Vasudeva I

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Vasudeva I
Kushan emperor
270px
Gold coin of Vasudeva I or II.

Obv: Vasudeva in tall helmet, holding a scepter, and making an offering over an altar. Legend in Kushan language and Greek script (with the Kushan letter Ϸ "sh"): ϷΑΟΝΑΝΟϷΑΟ ΒΑΖΟΔΗΟ ΚΟϷΑΝΟ ("Shaonanoshao Bazodeo Koshano"): "King of kings, Vasudeva the Kushan".

Rev: ΟΗϷΟ (oesho), Hindu god Shiva, holding a trisula scepter, with the bull Nandi. Monogram (tamgha) to the left.[1][2]
Reign 191–232 AD
Predecessor Huvishka
Successor Kanishka II
Dynasty Kushan
Religion Hinduism
Vasudeva I is located in South Asia
Mamane Dheri
Mamane Dheri
Location of the inscriptions mentioning Vasudeva I as ruler.

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Vāsudeva I (Kushano Bactrian: Βαζοδηο Bazodeo; Middle Brahmi script: 9px12px10px

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Vā-su-de-va, Chinese: 波調 Bodiao; fl. 200 AD) was a Kushan emperor, last of the "Great Kushans."[3] Named inscriptions dating from year 64 to 98 of Kanishka's era suggest his reign extended from at least 191 to 232 AD. He ruled in Northern India and Central Asia, where he minted coins in the city of Balkh (Bactria). He probably had to deal with the rise of the Sasanians and the first incursions of the Kushano-Sasanians in the northwest of his territory.[3]

The last named inscription of his predecessor, Huvishka, was in the year 60 of the Kanishka era (187 AD), and the Chinese evidence suggests he was still ruling as late as 229 AD.

His name "Vāsudeva", is that of the popular Hindu God Vāsudeva, which is refer to Krishna, and he was the first Kushan king to be named after the Indian God. He converted to Hinduism during his reign.[1][4] His name reinforces the notion that his center of power was in Mathura.[3]

Contacts with China

In the Chinese historical chronicle Sanguozhi (三國志), he is recorded to have sent tribute to the Chinese emperor Cao Rui of the Wei in 229 AD (3rd year of Taihe 太和), :

"The king of the Da Yuezhi, Bodiao (波調) (Vāsudeva), sent his envoy to present tribute and His Majesty granted him a title of "King of the Da Yuezhi Intimate with Wei (魏)"." (Sanguozhi)

He is the last Kushan ruler to be mentioned in Chinese sources.[3] His rule corresponds to the retreat of Chinese power from Central Asia, and it is thought that Vasudeva may have filled the power vacuum in that area.[3] The great expansion of the Dharmaguptaka Buddhist group in Central Asia during this period has also been related to this event.

Coinage

The coinage of Vasudeva consisted in gold dinars and quarter dinars, as well as copper coins. Vasudeva almost entirely removed the pantheon of deities displayed in the coinage of Kanishka and Huvishka. Apart from a few coins with the effigies of Mao and Nana, all of Vasudeva's coins feature Oesho on the reverse, who is generally identified as Shiva.[1][2] On the obverse, Vasudeva restored the royal imagery of Kanishka, with the standing, making a sacrifice over an altar, although he holds a trident rather than Kanishka's spear and he appears nimbate. Another trident is sometimes also added over the small sacrificial altar. At the end of his rule, Vasudeva introduced the nandipada symbol (15px) on his coinage.[5][6]

Sassanid invasion in the northwest

Vusadeva I was the last great Kushan emperor, and the end of his rule coincides with the invasion of the Sassanians as far as northwestern India, and the establishment of the Indo-Sassanians or Kushanshahs from around 240 AD.[3] Vasudeva I may have lost the territory of Bactria with its capital in Balkh to Ardashir I Kushanshah. Thereafter, Kushan rule would be restricted to their eastern territories, in western and central Punjab.

Statuary

File:Inscription Maharaja Devaputra Vasudeva Year 93.jpg
Buddha statue of Vasudeva I, pedestal inscription: "In the 93rd year" (𑀲𑀁𑁣𑁔) of "Great King, son of God, Vasudeva" (Gupta ashoka m.svgGupta ashoka h.svgGupta allahabad raa.jpgGupta ashoka j.svg18px Gupta ashoka d.svgGupta ashoka v.svg12px12px18px 11px14px12pxGupta ashoka v.svg Mahārājasya Devaputrasya Vāsudeva, from the start of the first line). Mathura Museum. Photograph of the piedestal.

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Main article: Kushan art

The relatively peaceful reign of Vasudeva is marked by an important artistic production, in particular in the area of statuary.[3] Several Buddhist statues are dated to the reign of Vasudeva, and are important markers for the chronology of Buddhist art.[9]

An inscription on the base of the Buddha statue of Vasudeva I is also known from the Mathura Museum: "In the 93rd year of Maharaja Devaputra Vasudeva...", probably corresponding to c. 171 AD, or 220 CE with the more recent definition of the Kanishka era as starting in 127 AD.[10] A partially preserved Sakyamuni statue, also from Mathura, has the date "Year 94", although without mentioning Vasudeva specifically.[11]

Dedications in the name of Vasudeva, with dates, also appear on Jain statuary discovered in Mathura.[12][13]

Statuary dated to the reign of Vasudeva I
  • Hashtnagar Buddha Year 384 original body only.jpg

    Hashtnagar Buddha, inscribed with "year 384" (probably of the Yavana era), hence 209 AD.[9]

  • Hashtnagar Buddha piedestal Year 384.jpg

    Piedestal of the Hashtnagar Buddha statue, now in the British Museum, inscribed with "year 384" (probably of the Yavana era), hence 209 AD.[9] The inscription reads in the Kharoshthi script: sam 1 1 1 100 20 20 20 20 4 Prothavadasa masasa divasammi pamcami 4 1 ("In the year 384, on the fifth, 5, day of the month Prausthapada").[14] The pedestal was sawed off from the body of the statue by L. White King in 1883 and brought to the British Museum.[15] British Museum

  • Mamane Dheri sculpture Year 89.jpg

    Mamane Dheri Buddha, inscribed with "Year 89" (probably of the Kanishka era), hence 216 AD.[9] Peshawar Museum.

  • Sakyamuni statue of the Year 94.jpg

    Sakyamuni statue of the "Year 94" (221 AD). Mathura Museum.[16]

References

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Bibliography

  • Falk, Harry (2001). "The yuga of Sphujiddhvaja and the era of the Kuṣâṇas." Silk Road Art and Archaeology VII, pp. 121–136.
  • Falk, Harry (2004). "The Kaniṣka era in Gupta records." Harry Falk. Silk Road Art and Archaeology X, pp. 167–176.
  • Sims-Williams, Nicholas (1998). "Further notes on the Bactrian inscription of Rabatak, with an Appendix on the names of Kujula Kadphises and Vima Taktu in Chinese." Proceedings of the Third European Conference of Iranian Studies Part 1: Old and Middle Iranian Studies. Edited by Nicholas Sims-Williams. Wiesbaden. Pp, 79-93.

External links

Preceded by Kushan Ruler Succeeded by
Kanishka II
Kushan Empire
Emperors, territories and chronology
Territories/
dates		 Western India Western Pakistan
Balochistan		 Paropamisadae
Arachosia
 Bajaur Gandhara Western Punjab Eastern Punjab Mathura Pataliputra
INDO-SCYTHIAN KINGDOM INDO-GREEK KINGDOM Indo-Scythian Northern Satraps
25 BC – 10 AD Indo-Scythian dynasty of the
APRACHARAJAS
Vijayamitra
(ruled 12 BC - 15 AD)[17]		 Liaka Kusulaka
Patika Kusulaka
Zeionises		 Kharahostes
(ruled 10 BC– 10 AD)[18]
Mujatria		 Strato II and Strato III Hagana
10-20 AD INDO-PARTHIAN KINGDOM
Gondophares		 Indravasu INDO-PARTHIAN KINGDOM
Gondophares		 Rajuvula
20-30 AD Ubouzanes
Pakores		 Vispavarma
(ruled c.0-20 AD)[19]		 Sarpedones Bhadayasa Sodasa
30-40 AD KUSHAN EMPIRE
Kujula Kadphises		 Indravarma Abdagases ... ...
40-45 AD Aspavarma Gadana ... ...
45-50 AD Sasan Sases ... ...
50-75 AD ... ...
75-100 AD Indo-Scythian dynasty of the
WESTERN SATRAPS
Chastana		 Vima Takto ... ...
100-120 AD Abhiraka Vima Kadphises ... ...
120 AD Bhumaka
Nahapana		 PARATARAJAS
Yolamira		 Kanishka I Great Satrap Kharapallana
and Satrap Vanaspara
for
Kanishka I
130-230 AD

Jayadaman
Rudradaman I
Damajadasri I
Jivadaman
Rudrasimha I
Isvaradatta
Rudrasimha I
Jivadaman
Rudrasena I

Bagamira
Arjuna
Hvaramira
Mirahvara

Vāsishka (c. 140 – c. 160)
Huvishka (c. 160 – c. 190)
Vasudeva I (c. 190 – to at least 230)
230-280 AD

Samghadaman
Damasena
Damajadasri II
Viradaman
Yasodaman I
Vijayasena
Damajadasri III
Rudrasena II
Visvasimha

Miratakhma
Kozana
Bhimarjuna
Koziya
Datarvharna
Datarvharna

INDO-SASANIANS
Ardashir I, Sassanid king and "Kushanshah" (c. 230 – 250)
Peroz I, "Kushanshah" (c. 250 – 265)
Hormizd I, "Kushanshah" (c. 265 – 295)

Kanishka II (c. 230 – 240)
Vashishka (c. 240 – 250)
Kanishka III (c. 250 – 275)
280-300 Bhratadarman Datayola II

Hormizd II, "Kushanshah" (c. 295 – 300)

 Vasudeva II (c. 275 – 310)
300-320 AD

Visvasena
Rudrasimha II
Jivadaman

Peroz II, "Kushanshah" (c. 300 – 325)

Vasudeva III
Vasudeva IV
Vasudeva V
Chhu (c. 310? – 325)
320-388 AD

Yasodaman II
Rudradaman II
Rudrasena III
Simhasena
Rudrasena IV

Shapur II Sassanid king and "Kushanshah" (c. 325)
Varhran I, Varhran II, Varhran III "Kushanshahs" (c. 325 – 350)
Peroz III "Kushanshah" (c. 350 –360)
HEPHTHALITE/ HUNAS invasions

Shaka I (c. 325 – 345)
Kipunada (c. 345 – 375)

GUPTA EMPIRE
Chandragupta I Samudragupta
388-396 AD Rudrasimha III Chandragupta II
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Coins of India Calcutta : Association Press ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1922
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ CNG Coins
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.Free to read
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Problems of Chronology in Gandharan Art p.37
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ From the dated inscription on the Rukhana reliquary
  18. ↑ 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 [1]
  19. ↑ 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 [2]
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