of cross functional exposures. He has successfully implimented requirements of various international management system standards in several organizations. He is a dedicated technocrat with expertise in Quality Assurance & Quality Control, Facility Management, General Administration, Marketing, Security, Training, Administration etc. He is a graduate mechanical engineer with specialization in aeronautical engineering. He is always eager to be involved in imparting training, implementing new ideas and improving existing processes by utilizing his vast experience.