Rukhana reliquary

The Rukhana reliquary is a Buddhist reliquary which was dedicated and inscribed in 16 CE by Rukhana, Queen of Indo-Scythian king Vijayamitra (ruled 12 BCE - 20 CE). The inscription on the reliquary, published by Salomon in 2005, gives a relationship between several eras of the period, and especially gives confirmation of a Yavana era in relation to the Azes era, that is "Azes era= Yavana era - 128 years".[1] This inscription is very useful to clarify relative chronologies during the period. The inscription reads:

"In the twenty-seventh - 27 - year in the reign of Lord Vijayamitra, the King of the Apraca; in the seventy-third - 73 - year which is called "of Azes", in the two hundred and first - 201 - year of the Yonas (Greeks), on the eighth day of the month of Sravana; on this day was established [this] stupa by Rukhana, the wife of the King of Apraca, [and] by Vijayamitra, the king of Apraca, [and] by Indravarma (Indravasu?), the commander (stratega), [together] with their wives and sons."

— Rukhana reliquary inscription.[2][3]

This dedication also indicates that King Vijayamitra and his wife Rukhana were followers of Buddhism.

Since Vijamitra is said to have ruled 27 years already, his reign started in 12 BCE, and ended probably a few years after the dedication took place, around 20 CE.

Notes

  1. ↑ Des Indo-Grecs aux Sassanides: données pour l'histoire et la géographie historique, Rika Gyselen Peeters Publishers, 2007, p.109
  2. ↑ "Afghanistan, carrefour en l'Est et l'Ouest" p.373. Also Senior 2003
  3. ↑ Des Indo-Grecs aux Sassanides, Rika Gyselen, Peeters Publishers, 2007, p.103

References

  • Baums, Stefan. 2012. “Catalog and Revised Texts and Translations of Gandharan Reliquary Inscriptions.” In: David Jongeward, Elizabeth Errington, Richard Salomon and Stefan Baums, Gandharan Buddhist Reliquaries, pp. 212–213, Seattle: Early Buddhist Manuscripts Project (Gandharan Studies, Volume 1).
  • Baums, Stefan, and Andrew Glass. 2002– . Catalog of Gāndhārī Texts, nos. CKI 405
  • Senior, R.C. (2006). Indo-Scythian coins and history. Volume IV. Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. ISBN 0-9709268-6-3.
  • Richard SALOMON, "A New Inscription dated in the "Yona" (Greek) Era of 186/5 B.C." in Afghanistan, ancien carrefour entre l'est et l'ouest, O. Bopearachchi, M.-F. Boussac (eds.), 2005, ISBN 978-2-503-51681-3 Languages: French, English
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