Inscription number 110
Mat Image Inscription of Shahi Vamtakshama
Provenance: Tokri Tila, near the village of Mat on Bank of the Yamuna river. Fifteen kilometres to north of Mathura.
Script Brahmi of the Kushana period.
Language: Prakrit influenced by Sanskrit
References: J. Marshall, A.S.I., Annual Report 1911-12,
pp.123-25, Baij Nath Puri,
The Kushanaputras
Indian culture, VIII, p. 191 ff.
Reproduced from A.S.I.. A-R.. 191l-12, p.124. No facsimile included in the report.
Text of the inscription
On top of the base between the feet
1. महाराजा राजतिराज देवपुत्र
2. कुषान पुत्र षाहि षमतक्ष मस्य
3. बकन पतिना हुम देव कुलु कारित
4. आरामो पुष्करिनी उदपान च सद कोठको
English Translation of the inscription
Huma– the lord of Vakana got constructed the devakula (A temple more probably a memorial temple) for
the Maharaja, Rajatiraja, Devaputra, Kushanaputra, shahi Vamatakshama.
Also he got constructed a garden, a tank and a well with a room attached.
1. Bakanapati is possibly a title, suggests Marshall.
More probably, the phrase means the lord af Bakan.
Inscription number 111
111. Sarnath Asoka Pillar Inscription af Raja Savagnosha.
Probably of the time of Huvishka).
Provenance: Sarnath near Varanasi, UP.
Script: Brahmi of the early Kushana type
Language: Prakrit influenced by Sanskrit.
Raferences: J. Ph. Vogel. Ep.Ind, VIII, Pp-171-72.
1. From the facsimiles in Ep.Ind, VIII, Plate between pp.168 and 169 (No ia) For first 6 syllables) and
Plate facing p-176 (No 1-e-) for the rest of the line.
The inscriptiaInscription number 110
Mat Image Inscription of Shahi Vamtakshama
Provenance: Tokri Tila, near the village of Mat on Bank of the Yamuna river. Fifteen kilaneters to north of Mathura.
Script Brahmi of the Kushana period.
Language: Prakrit influenced by Sanskrit
References: J. Marshall, A.S.I., Annual Report 1911-12,
pp.123-25, Baij Nath Puri,
The Kushanaputras
Indian culture, VIII, p. 191 ff.
Reproduced from A.S.I.. A-R.. 191l-12, p.124. No facsimile included in the report.
Text of the inscription
On top of the base between the feet
1. महाराजा राजतिराज देवपुत्र
2. कुषान पुत्र षाहि षमतक्ष मस्य
3. बकन पतिना हुम देव कुलु कारित
4. आरामो पुष्करिनी उदपान च सद कोठको
English Translation of the inscription
Huma– the lord of Vakana got constructed the devakula (A temple more probably a memorial temple) for
the Maharaja, Rajatiraja, Devaputra, Kushanaputra, shahi Vamatakshama.
Also he got constructed a garden, a tank and a well with a room attached.
1. Bakanapati is possibly a title, suggests Marshall.
More probably, the phrase means the lord af Bakan.
Inscription number 111
111.
Sarnath Asoka Pillar Inscription af Raja Savagnosha.
Probably of the time of Huvishka).
Provenance: Sarnath near Varanasi, UP.
Script: Brahmi of the early Kushana type
Language: Prakrit influenced by Sanskrit.
Raferences: J. Ph. Vogel. Ep.Ind, VIII, Pp-171-72.
1. From the facsimiles in Ep.Ind, VIII, Plate between pp.168 and 169 (No ia) For first 6 syllables) and
Plate facing p-176 (No 1-e-) for the rest of the line.
The inscription of Asvaghosha runs in cantinuation of the last half line of Asoka’s edict. But the script
is later than and the writing inferior to that of the preceding Asoka inscription. On the basis of
paiaeography, Vogel bas assigned the Asvaghosha epigraph to the reign of Huvishka and hence the year fortieth to
the era of Kanishka. Asvagnosha’s coins have been found from Kausambi along with Mitra coins. Locally found coins reveal the names of the following rulers of a local dynasty,or dynasties, of Kausambi flourishing in the
flrst century B-C.
Sudeva, Brihatsvatimitra, Asvaghosha,
Parvata, Agnimitra, Jyeshtamitra, Devamitra, Vasumitra,
Suramtra, Radbamdtra, Prajapatimitra, Rajamitra and Vijayamitra. Coins discovered from the adjoining areas
reveal the names of Praushtasri (from Bhita), of Bhadremagha, Sivamagha, Vaisravana and Bhimavarman
(From Fatehpur district) Some unclasified Kausambi coins, in British Museum bear in addition to the names of Vaisravana and Bhimavarman,
probably those of Mulahasta, Dhanadeva and a few others. These rulers have been placed between first century BC and fourth century AD.
2.
Vogel has suggested the restoration of damaged initial phrase as
the damaged section admits of hardly six syllables, and the phrase must end with which appears over of
Prakrit and Sanskrit
stands for wealthy & prosperous
1. Since the script resembles closely that of early Kushana epigraphs. and the date 40th year mentioned in his other epigraph on sarnath Asoka pillar (see supra no. 111)
which should be in Kanishka era, vogel has fixed him in the time of Huvishka.
2. The fragment of the stone slab bearing this inscription
was discovered by Oertal about 70 ft to the north-east, by east of the Sarnath Vihara.
Text of the inscription
र्परिगेय्हे रझ अव घोषस्य चतरिशे सव छरे हेमत परवे प्रथम दिवसे दसमे
English Translation of the inscription
In the prosperous (reign) of king Asvaghosha, in the
fortieth year in the first fortnight of winter, on the tenth day—–
The statue, which was found at Mathura, & kept in Mathura museum shows the inscription carrying Huma’s name (Maharaja rajatiraja devaputra Lord of vakana (Shahi Vamataksha)
Undoubtedly, the Kushana emperors carried the titles like Maharaja, Rajtiraj, Devputra etc, for exhibiting their superiority/superhuman capabilities.
The concept of showing images of kings/rulers on the coins and statues, was non-existant in India, by the previous dynasties. It was the Kushan rulers who popularised this idea & the idea was borrowed and later modified in the form of Indo-greek coins, & this practice continued for another two thousand years. Kushan coinage was copied not only by later Indian dynasties like Guptas, but also by neighbouring kings also like Sassanians (of Persia).
King Ashvaghosha, who was also a poet had composed a biography of the Buddha, Notable works of Ashvaghosha are Buddhacharita, Saundarananda, Sutralankara.
Mitra dynasty of Kosambi was centered on the city of Kosambi at the Vatsa region. Its capital Kosambi was among the most important trade centers in the ancient India.
Common symbols in the coinage of the Mitra dynasty include the tree-in-railing and the Ujjain symbol. Bull is a common animal to appear on the coinage. The Vatsa region and its capital Kosambi was among the most important trade centres in ancient India. Mitra dynasties ruled in Panchala, Mathura, Ayodhya and & Magadha.
n of Asvaghosha runs in cantinuation of the last half line of Asoka’s edict. But the script
is later than and the writing inferior to that of the preceding Asokan inscription. On the basis of
paiaeography, Vogel bas assigned the Asvaghosha epigraph to the reign of Huvishka and hence the year fortieth to
the era of Kanishka. Asvagnosha’s coins have been found from Kausambi along with Mitra coins. Locally found coins reveal the names of the following rulers of a local dynasty,or dynasties, of Kausambi flourishing in the
flrst century B-C.
Sudeva, Brihatsvatimitra, Asvaghosha,
Parvata, Agnimitra, Jyeshtamitra, Devamitra, Vasumitra,
Suramtra, Radbamdtra, Prajapatimitra, Rajamitra and Vijayamitra. Coins discovered from the adjoining areas
reveal the names of Praushtasri (from Bhita), of Bhadremagha, Sivamagha, Vaisravana and Bhimavarman
(From Fatehpur district) Some unclasified Kausambi coins, in British Museum bear in addition to the names of Vaisravana and Bhimavarman,
probably those of Mulahasta, Dhanadeva and a few others. These rulers have been placed between first century BC and fourth century AD.
2.
Vogel has suggested the restoration of damaged initial phrase as
the damaged section admits of hardly six syllables, and the phrase must end with which appears over of
Prakrit and Sanskrit
stands for wealthy & prosperous
1. Since the script resembles closely that of early Kushana epigraphs. and the date 40th year mentioned in his other epigraph on sarnath Asoka pillar (see supra no. 111)
which should be in Kanishka era, vogel has fixed him in the time of Huvishka.
2. The fragment of the stone slab bearing this inscription
was discovered by Oertal about 70 ft to the north-east, by east of the Sarnath Vihara.
Text of the inscription
र्परिगेय्हे रझ अव घोषस्य चतरिशे सव छरे हेमत परवे प्रथम दिवसे दसमे
English Translation of the inscription
In the prosperous (reign) of king Asvaghosha, in the
fortieth year in the first fortnight of winter, on the tenth day—–
The statue, which was found at Mathura, & kept in Mathura museum shows the inscription carrying Huma’s name (Maharaja rajatiraja devaputra Lord of vakana (Shahi Vamataksha)
Undoubtedly, the Kushana emperors carried the titles like Maharaja, Rajtiraj, Devputra etc, for exhibiting their superiority/superhuman capabilities.
The concept of showing images of kings/rulers on the coins and statues, was non-existant in India, by the previous dynasties. It was the Kushan rulers who popularised this idea & the idea was borrowed and later modified in the form of Indo-greek coins, & this practice continued for another two thousand years. Kushan coinage was copied not only by later Indian dynasties like Guptas, but also by neighbouring kings also like Sassanians (of Persia).
King Ashvaghosha, who was also a poet had composed a biography of the Buddha, Notable works of Ashvaghosha are Buddhacharita, Saundarananda, Sutralankara.
Mitra dynasty of Kosambi was centered on the city of Kosambi at the Vatsa region. Its capital Kosambi was among the most important trade centers in the ancient India.
Common symbols in the coinage of the Mitra dynasty include the tree-in-railing and the Ujjain symbol. Bull is a common animal to appear on the coinage. The Vatsa region and its capital Kosambi was among the most important trade centres in ancient India. Mitra dynasties ruled in Panchala, Mathura, Ayodhya and & Magadha.