Huvishka
| Huvishka | |
|---|---|
| Kushan emperor | |
Coin of Huvishka. Legend in Kushan language and Greek script (with the Kushan letter Ϸ "sh"): ϷΑΟΝΑΝΟϷΑΟ ΟΟΗϷΚΙ ΚΟϷΑΝΟ ("Shaonanoshao Ooishki Koshano"): "King of kings, Huvishka the Kushan".
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| Reign | 150–180 AD |
| Predecessor | Kanishka |
| Successor | Vasudeva I |
| Religion | Buddhism |
Huvishka (Kushan: Οοηϸκι, Ooēški, Brahmi: 14px12px16px Hu-vi-ṣka, Huviṣka;[1] Kharosthi: 𐨱𐨂𐨬𐨅𐨮𐨿𐨐 Hu-ve-ṣka, Huveṣka[2]) was the emperor of the Kushan Empire from the death of Kanishka (assumed on the best evidence available to be in 150 AD) until the succession of Vasudeva I about thirty years later.
His rule was a period of consolidation for the Empire. Huvishka's territory encompassed Balkh in Bactria to Mathura in India, locations where it is known that he minted his coinage. Gold coins and amulets in his effigy were found as far as Pataliputra and Bodh Gaya, including one such amulet as an offering under the Enlightenment Throne of the Buddha in Bodh Gaya, suggesting with other finds of Kushan coins in the area that Kushan rule may have extended this far east.[3] His reign seems to have been essentially peaceful, consolidating Kushan power in northern India, and moving the centre of the Kushan Empire to the southern capital city of Mathura.[4]
Contents
Religion
Huvishka was the son of Kanishka. His reign is also known as the golden age of Kushan rule.
Mahayana Buddhism
The reign of Huvishka corresponds with the first known epigraphic evidence of the Buddha Amitabha, on the bottom part of a 2nd-century statue which has been found in Govindo-Nagar, and now at the Mathura Museum. The statue is dated to "the 28th year of the reign of Huvishka", and dedicated to "Amitabha Buddha" by a family of merchants.[6][7]
There is also some evidence that Huvishka was a follower of Mahāyāna Buddhism. A Sanskrit manuscript fragment in the Schøyen Collection describes Huvishka as one who has "set forth in the Mahāyāna."[8]
Some reliefs from Gandhara are also thought to portray Huvishka making donations to the Buddha.[5]
Huvishka is widely attested to have supported Buddhism, but the Buddha does not appear on his coinage, possibly out of respect to the Buddha.[9]
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Amitabha Buddha inscription in the year 26 of Huvishka.jpg
Earliest known "Mahayana" inscription: inscribed pedestal with the first known occurrence of the name of "Amitabha Buddha" in the "year 26" (153 AD, first year of Huvishka)[10]
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Amitabha Buddha inscription in the year 26 of Huvishka Inscription Buddhasya Amitabhasya.jpgFirst known Mahayana inscription: words 10px8px15pxError creating thumbnail: sh: /usr/local/bin/rsvg-convert: not found10pxError creating thumbnail: sh: /usr/local/bin/rsvg-convert: not foundError creating thumbnail: sh: /usr/local/bin/rsvg-convert: not found15px"Bu-ddha-sya A-mi-tā-bha-sya" ("of Amitabha Buddha") in Brahmi script in the inscription.[7]
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Mathura sculpture Huvishka year 33.jpgFragment of a Bodhisattva sculpture inscribed "in the year 33" (𑀲𑀁𑁝𑁔) of "the Great King, son of God, Huvishka" (Mahārājasya Devaputrasya Huviṣka,Error creating thumbnail: sh: /usr/local/bin/rsvg-convert: not foundError creating thumbnail: sh: /usr/local/bin/rsvg-convert: not found
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Iscrizione del regno di huvishka dei kushana sul piedistrallo di una statua di buddha, da mathura, uttar pradesh, 123 dc.jpgPedestal of a Buddha statue, with inscription in the name of Huvishka "in the year 45" (𑀲𑀁𑁞𑁔). Starts with Mahārājasya Huviṣkasya Devaputrasya...,Error creating thumbnail: sh: /usr/local/bin/rsvg-convert: not foundError creating thumbnail: sh: /usr/local/bin/rsvg-convert: not found
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Graeco-Roman deities
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Huvishka also incorporates in his coins for the first and only time in Kushan coinage the Hellenistic-Egyptian Serapis (under the name ϹΑΡΑΠΟ, "Sarapo").[12][13] Since Serapis was the supreme deity of the pantheon of Alexandria in Egypt, this coin suggests that Huvishka had as strong orientation towards Roman Egypt, which may have been an important market for the products coming from the Kushan Empire.[12]
Another coin possibly depicts the Goddess Roma ("Roma aeterna"), under the name "Rishti" (Greek: ΡΙϷΤ),[14] or "Riom" (Greek: ΡΙΟΜ).[15][16][17]
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Huvishka with god Serapis ("Sarapo").jpg
Another coin of Huvishka holding a scepter, with, on the reverse, deity Serapis (ϹΑΡΑΠΟ, "Sarapo")
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Dinar, Kushan Empire, Depiction of Hercules, 152-192 AD.jpg
Coin of Huvishka. Obverse: ϷΑΟΝΑΝΟϷΑΟ ΟΟΗϷΚΙ ΚΟϷΑΝΟ (Shaonanoshao Ooishki Koshano, "King of kings, Huvishka the Kushan"). Reverse: Herakles with legend ΗΡΑΚΙΛΟ (Erakilo).
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Possible depiction of "Roma Aeterna". The legend has been variously read Riom (Greek: ΡΙΟΜ), or more recently Rishti (Greek: ΡΙϷΤ).
Iranian deities
Huvishka is also known to have included Iranian deities in his pantheon. Between 164 and 174, he established a temple to Pharro ("Royal splendour")-Ardoxsho in the stronghold of Ayrtam, near Termez, according to the Ayrtam inscription.[12] He also issued numerous coins in the name of these deities. Many more Iranian deities are also known from his coinage, such as Miiro (Mitra), Mao (the Lunar deity Mah), Nana (Anahita), Atsho (Atar, "The Royal fire").[18] Another Zoroastrian deity, the supreme god Ooromozdo (Ahura Mazda), and Mazdo oana ("Mazda the victorious") also appears.[18] Other Zoroastrian deities include Rishti ("Uprightness", Arshtat), Ashaeixsho ("Best righteousness", Asha Vahishta), the Lunar deity Mah (Mao), Shaoreoro ("Best royal power", Khshathra Vairya).[18][19]
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Huvishka. Circa CE 152-192 diademed.jpg
Coin of Kushan ruler Huvishka diademed, with deity Pharro ("ΦΑΡΡΟ"). Circa AD 152–192
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Kushan king Huvishka coin.jpg
Coin of Kushan ruler Huvishka diademed, with deity Ardoxsho. Circa AD 152–192
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Huvihska with Ahuramazda.jpg
Huvihska with Ahuramazda (ωΡΟΜ, Orom[zdo]).[18]
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Huvishka with Ashaiexsho.jpg
Huvishka with "Asha Vahishta" (ΑϷΑΕΙΧϷΟ, Ashaiexsho).[18]
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Huvishka and Shaoreoro.jpg
Huvishka with Shaoreoro (ϷΑΟΡΗΟΡΟ, "Best royal power", Khshathra Vairya).[18]
Indian deities
Huvishka is known to have restored a temple in Mathura, where provisions were made for hospitality towards the Brahmans.[12] Some of the coins of Huvishka also featured Maaseno on his coins, the Kushan incarnation of the Hindu god Karttikeya, or Skanda, whose epithet was "Mahasena".[20] This god being particularly important to the Yaudheyas, it may have been incorporated into Kushan coinage when the Kushans expanded into Yaudheya territory in order to establish control of the Mathura area. It may also have been adopted as a way to appease the warlike Yaudheyas. In effect, the Kushans became the suzerains of the Yaudheyas in the area.[21][22]
In a departure from his predecessor Kanishka, Huvishka also added Oesho ("ΟΗϷΟ", Shiva) on some of his coinage. In replacement of the Iranian god of war Ořlagno, he also added several Indian war gods, such as Skando (Old Indian Skanda), Komaro (Old Indian Kumara), Maaseno (Old Indian Mahāsena), Bizago (Old Indian Viśākha), and even Ommo (Old Indian Umā), the consort of Siva. This could suggest an evolution toward Indian deities among the Kushans, possibly motivated by the enlisting of Indian warriors.[20]
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Huvishka Maaseno.jpg
Coin of Huvishka with Indian deity Maaseno (Old Indian Mahāsena).
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Huvishka with Maasena and attendants.jpg
Huvishka with Maaseno (Old Indian Mahāsena) and attendants
Coinage and statuary
The coinage of Huvishka is characterized by a great variety of designs and the large quantity of gold coins that were minted: more gold coins from Huvishka are known than from all other Kushan rulers combined.[4] The locations of his mints were mainly in Balkh and Peshawar, with smaller mints in Kashmir and Mathura.[4]
One of the great remaining puzzles of Huvishka's reign is the devaluation of his coinage. Early in his reign the copper coinage plunged in weight from a standard of 16g to about 10–11g. The quality and weight then continued to decline throughout the reign until at the start of the reign of Vasudeva the standard coin (a tetradrachm) weighed only 9g. The devaluation led to a massive production of imitations, and an economic demand for the older, pre-devaluation coins in the Gangetic valley. However, the motivation and some of the details of this devaluation are still unknown.
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References
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 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. 167
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Neelis, Jason. Early Buddhist Transmission and Trade Networks. 2010. p. 141
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ The inscription reads: "In the year 33 of the Maharaja, the Devaputra Huvishka (
18px 
12px12px18px 14px12px16px Mahārājasya Devaputrasya Huviṣka) on the 8th day of the 1st summer (month), a Bodhisattva was set up at Madhuravanaka by the nun Dhanavati, the sister's daughter of the nun Buddhamitra, who knows the Tripitaka, a female pupil of the monk Bala, who knows the Tripitaka, together with her mother and father....". in Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Another similar inscription mentions "Huvihska in the year 26". in Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. - ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Serapis coin
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Mario Bussagli, "L'Art du Gandhara", p. 225.
- ↑ This coin. The reading of the name of the deity on this last coin is very much uncertain and disputed (Riom, Riddhi, Rishthi, Rise....) in Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "The name Riom as read by Gardner, was read by Cunningham as Ride, who equated it with Riddhi, the Indian goddess of fortune. F.W. Thomas has read the name as Rhea" in Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 18.7 18.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Also omitted is the ancient Iranian war god Orlagno, whose place and function are occupied by a group of Indian war gods, Skando (Old Indian Skanda), Komaro (Old Indian Kumara), Maaseno (Old Indian Mahāsena), Bizago (Old Indian Viśākha), and even Ommo (Old Indian Umā), the consort of Shiva. Their use as reverse types of Huvishka I is clear evidence for the new trends in religious policy of the Kushan king, which was possibly influenced by enlisting Indian warriors into the Kushan army during the campaign against Pataliputra." in Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Classical Numismatics Group
- ↑ Indian Sculpture: Circa 500 B.C.-A.D. 700, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Pratapaditya Pal, University of California Press, 1986, p.78 [1]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ The reading of the name of the deity on this coin is very much uncertain and disputed (Riom, Riddhi, Rishthi, Rise....) in Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "The name Riom as read by Gardner, was read by Cunningham as Ride, who equated it with Riddhi, the Indian goddess of fortune. F.W. Thomas has read the name as Rhea" in Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Sources
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Huvishka. |
External links
- Online Catalogue of Huvishka's Coinage
- Coins of Huvishka
- [2] Archived 2020-02-05 at the Wayback Machine Was Huvishka sole king of the Kushan Empire
- [3] Archived 2018-09-25 at the Wayback Machine The Devaluation of the Coinage of Kanishka
| Preceded by | Kushan Ruler 150–183 AD |
Succeeded by Vasudeva I |
- ↑ From the dated inscription on the Rukhana reliquary
- ↑ An Inscribed Silver Buddhist Reliquary of the Time of King Kharaosta and Prince Indravarman, Richard Salomon, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 116, No. 3 (Jul. - Sep., 1996), pp. 442 [4]
- ↑ A Kharosthī Reliquary Inscription of the Time of the Apraca Prince Visnuvarma, by Richard Salomon, South Asian Studies 11 1995, Pages 27-32, Published online: 09 Aug 2010 [5]
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