Gurupratap Rajan at 07:48, 29 May 2025

2025-05-29T07:48:34Z

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{{short description|Indo-Scythian king who ruled in northern India (r. c.10 BCE-c.10 CE)}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name =Kharahostes
| title =[[Indo-Scythian]] king
| image= [[File:Kharahostes Northern Satrap with Azes and Tyche Nandipada behind king.jpg|350px]]
| caption =Coin of Kharahostes (or possibly his son [[Mujatria]]),<ref name="Cribb"/> in the name of [[Azes II|Azes]]. '''Obv.''' [[Azes]] riding, with corrupted Greek legend (<big>ω</big>ΕΙΛΟN <big>ω</big>ΕΟΛΛ<big>ω</big>N ΙΟϹΑΑϹ) for ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΑΖΟΥ "King of Kings [[Azes]]", and Buddhist [[Triratna]] symbol behind the head of the king. '''Rev.''' City goddess [[Tyche]] standing left holding cornucopia and raised right hand. [[Kharoshthi]] legend ''Maharajasa mahatasa Dhramakisa Rajatirajasa Ayasa'' "The Great king followower of the [[Dharma]], King of Kings [[Azes]]"
| reign =10 BCE – 10 CE
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[[File:Kharahostes Northern Satrap coin.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Coin of Kharahostes "son of Arta". The three-pellet symbol does not appear. 
Obverse: King on horseback, with levelled spear. Greek legend ΧΑΡΑΗ<big>ω</big>ϹΤΕΙ ϹΑΤΡΑΠΕΙ ΑΡΤΑΥΟΥ ("Satrap Kharahostes, son of Arta"). Kharoahthi mint mark ''sam'' 
Reverse: Lion. Kharoshthi legend ''Chatrapasa pra Kharaustasa Artasa putrasa'' ("Satrap Kharahostes, son of [[Arta (Kamuia)|Arta]]").]]
'''Kharahostes''' or '''Kharaosta''' ([[Greek alphabet|Greek]]: {{lang|grc|[[wiktionary:Χαραηώστης|Χαραηώστης]]}} {{Transliteration|grc|Kharahṓstēs}}, {{lang|grc|ΧΑΡΑΗ<big>ω</big>ϹΤΕΙ}} {{Transliteration|grc|Kharahōstei}} (epigraphic); [[Kharosthi]]: '''{{lang|pgd|[[wiktionary:𐨑𐨪𐨀𐨆𐨯𐨿𐨟|𐨑𐨪𐨀𐨆𐨯𐨿𐨟]]}}''' {{Transliteration|pgd|Kha-ra-o-sta}}, {{Transliteration|pgd|Kharaosta}},{{sfn|Konow|1929|p=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.62020/page/n171/mode/2up 30]-[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.62020/page/n199/mode/2up 49], [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.62020/page/n181/mode/2up PLATE VII]}} '''{{lang|pgd|𐨑𐨪𐨩𐨆𐨯𐨿𐨟}}''' {{Transliteration|pgd|Kha-ra-yo-sta}}, {{Transliteration|pgd|Kharayosta}};<ref name="Salomon">{{cite journal |last1=Salomon |first1=Richard |author-link=Richard G. Salomon (professor of Asian studies) |title=An Inscribed Silver Buddhist Reliquary of the Time of King Kharaosta and Prince Indravarman |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/605147 |journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society |year=1996 |volume=116 |issue=3 |pages=418–452 |doi=10.2307/605147 |jstor=605147 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>) was an [[Indo-Scythian]] ruler (probably a [[satrap]]) in the northern Indian subcontinent around 10 BCE – 10 CE. He is known from his coins, often in the name of [[Azes II]], and possibly from an inscription on the [[Mathura lion capital]], although another satrap Kharaostes has been discovered in [[Mathura]].<ref name="Cribb">{{cite journal |last=Cribb |first=Joe |author-link=Joe Cribb |date=2015 |title=Dating and Locating Mujatria and the Two Kharahostes |url=https://www.academia.edu/15209723 |journal=Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society |volume=223 |pages=26–48 |doi= |access-date=}}</ref>

He was probably a successor of [[Azes II]]. Epigraphical evidence from inscribed reliquaries show for certain that he was already "''Yabgu''-King", when the [[Apracaraja Indravarman's Silver Reliquary|Indravarman Silver Reliquary]] was dedicated, which is itself positioned with certainty before the 5-6 CE [[Bajaur casket]].<ref name="Salomon"/> There is some dispute however about the exact meaning of ''Yabgu''-King. For [[Richard G. Salomon (professor of Asian studies)|Richard Salomon]], ''Yabgu'' means "tribal chief", in the manner of the [[Kushan Empire|Kushan]]s, suggesting that Kharahostes was already fully king by the end of the 1st century BCE, supporting a 10 BCE- 10 CE date for his reign. For [[Joe Cribb]], this is a misspelling by a careless scribe, and should be read "''yuva''-King" which means "Heir apparent", and therefore would push forward the years Kharahostes actually ruled to the first part of the 1st century CE.<ref name="Cribb"/>

Coin finds suggest that Kharahostes ruled in the area of the [[Darunta district]] to the west of [[Jalalabad]], probably based on the ancient city of [[Nagarahara]], located to the west of Jalalabad.<ref name="Cribb"/>

==Name==
Kharahostes's name is recorded in the [[Greek alphabet|Greek]] form {{Transliteration|grc|Kharahṓstēs}} ({{lang|grc|[[wiktionary:Χαραηώστης|Χαραηώστης]]}}) and the [[Kharosthi]] forms {{Transliteration|pgd|Kharaosta}} ({{lang|pgd|[[wiktionary:𐨑𐨪𐨀𐨆𐨯𐨿𐨟|𐨑𐨪𐨀𐨆𐨯𐨿𐨟]]}}){{sfn|Konow|1929|p=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.62020/page/n171/mode/2up 30]-[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.62020/page/n199/mode/2up 49], [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.62020/page/n181/mode/2up PLATE VII]}} and {{Transliteration|pgd|Kharayosta}} ({{lang|pgd|𐨑𐨪𐨩𐨆𐨯𐨿𐨟}}),<ref name="Salomon"/> which are derived from the [[Saka language|Saka]] name {{lang|xsc|*Xārahōsta}}, meaning "splendid, mighty"{{sfn|Harmatta|1999|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=9U6RlVVjpakC&pg=PA412 412]}}

==Son of Arta==
Kharahostes's own coins attest that he was the son of [[Arta (Kamuia)|Arta]], a brother of king [[Maues]],{{sfn|Harmatta|1999|p=201}} and [[Satrap]] of [[Chukhsa]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Marshall |first=John |author-link=John Marshall (archaeologist) |date=1951 |title=Taxila: an Illustrated Account of Archaeological Excavations Carried Out at Taxila under the Orders of the Government of India Between the Years 1913 and 1934 |volume=1 |url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.27295 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |page=[https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.27295/page/85/mode/2up 85] }}</ref>

According to [[F. W. Thomas]] and Hendrik Willem Obbink, his mother was [[Nada Diaka]], who was the daughter of Ayasia Kamuia.<ref name="Obbink">{{cite book |last=Obbink |first=Hendrik Willem | title=Orientalia Rheno-traiectina | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0t8UAAAAIAAJ | access-date=8 March 2012 | publisher=Brill Archive | page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=0t8UAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA333 333] | id=GGKEY:S6C77GP5KP7| year=1949 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Thomas |first=F. W. |author-link=Frederick William Thomas (philologist) |date=1907–1908 |title=Epigraphia Indica |volume=9 |url=https://archive.org/details/epigraphiaindica014770mbp |location=Kolkata |publisher=Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India. |page=[https://archive.org/details/epigraphiaindica014770mbp/page/n175/mode/2up 140]-[https://archive.org/details/epigraphiaindica014770mbp/page/n175/mode/2up 141] }}</ref> However, according to [[Sten Konow]], Ayasia Kamuia, the chief queen of [[Rajuvula]], was the daughter of Kharahostes.{{sfn|Konow|1929|p=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32007/page/n183/mode/2up 36], [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32007/page/n43/mode/2up xxxv]-[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32007/page/n43/mode/2up xxxvi]}}

[[File:Kharahostes symbol of three pellets joined together.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Dynastic mark of Kharahostes.]]
Kharohostes' coinage bears a dynastic mark (a circle within three pellets), which is rather similar, although not identical, with the dynastic mark of the [[Kushan Empire|Kushan]] ruler [[Kujula Kadphises]] (three pellets joined together), which has led to suggestions that they may have been contemporary rulers.

The Kharaosta of the [[Mathura lion capital]] inscriptions is usually identified with the Satrap Kharaostas or Kharahostes.{{sfn|Harmatta|1999|p=201}} However, according to a recent study by [[Joe Cribb]], the Kharaostes of Mathura should be considered as a different Indo-Scythian [[Northern Satrap]], who ruled in [[Mathura]] with his own specific coinage and was probably a successor of [[Sodasa]] just before the conquest of Mathura by [[Kushan Empire|Kushan]] king [[Vima Takto]].<ref name="Cribb"/>

Kharaosta's known coins are of two types, presenting legends in [[Greek alphabet|Greek]] characters on the obverse and in [[Kharoshthi]] in the reverse: a round type in the name of [[Azes]] and three-pellet symbol, also recently attributed to his son [[Mujatria]], and a square type without the three-pellet symbol in his own name, as son of [[Arta (Kamuia)|Arta]].

The Greek and Kharoshthi legends in the square coins run thus:
{{blockquote|XAPAHWCTEI ϹΑΤΡΑΠΕΙ ARTAYOY (Greek for "Satrap Kharahostes, son of Arta") ''Kṣatrapasa Pra Kharaoṣtasa Artasa Putrasa'' ([[Kharoshthi]] for "Satrap Kharaosta, son of Arta")<ref>{{cite book |last=Lüders |first=Heinrich |author-link=Heinrich Lüders |date=1940 |title=Philologica Indica |url=https://archive.org/details/philologicaindicaluders |location=Göttingen |publisher=[[Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht]] |page=[https://archive.org/details/philologicaindicaluders/page/n265/mode/2up 252] }}</ref>}}
Some of his coins write "Ortas" in place of "Artas".

==Buddhist dedications==
Kharahostes is known for several Buddhist dedications.

===Bimaran casket===
[[File:BimaranCasket2.JPG|thumb|Unworn coins of Kharahostes were found in the [[Bimaran casket]], suggesting the dedication was made during his rule.<ref name="Cribb"/>]]
{{Main|Bimaran casket}}
Unworn coins of Kharahostes, or his son [[Mujatria]], were found in the [[Bimaran casket]], suggesting the dedication was made during his rule or that of his son, if not by them personally.<ref name="Cribb"/>

===Indravarman's Silver Reliquary===
{{main|Apracaraja Indravarman's Silver Reliquary}}
Kharahostes is also known as one of the owners of the [[Apracaraja Indravarman's Silver Reliquary|Indravarman's Silver Reliquary]] as described by the inscriptions in [[Kharoshthi]] on the reliquary.<ref>Inscription Nb II in [[Apracaraja Indravarman's Silver Reliquary]]</ref> He was probably the initial owner of the reliquary, which was then rededicated by [[Apraca]] ruler [[Indravarma]]. The Indravarman Silver Reliquary is dated with certainty before the [[Bajaur casket]], meaning it must have been dedicated by Indravarman as a Prince in the end of the 1st century BCE, implying that Kharahostes, the previous owner of the Silver Reliquary (as shown by the inscriptions) was already king before that time (at the very least before 6 CE, date of the [[Bajaur casket]]).<ref name="Salomon"/>

==A son: Mujatria==
[[File:Kharahostes Northern Satrap with Azes and Tyche Nandipada behind king.jpg|thumb|left|According to [[Joe Cribb]] (2015), this coin type may belong to [[Kharaostes]]'s son [[Mujatria]].]]
Some rare square coins, also displaying the three-pellet symbol, were struck in the name of [[Mujatria]], who claims in the Kharoshthi legends of these coins that he is the "son of Kharahostes".<ref name="Cribb"/>

A recent study (2015) by [[Joe Cribb]] suggests that the round debased silver coins with three-pellet symbols in the name of [[Azes II|Azes]], usually attributed to Kharahostes, should actually be attributed to Mujatria.<ref name="Cribb"/>

{{clear left}}

==See also==
*[[Parama-Kambojas]]
*[[India and Central Asia]]

==References and notes==
<references />

==Sources==
*{{cite book |last=Harmatta |first=János |author-link=János Harmatta |editor-last1=Harmatta |editor-first1=János |editor-link1=János Harmatta |editor-last2=Puri |editor-first2=B. N. |editor-link2=Baij Nath Puri |editor-last3=Etemadi |editor-first3=G. F. |date=1999 |chapter=Languages and scripts in Graeco-Bactria and the Saka Kingdoms |title=History of civilizations of Central Asia |volume=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DguGWP0vGY8C |location=Delhi |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass|Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House]] |isbn=978-8-120-81408-0}}
*{{cite book |last=Konow |first=Sten |author-link=Sten Konow |date=1929 |title=Kharoshṭhī Inscriptions: with the Exception of Those of Aśoka |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.62020 |location=Kolkata |publisher=Government of India Central Publication Branch}}

==External links==
*[http://depts.washington.edu/ebmp/etext.php?cki=CKI0048 Mathura Lion Capital Inscriptions]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060125085242/http://www.grifterrec.com/y/cribb/ekk_cribb_03.html The Early Kushan Kings: New Evidence for Chronology: Para (63)]

{{Indo-Scythians}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Indo-Scythian kings]]
[[Category:Indo-Scythian satraps]]
[[Category:1st-century monarchs in Asia]]
[[Category:1st-century BC Iranian people]]
[[Category:1st-century Iranian people]]

Kharahostes - Revision history

Gurupratap Rajan at 07:48, 29 May 2025