for students of BA VI sem BHU

1. Sarnath inscription of Kanishka

3. Introduction
• Recovered from: Sarnath
• Script: Brahmi
• Language: Sanskrit influenced by Prakrit.
• Inscribed on an image of Bodhisattava and his
parasol.
• There are altogether three inscriptions, the largest
one being the inscription on the octagonal shaft of
the umbrella.

9. Description
• The inscription is cut on three sides of the
octagonal umbrella post.
• consists of ten lines of 33 cm in length, except
the last line, which measures only 9 cm.
• The size of the aksharas varies from 1 to 6 . cm.
• The letters are regular and clearly out, but the
did surface of the stone has caused their shape
to become indistinct in places.
• On the whole, however, the inscription is very
well preserved.

11. Text on octagonal shaft
1.mahārajasya kaṇiskasya sam 3 he 3 di 20-2
2. etaye purvaye bhiksusya pusyavuddhisya saddhyevi-
3. harisya bhiksusya balasya tr[e]pi[ta]kasya
4. bodhisatvo chatrayasti ca pratisthapit[o]
5. baranasiye bhagavato ca[m]k[r?]ame saha mata-
6. pitihi saha upaddhyayaca[rye]hi saddhyevihari-
7. hi amtevasikehi ca saha buddhamitraye trepitika-
8. ye saha ksatra[pe]na vanasparena kharapall[a]-
9. nena ca saha ca[tu]hi parisahi sarvasatvanarn
10. hita[szc]sukharttham

12. Translation
1. In the year 3 of the Great King Kaniska, [month] 3 of winter, day 22:
2-3. on this aforementioned [date], [as the gift] of the Monk Bala, Tripitaka
Master and companion of the Monk Pusyavuddhi [= Pusyavrddhi or
Pusyabuddhi?],
4. this Bodhisattva and umbrella-and-staff was established
5. in Varanasi, at the Lord's promenade, together with [Bala's] mother
6. and father, with his teachers and masters, his companions
7. and students, with the Tripitaka Master Buddhamitra,
8. with the Ksatrapa Vanaspara and Kharapallana,
9. and with the four communities,
10. for the welfare and happiness of all beings.

13. Inscription on the front of the base of the
statue
"The gift of bhikshu Bala, a master of the Tripitaka, (namely an image
of) the Bodhisattva, has been erected by the great satrap Kharapallana
together with the satrap Vanaspara.”

14. Inscription at the back of the base of the statue
"In the 3rd year of the Maharaja Kanishka, the 3rd (month) of winter,
the 23rd day, on this (date specified as) above has (this gift) of bhikshu
Bala, a master of the Tripitaka, (namely an image of) the Bodhisattva
and an umbrella with a post, been erected.

15. Historical importance
• Refers date in Kanishka’s regnal year.
• Kanishka issued a new era in 78 CE.
• Some: Kanishka’s empire extended till Sarnath.
• Kanishka had several satraps under his commands in order to
rule his vast territory.
• Names of the Indo-Scythian Northern Satraps Mahakshatrapa
("Great Satrap") Kharapallana and the Kshatrapa ("Satrap")
Vanaspara are mentioned as satraps for the eastern territories
of Kanishka's empire.
• Tradition of tirthyatra.

16. Kusana art
• Specific raw material
• Indianized traits: quite different from the Greco-Buddhist art of
Gandhara.
• Bulky, static, heavy, imposing.
• Dated inscription: allows to be a rather precise date on the sculptural
style represented by the statue, as year 3 is thought to be c.123 CE.
• Style: somewhat reminiscent of the earlier monumental Yaksha statues,
usually dated to a few centuries earlier.
• In all probability a product of the art of Mathura, which was then
transported to the Ganges region

17. Similar style of
Bodhisattva
sculptures

18. Issues
• Mendicants, who have to beg for their food and are not allowed worldly
possessions could make donations which would necessarily involve a consider-
able expenditure?
• Helped by Mahakshatrapa & Kshatrapa who supplied the necessary funds?
• But work was carried out under the supervision of bhikshu Bala, who thus was
fully justified in calling the gift his own.
• Such guidance on the part of one well versed in the holy scriptures would be
needed, to make sure that the works were completely orthodox.
• Similar donation by Bal bikshu in Sravasti also.

19. Implications
• Inscribed on red sandstone from Mathura.
• Probably Bal bikshu brought this gift from Mathura.
• Why?
• Lack of local artists capable of converting a block of stone into a sacred image ?
• Some celebrated master sculpture in Mathura well versed in Buddhist iconography?
• Commenced by Mahakshatrapas & Kshatrapas of Kashi?
• Carrying those gigantic statues from Mathura to Sravasti and far-off Benares much
difficult

20. Location of statute in Sarnath
• Inscription: Image of Bodhisattva errrected in Chankram
• Mahavamsa: Chankram = that flat land which is used for walking or
worship.
• Chankram = Compound of Moolgandhakuti vihar?
• The fact that the image was created for 'the place where the Lord used to
walk', and that a lion is represented at the bottom of the stele, has caused
the Bodhisattva image to be identified with Gautama