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Art. XIII.—The Western Kshatrapas

Pait Bhagvānlāl Indrajī

Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society / Volume 22 / Issue 03 / July 1890, pp 639 - 662 DOI: 10.1017/S0035869X00020815, Published online: 15 March 2011

Link to this article: http://journals.cambridge.org/ abstract_S0035869X00020815

How to cite this article: Pait Bhagvānlāl Indrajī (1890). Art. XIII.—The Western Kshatrapas. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 22, pp 639-662 doi:10.1017/ S0035869X00020815

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25 26 27 COINS OF THE WESTERN KSHATRAPAS.

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ART. XIII.—The Western Kshatrapas. By PANDIT BHAG- VANLAL INDRAJI, Ph.D., M.R.A.S. Edited by E. J. RAPSON, M.A., M.R.A.S. (), Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge.

EDITOR'S PREFACE. ["THIS is my last contribution to Indian archaeology. It contains views which I have arrived at after a careful and continuous study, extending over twenty-six years, of the Kshatrap coins and inscriptions."1 These were among the last words of Pandit Bhagvanlal Indraji, who almost up to the day of his death was engaged in com- pleting the article now published. Hisv death in March, 1888, was a real loss to Indian archaeology. The tributes paid to his memory by Prof. Peterson in the Academy, by Dr. Biihler in the Indian Antiquary, by Mr. Javerilal TTmiashankar Yajnik and Dr. Codrington in the Journal Bombay Asiatic Society, testify to the esteem in which he was held, both as a man and as a scholar, by those who knew him. The Pandit's papers were transmitted to me by Prof. Peterson in January, 1889, soon after the arrival of the collection of coins and the inscribed " Lion-capital" be- queathed by him to the British Museum. Of this much- prized accession to the National Collection, I gave a short account, illustrated by coins selected by the Pandit himself, at a meeting of the Eoyal Asiatic Society in February, 1889. My task as editor has not been altogether an easy one. The manuscript was written by Mr. Yithalji Keshavji Dvivedi from the Pandit's dictation in Gujerati. To prepare a paper thus written for publication, much rearrangement and much condensation were naturally necessary; but I trust that I have, at least, succeeded in accurately reproducing the Pandit's views. The substance

1 Quoted from the "Memoir of the late Pandit Bhagvanlal Indraji," by Javerilal Umiashankar Yajnik, in the Journal Bombay Branch K.A.S. for 1889. TOL. XXII.—[NEW SERIES ] 42 640 THE WESTERN KSHATBAPAS. of the article is entirely his, while the form is to a great extent mine. The present paper forms but a portion of the manuscript which I undertook to edit. The remainder, which deals with the history and coinage of the Northern Kshatrapas, illustrated by the inscriptions on the Lion-capital, will I hope be ready for publication at an early date. E. J. EAPSON.]

The term k&hatrapa was, no doubt, introduced into from Parthia. It is never found in Sanskrit literature; and, as found in inscriptions and on coins, it is doubtless nothing more than the Sanskrit form of the Old-Persian khshatrapa, with the primary meaning of " chief of the military order." The title was specially applied to those chieftains, who were deputed by their sovereign or overlord to rule over certain portions of his territory; and its use seems, in some instances, to have been continued, even after such chieftains had become sufficiently powerful to assert their own independence. The two most important lines of in the early history of India are those which I have called the Northern and the Western. The former ruled in Northern India during the first century of the Christian era, and their territory may be approximately described as extending from the valleys of the Himalayas on the north, as far as Muttra and the junction of the Ganges and Jumna, or perhaps somewhat farther south. The coins of this dynasty were first described by Prinsep in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.1 They were subsequently noticed by Sir Alexander Cunningham in his paper on " The Buddhist Satraps" published in the same Journal in 1856; and again in the third volume of his Reports of the Archaeological Survey of Inda. My discovery at Muttra of the Lion-capital, which is covered with inscrip- tions relating to this dynasty, has since enabled me to throw further light on the subject. The other dynasty of Kshatrapas held sway, from the last quarter of the first century A.D. to the end of the fourth, over a large territory in Western India, which may be said, 1 Vol. vii. p. 1051. THE WESTERN KSHATEAPAS. 641 generally speaking, to have comprised Malwa, Sind, Kacch, Kathiawad, proper, and the northern Konkan. These princes have hitherto been more generally known as the Sah kings, or as the Satraps of Surashtra. The former of these names arose from a mistaken reading of the name Simha caused by the fact that the vowels are often omitted in the coin-legends. The other designation, " Satraps of Surashtra," is inadequate. Surashtra was one province only of the kingdom, and it seems probable that a deputy-governor of this province bore the title at the same time as the chief governor ruled the whole kingdom with the title Great Satrap. I prefer therefore to call these princes simply" the Western Kshatrapas. The labours of Prinsep, Newton, Thomas, and others, have made the eoins of this dynasty better known to us than those of the Northern Satraps. The first of the Western Kshatrapas is , who is called on his coins a Kshaharata. This appears to be the Sanskrit form of the Prakrit Kharaotha, which we find used as the family or tribal name of a dynasty ruling at Muttra. It appears in the inscriptions on the Lion-capital, and also on a class of coins first read by Sir A. Cunningham—the coins of the Satrap Artas, the Kharaotha. It moreover occurs in the form Chhahardta on the Taxila copper-plate dated in the 78th year of the great king Moga. If then Nahapana's title Kshaharata is the same as Kharaotha, we have here a con- necting link between the Northern and Western Kshatrapas. From information afforded by the inscriptions on the Lion-capital and other sources, we seem justified in supposing that, about the middle of the first century A.D., a (Jaka general named Kusula Patika had gained the overlordship of all the tribes in Northern India.1 The Kshaharata dynasty, among others, yielded to him; and it is not improbable that Nahapana may have been a younger member of the deposed family, who entered Patika's service and was despatched by him from Muttra to attempt the conquest of the Deccan. We know from Nahapana's

1 [This point will be discussed more fully in the Pandit's paper on the Northern ,s.—E.J. E.] 642 THE WESTERN KSHATRAPAS. inscriptions that he attacked and defeated the Qatakarni king of the Deccan, and deprived him of a large portion of his territory. Inscriptions also teach us that Nahapana held possession of a portion of the Deccan or Mahratta country, the Northern Konkan, some portion of Gujarat proper, and Surashtra, or Kathiawad and Kacch. It seems to me probable that the Qaka era, commencing 78 A.D., was inaugurated by Nahapana to commemorate his victory over the Qatakami king, and named in honour of his Qaka overlords. It is almost certain that all the dates of the Western Kshatrapas, whether on coins or in inscriptions, are-recorded in years of this era. In addition to the coinage, we possess the following sources of information about Nahapana:—three inscriptions of his son-in-law Ushavadata (Rishabhadatta), and two of his daughter Dakshamitra at Nasik; one of Ushavadata at Karle; and one of his minister Ayama at .1 The dates of these inscriptions range from the year 41 to the year 46 ; so that, if our supposition that the Qaka era was founded by Nahapana be correct, his reign must have been a very long one. The way in which he is spoken of in the inscriptions seems to show that he was a powerful and independent monarch, and that both Ushavadata and Ayama acted as his deputy-governors in different parts of the kingdom. Neither he nor his son in-in-law Ushavadata seems to have had a son, or some mention would certainly, in accordance with universal custom, have been made of the fact in the inscriptions. This is borne out too by the evidence supplied by the coins. , who succeeded to the power of Nahanapa, evidently belonged to a different family.

I. NAHAPANA, THE KSHAHARATA. [Kshatrapa: dates on inscriptions 41—46.] Legend on coins: Rajnah Kshaharatasa Nahapanasa (in Nagari) = HdKah Chhaharatasa Nahapanasa or simply Banah Chhaharutasa (in Baotrian Pali). Plate, 1 and la. I used to possess four silver coins of Nahapana; but one 1 Tor a full account of these inscriptions see vol. xvi. of the Bombay Gazetteer, and the Archaeological Survey of India, " Kathiawad and Kacch." THE WESTERN KSHATKAPAS. 643 of these, which I obtained from Nasik, was spoiled in cleaning. I heated the coin, and a silver coating came off from each side leaving only a piece of copper. The face on the obverse of all my coins was so well executed as to fairly indicate the age of the king at the time of striking. The face on the coin just mentioned seemed to be that of a man about 30 years old. Another specimen, procured by me in 1862 or 1863, from for Dr. Bhau Daji, and published by Mr. Newton, has a somewhat older head, perhaps about 45. A third coin, obtained from a village near Mahmudabad, has a wrinkled face with a long and wrinkled neck, indicating an age of about 60; while the last specimen, which I procured from Junagadh, bears a still older type of face with wrinkled cheeks and toothless mouth, and represents the king at about the age of seventy. The Greek legends on the obverse of these coins can never be read with certainty; but I imagine that they referred to the Qaka overlord of the Kshatrapas. The inscriptions on the reverse are bilingual, but those in Bactrian Pall are badly executed and not always perfectly legible. The symbols on the reverse are an arrow and a thunderbolt. The occurrence of these symbols on some copper coins, which are found in the coasting regions of Gujarat and Kathiawad, and also sometimes in Malwa, make it probable that these were also struck by Nahapana. These copper coins bear on the other side the Buddhist symbols, a standing deer and a dharmachakra, and also show traces of inscriptions which have not hitherto been deciphered.

II. CHASHTANA, SON OF ZAMOTIKA. [Kshatrapa and Mahakshatrapa: no dated coins or inscriptions.] Nagarl: Rajnah Kshatrapasa (or Jiajno Jffahakshatrapasa) Ghsa- motihaputrasa Chash$anasa=Bactrian Pali Chathanasa. PI. 2. Our information concerning Chashtana is derived entirely from his coins and from the inscriptions of his descendants. He is the first of a family of Satraps and Great Satraps which continues without a break until the time of Vicvasena (year 221, probably=A.D. 299). After this period the family line 644 THE WESTERN KSHATEAPAS. is broken, and there are many gaps which cannot at present be filled up. Chashtana was evidently not of the same family or tribe as Nahapana; but there is sufficient similarity in the style of their coins to show that they not only lived at about the same period, but also that they were probably satraps of the same overlord. The name of Chashtana may possibly denote that he belonged to the Chashta or Chutsa tribe which is mentioned in the Taxila copper-plate grant. He seems to have been the son of a private person, since the name of his father Zamotika has no title prefixed to it. The transcription of this name Zamotika or Xamotika into Nagari characters could only be effected by the invention of some compound letter to represent the sound of 3 or x, for which no provision was made in the Nagari alphabet. The compound ghs was therefore employed. We shall find another instance of this in the transcription of the name Damazada or Damaxada, by Damaghxada. The style of the bust on the obverse of Chashtana'a coins differs from that of Nahapana's chiefly in the arrangement of the hair and in the form of headdress. Chashtana has two types of reverse : the first consists of a crescent and a star or rayed-sun ; the second has, in addition to these, the symbol which, for want of a better name, has been commonly called the symbol, consisting of a pyramid in the form of three arches and having beneath it a wavy line. This latter type, which seems distinctively Indian, as it is so commonly used on Hindu coins, may have been adopted by Chashtana when he threw off all allegiance to his overlord, and declared his own independence. It remains the constant type of the Kshatrapa coinage from this time till the dynasty succumbed to the Guptas at the end of the fourth century of the Christian era. Chashtana is called, on his coins, sometimes Kshatrapa and sometimes Mahakshatrapa. He was probably to some extent contemporary with Nahapana, and, like him, the general of some Qaka sovereign; but while Nahapana held Surashtra and the adjacent districts, Chashtana would seem to have conquered a great part of Western Kajputana and to have established himself at Aj mere, where the greater THE WESTERN KSHATRAPAS, 645 number of his coins are found. Subsequently he seems to have conquered the kingdom of Malwa and fixed his capital at Ujain ; there can be no doubt that he is identical with the Tiaa-ravo? mentioned by the geographer Ptolemy as ruling in this capital. After the death of Nahapana, who had no son, Chashtana seems to have succeeded to his dominions; and the Kshatrapa kingdom for the future may be described as comprising the territories conquered by these first two satraps. The title Mahakshatrapa would seem to indicate this increase in the power of Chashtana, and at the same time to denote his independence of any overlord. We may conjecturally place Chashtana's reign as lasting from about the year 33 to about the year 58 (c. lit—c. 136 A.D.).

III. JAYADAMAN SON OF CHASHTANA. [Kshatrapa: no dated coins or inscriptions.] Rajnah Kshatrapasa' 1 \_Svami~] Jayadamasa. PI. 3 and 3a. All the genealogies given in the Kshatrapa inscriptions hitherto discovered teach us that Jayadaman was the son of Chashtana. I have not yet been able to obtain an undoubted specimen in silver of this prince; but I think it probable that the specimen given in the Plate is a coin of Jayadaman, although the name and the greater part of the legend cannot be read. The coin is in many respects like those of Nahapana; both style and letters are similar, and the beginning of a legend in Bactrian Pali is clearly legible. The symbols are, however, those inaugurated by Chashtana, and the word Kshatrapasa is beyond doubt. It cannot possibly be a coin of Nahapana. The copper coins of Jayadaman are well known. They are square, and bear on the obverse an Indian bull facing right, and in front of it a trident and axe combined. Around the obverse are Greek characters—probably the remains of the name of some overlord. The reverse bears the usual symbols and the inscription within a circle. 1 [Svami is probably the correct reading of two characters which were apparently overlooked by the Pandit. They appear more distinctly on the specimen published by Newton.—E. J. E.] 646 THE WESTEEN KSHATRAPAS.

Jayadaman only bears the title Kshatrapa. This may either mean that the power of some overlord which Chashtana had thrown off was reasserted during Jayadaman's reign; or that Jayadaman had been defeated and reduced by his powerful neighbour, the Qatakarni king of the Deccan. The Qatakarni king at this period was probably Gotaml- putra, one of whose coins, executed in the style of Jayadaman, I found at Sopara.1 This particular style of coin seems not to have been imitated by any other Qatakarni kings. We shall have to mention this subject again in our account of the next prince, Rudradaman. The scarcity of Jayadaman's coins seems to show that his reign was not a long one. If we allow five years, the end of his reign will fall approxi- mately in the year 63 (Qaka=141 AD.).

IV. RUDRADAMAN, SON OF JAYADSMAN. [Makakshatrapa: inscription dated 72 ] Rajnah Kihatrapasa Jayadamaputrasa Rajno MaMkshatrapasa Rudradamasa (sometimes Rudradamnah). PI. 4. Jayadaman was succeeded by his son Rudradaman, whose name comes fourth in order in the genealogy of these princes given in inscriptions. Our information concerning him is unusually extensive, thanks to the magnificent inscription engraved on the western side of the rock containing the edicts of Acoka at Junagadh. From this we learn that he was a powerful monarch, who regained for his family the position which it had lost during the reign of his father. The inscription, which was executed by order of one of Rudradaman's ministers, who held authority as his deputy over Surashtra and Anarta, commemorates the restoration of a large tank, which was first constructed by Pushyagupta, a Vaicya and brother-in-law of the Maurya king Chandra- gupta (about 300 B.C.). In the time of Agoka, the grandson of Chandragupta, this tank had been ornamented and pro- vided with a water-course by a relative of the king's, named Trishaspa, who is also described as a "Yavana," a term 1 See "Sopara and Padana." THE WESTERN KSHATRAPAS. 647 which must here hare the general signification of foreigner. It can scarcely mean a Greek, since the name, like Zorasp, Hystasp, etc., is evidently of Persian origin. For a very long period, probably for about four hundred and fifty years after its construction, the lake seems to have remained in a satis- factory condition. But in the year 72 (Qaka=150 A.D.), on the first day of the dark half of the month Margaclrsha, there came a great storm, which caused the tributaries of the lake to overflow, and its embankment gave way. This occurred during the reign of the Mahakshatrapa Rudradaman, who himself undertook the work of restoration. Together with much eulogy of the usual kind, the inscription records some most important historical facts. Rudradaman is styled " lord of eastern and western. Akaravati, Anupadeca, Anarta, Surashtra, Qvabhra, Maru, Kaccha, Sindhu, Sauvira, Kukura, Aparanta, and Nishada," and is mentioned as having won for himself the title of Mahakshatrapa (svayamadhigatamahakshatrapanamnah). The precise meaning of this is not explained; but we may almost certainly infer that a position of independence of some over- lord, first asserted by Chashtana, then lost by Jayadaman, was regained by Rudradaman. This prince is also said to have exterminated the Yaudheyas, and to have twice conquered the Qatakarni king of the Dekhan, whom, however, he released " on account of his near relationship." This Qatakarni was, probably, Gotamlputra Qatakarni; and it is not improbable that the object of Rudradaman's wars may have been, as I have suggested, to avenge a defeat inflicted by this king on Jayadaman. The events mentioned in the inscription must have taken some considerable time for their fulfilment. On our assumption that Jayadaman ceased to reign in about the year 63, Rudradaman would, at the date of the inscription (72), have been reigning about nine years. In default of any direct evidence on the point, we will suppose Rudradaman to have reigned fifteen years after this date and conjecturally place the end of his reign in the year 87 (Qaka=165 A.D.). I have not been able to findan y copper coins of Rudradaman* 648 THE WESTEEN KSHATEAPAS.

All the silver specimens, of which I possess nine, are made of superior metal and are well executed.

V. DAMAZABA, SON OF RUDRADAMAN. [Kshatrapa: no dates.] Rajno Mahahhatrapasa Rudradamaputrasa Rajnah Kshatrapaw Damaghsadasa (or Damajadaqriyah.) PI. 5. We find on coins the names of two sons of Rudradaman— Damazada or Damajadacri, and Rudrasimha. The coins of the latter, who did not reign for a considerable period after his father's death, will be mentioned below. As far as I am aware, no scholar has hitherto described the coinage of this Damazada. The first two coins which I saw of this prince were sent to me for examination by Mr. Vaje- shankar Gaurlshankar. A few months after receiving these, I discovered four excellent specimens among a collection found at a village near Kundla in Kathiawad. The Greek characters on the obverse of these coins are much clearer than on those of any of the preceding monarchs.l There being no character for 2 in the Nagari alphabet, this sound in the name Damazada was either represented by the com- pound ghs (as we have already seen in Zamotika, the name of Chashtana's father) or by/. In the latter case the name is further Sanskritised by the addition of -gri. On his own coins Damazada is merely called Kshatrapa; but, as he appears as Mahakshatrapa on the coins of his son Jivadaman, we may suppose that he held the superior position for 3 brief period only towards the end of his reign. Further, as his coins are very scarce, it is probable that his reign as Kshatrapa was a short one.

1 [The Pandit sees in these mutilated Greek inscriptions traces of the name Liaka Kusula, a name which is known as that of a member of the Qaka family, which seems to have exercised originally a sort of supremacy over the Satraps. The evidence for this is, however, extremely slight. It is scarcely too much to say that no identical or even very similar combinations of these Greek letters are found on different specimens. The arrangement of these Greek characters seems to me quite fantastic; they seem to be merely a reminiscence of the Greek legends on the Bactrian coins from which the Satrap coins were originally copied. The letters AACO seen on some specimens cannot represent the name Liaka unless we suppose these legends to consist partly of Greek and partly of Eoman characters. —E. J. E.J THE WESTERN KSHATRAPAS; 649

Subsequently to this period, when the dates on the coins afford us direct evidence, we find that, as a rule, a Maha- kshatrapa and a Kshatrapa used to reign at the same time. Damazada may, therefore, have been an underlord reigning in Surashtra during the lifetime of his father. Supposing him to have survived his father seven years, we may ap- proximately date the end of his reign as 94 (Qaka=172 A.D.). The reverse of one of my coins has been double-struck, the name and titles of Damazada appearing twice and completing the circle.

YI. JlVADAMAN, SON OF DIMAJADA. [Mahakshatrapa: dated coins, 100.] Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Damajadasa putrasa Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Jivadamasa. PI. 6. The next prince is a son of Damazada named Jivadaman, who is styled Mahakshatrapa on all his coins. I possess four specimens. One of these was obtained by me at Amreli, in 1863, for Dr. Bhau Daji, and has siace been kindly given to me by his son Mr. Vithal Bhau Daji. It has been already published by Mr. Newton.1 Another specimen was lent to me by Mr. Vajeshankar Gaurlshankar. I asked him for a loan of this coin, as it bore on the obverse a long inscription in Greek characters. These Greek characters on the obverse are, however, from this period onwards, so fragmentary that any attempt to decipher them is hopeless. They still con- tinued to be copied on all the successive coinages, but any meaning that they once possessed was evidently now quite forgotten. The coins of Jivadaman are interesting as being the first dated coins of this series. Henceforth, until the close of this dynasty—a period of about 210 years—all well-struck coins bear on the obverse behind the king's head the number of the year in Nagari numerals. The only date found on the coins of Jivadaman is 100, and it is possible that the custom may have been introduced by

1 Journal of the Bombay Branch of the E.A.S. vol. ix. p. 5. 650 THE WESTERN KSHATBAPAS. him to celebrate the completion of the first century of the Qaka era. Two of ray coins are dated ; but as the types are different —the " sun " symbol having in one specimen eight, and in the other twelve rays—it would appear that they were struck at different mints.

VII. RUDRASIMHA, SON OF RuDRADAMAN. [Kshatrapa: inscription dated 103. Mahakshatrapa : dated coins 103—118.] Rajno Mahdkshatrapasa Rudradamnah putrasa Rajno Mahdhha- trapasa Rudrasimhasa. PI. 7. Rudrasimha, the uncle of the prince last mentioned, was the son—probably the youngest son—of Rudradaman. His earliest coins bear a youthful head without moustache; while specimens of later date give the moustache, as usually worn by the princes of this dynasty. Rudrasimha is called Mahakshatrapa on all his coins; but on an inscription dated 103, which is also the first date appearing on the coins, he is called Kshatrapa. It may be that, until the year 103, he ruled in Surashtra as a simple Kshatrapa, and, towards the end of that year, either drove his uncle Jivadaman from the throne, or succeeded him on his death as Mahakshatrapa. The inscription referred to was found by Major J. Watson near the village of Gunda in the Halar district of Kathiawad. It is about 2 ft. 2 in. long and 10 in. wide, and is dated on the 5th day of the bright fortnight of the month Vaicakha in the year 103. Dr. Biihler, who has published and translated this inscription,1 supposes it to commemorate the sinking of a well; but I believe it to refer to the construction of some public building, the precise name of which is lost, as the letters are, at this point, undecipherable. I would therefore suggest, in place of Dr. Blihler's rendering, that the translation of the latter part of the inscription should be as follows :—" The Abhlra General Rudrabhuti, son of General Bahaka, built

1 Indian Antiquary, vol. x. p. 157. THE WESTERN KSHATBAPAS. 651

at the village of Rasopadra, for the benefit of all living creatures." The inscription gives a genealogy of four names in direct succession from Chashtana to Rudrasimha ; but no reference is made to the brother or nephew of Rudrasimha—Damajada and Jlvadaman—who, as we have seen, also reigned. No significance need, however, attach to this omission, since it is the rule in these genealogies to give the direct succession only. They are, in fact, family as opposed to dynastic lists. A similar genealogy of Rudrasimha is afforded by an inscription discovered by Dr. Burgess, while excavating in a cave near the Bavapyara hermitage at Junagadh. This has also been edited and translated by Dr. Biihler.1 I possess thirty coins of Rudrasimha, all in excellent preservation, and twenty of them bearing distinct dates as follows : four, 103; one, 107; two, 108 ; three, 110 ; three, 112 ; two, 113 ; one, 114 ; one, 115 ; one, 116 ; two, 118. The dates on these coins have prefixed to them symbols which differ in different specimens. Sometimes we find one perpendicular line, sometimes two, and sometimes a dot. Two specimens have CO, one 00, and one VO. I cannot say if these symbols have any meaning. They may, perhaps, be numerals of some kind, or the remains of some word meaning year. A curious coin in my possession affords some ground for supposing that the reign of Rudrasimha may have been interrupted by some son of his brother Damazada. The obverse bears a well-executed bust of Rudrasimha with the date 118—the latest borne by the coins of Rudrasimha— while the reverse has been double-struck, the legend Rajno Mahdkshatrapasa Ddmajadasa putrasa appearing twice. It may be that some son of Damazada, whose name we are prevented by an accident from knowing, deprived Rudra- simha of his throne and restruck his coins. There is, however, no other evidence of such a fact.

1 Arch. Surv. West. India, "Kathiawad and Kacch," p. 140, pi. xx. fig. 1. 652 THE WESTERN KSHATRAPAS.

VIII. BUDKASBNA, SON OF RtJDRASIMHA. [Mahakshatrapa : inscription dated 122 ; dated coins, 125-142.] Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Rudrasimhaputrasa Rajno Mahakshatra- pasa Rudrasenasa. PI. 8. Rudrasimha was succeeded as Mahakshatrapa by his son Rudrasena, possibly, as we have seen, after an interval caused by an interloper. The earliest date found on the coins of Rudrasimha is 125, but, from an inscription on a stone slab found at the village of Muliasar, we learn that he was reigning in the year 122. There is also another inscription of this king, which was discovered by me at the village of Jasdan in Kathiawad. An eye-copy and transcript of this inscription was sent by me to Dr. Bhau Daji, who, with the aid of Shastri Pandurang Padhya, published it in the Journal of the Bombay Asiatic Society.1 This inscription gives us a genealogy of the usual form from Chashtana to Rudrasena. Unfortunately, the date is not certain, the unit-figure being indistinct. Of the 41 coins of Rudrasena in my possession, 23 afford dates as follows: one, 125; two, 130; one, 132; four, 134; two, 135 ; two, 136 ; seven, 138 ; three, 140 ; one, 142. In the case of Rudrasena, too, the face on the earlier coins is without moustache, from which we may infer, as in the case of his father, that he came to the throne at an early age. One of the coins in my possession has been struck on the top of another specimen, thus having the king's bust in relief on one side and impressed on the other. Other instances of the same kind are known, and it is believed that one coin in a thousand was purposely struck in this way.

IX. SANGHADAMAN, SON OF RUDRASIMHA. [Kshatrapa: date? Mahakshatrapa: dated coin 144.] Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Rudrasimhasa putrasa Rajno Mahaksha- trapasa Sahghadama&a (also Rdjnah Kshatrapasa Sah°). PI. 9. On a coin belonging to the Naeb Dewan of Bhaunagar, Sanghadaman bears the title of Kshatrapa; and it is not 1 Vol. viii. p. 234. [A revision of this has since been made by Dr. Hoernle. —Ind. Ant. vol. XII. p. 32.] THE WESTERN KSHATRAPAS. 653 unlikely that he held the position of Kshatrapa of Surashtra during the lifetime of his brother Rudrasena, and succeeded to the higher title on his death. The date of this coin is unfortunately obliterated. The coinage of Sanghadaman is extremely rare, and I have in my own possession only one specimen, which was obtained from Amreli in 1862, and given to Dr. Bhau Daji. This was published by Mr. Newton in his third paper.1 Mr. Newton, however, failed to read the legend correctly, and supposed Sanghadaman to be the son of Rudrasena. On this coin Sanghadaman bears the title of Mahakshatrapa. The date is almost certainly 144, although the unit figure is somewhat indistinct. The rarity of Sanghadaman's coinage seems to show that he reigned but a short time, whether as Kshatrapa or Mahakshatrapa. He probably succeeded Rudrasena about 143.

X. PRITHIVISENA, SON OF RUDRASENA. [Kshatrapa: dated coin 144.] Rujno Mahakshatrapasa Rudrasenasa putrasa Rajnah Kshai/rapasa Prithivisenasa. PI. 10. The coin of Prithivlsena which I possess is, as far as I am aware, unique. It is an excellent specimen; the bust and the date on the obverse are in good relief, while the letters of the inscription on the reverse are distinct and well shaped. This coin affords us the only information we have of Prithivlsena. He appears here as a simple Kshatrapa; and we may suppose that he succeeded his uncle Sanghadaman as Kshatrapa of Surashtra when Sanghadaman succeeded Rudrasena as Mahakshatrapa.

XI. DAMASENA, SON OF RUDRASIMHA. [Mahakshatrapa : dated coins, 148-157.] Rajfio Mahakshatrapasa Rudrasimhasa putrasa Mahakshatrapasa Damasenasa. PI. 11. Sanghadaman (last dated coins, 144) was probably suc- ceeded as Mahakshatrapa by his brother Damasena (earliest > Journal of the B.B.R.A.S., vol. is. p. 5, 654 THE WESTESN KSHATEAPAS.

coins, 148). I possess twenty-two excellent specimens of Damasena's coinage, and of these eleven bear distinct dates ] as follows: one, 148; one, 150; one, 152; one 152 or 153 ?; j one, 153; two, 154, two, 156; two, 157. In addition to these there is one coin with an indistinct date, which I am inclined to read as 158. This is, however, extremely doubtful; and we can only certainly give the dates of Damasena's coins as ranging from 148 to 157.

XII. DAMAJADA9RI, SON OF E.TJDRASENA. [Kshatrapa: dated coins, 154.] Rojfio Mahakshatrapasa Eudrasenaputrasa Eajnah Kshatrapam Damajadagriyah. PL 12. I possess six excellent specimens of the coinage of this Kshatrapa, all of them bearing the date 154. Damajadacri was therefore contemporary with his uncle Damasena, the Mahakshatrapa, and probably succeeded—though perhaps not immediately—his brother Prithivisena as Kshatrapa of Surashtra.

XIII. YIRAPAMAN, SON OF DAMASENA! [Kshatrapa: dated coina, 158-176 (?).] Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Damasenaputrasa Eajnalj, Kshatrapasa Viradamnah. PL 13. Of Yiradaman's coinage I possess 35 specimens, twelve of which are dated as follows : eight, 158 ; three, 160 ; and one 176 (?). There is some doubt as to the last-mentioned date, as the second numeral is very indistinct. From the remains of the cross-stroke which can be seen in the lower portion of the figure we are justified, I think, in reading this numeral as 70; although this reading would give us a very long interval (160—176) for which no dated coins have been found. There is no doubt about the unit figure, which is distinctly 6. In spite of the length of his reign, Vlradaman never appears as a Mahakshatrapa. His reign as a simple Kshatrapa is, as will be seen below, partly concurrent with the reigns of his brothers Yacodaman and Yijayasena both i as Kshatrapas and as Mahakshatrapas. As might be expected THE "WESTERN KSHATEAPAS. 655 r from the length of his reign, the coins of Vlradaman are found in large numbers.

XIV. YACODAMAN, SON OF DAMASENA. [Ksbatrapa : dated coins, 160. Mahakshatrapa : dated coin, 161.] Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Ddmasenaputrasa Rdjnah Kshatrapsa (or Rajno Mahakshatrapasa) Yagodamnah. PI. 14. The coinage of Yacodaman is scarce, and this fact, ias well as the dates on the coins, seems to indicate a short reign of probably only two or three years. The Nagari letters on the specimens found are unusually fine. I possess six coins of this prince, two of which are dated 160, and one 161. The dates on the others are illegible. Yacodainan is called Kshafcrapa on the coins dated 160, and Mahakshatrapa on the coin dated 161. The end of his reign can scarcely be placed later than 162, since we find his brother striking coins as Mahakshatrapa in the following year.

XV. VIJAYASENA, SON OF DAMASENA. [Kshatrapa : dated coins, 160-162. Mahakshatrapa : dated coins, 163-171.] Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Ddmasenaputrasa Rdjnah Kshatrapasa (or Rajno Mahakshatrapasa) Vijayasenasa, PI. 15. The dates on coins teach us that Vlradaman, Yacodaman, and Vijayasena, sons of Damasena, were all Kshatrapas— probably governors of provinces—at the same time; also that Yacodaman succeeded to the superior title in 161, and Vijayaaena in 163. It is probable then that (in spite of the lack of numismatic evidence) their father Damasena reigned as Mahakshatrapa until 161, the year he was succeeded by his son Ya§odaman. Vijayasena's coins are found in large numbers throughout Kathiawad and Gujarat. I have 166 specimens, most of them being in excellent preservation. Fifty-four have dates as follows: one, 160; two, 161; four, 162; five, 163 ; seventeen, 164; two, 165; four, 166; four, 167; nine, 168; five, 170; one, 171. It will be noticed that all the years from 160 to 171 inclusive are represented with the single exception of 169. TOL. XXII.—[NEW SERIES.] 43 656 THE WESTERN KSHATBAPAS;

Vijayasena is styled Kshatrapa until the year 163, \rhv he assumes the higher title which is found on all coins from. that date to the end of his reign. The number of coins dated 164 is especially large. This may be explained if we suppose that he became a Mahakshatrapa late in 163, and struck large numbers of coins to promulgate his new title throughout the following year. After Vijayasena (last date 171) we meet with no Maha- kshatrapa of the same family for a period of five years, when there comes still another son of Damasena, named Damaja- dac,rl, whose coins hitherto deciphered afford only the date 176. These coins of Damajadacrl differ considerably in style and fabric from their predecessors. The workmanship has degenerated; and this fact, coupled with the interval just mentioned for which we possess no dated coins, makes it not improbable that at this period some disturbance may have taken place in the affairs of the kingdom. Such a supposition might account for certain coins, the fabric and style of letters of which are certainly of this period, but which were certainly riot struck by a member of the same dynasty.

XVI. IgVARADATTA. [Mahakshatrapa: dated coins "first" and "second" year ] Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Jgvaradattasa varshe prathame (or varshe dvittye). PL 16. The coins of Icvaradatta bear on the obverse a bust which is an exact imitation of that of Vlradaman or Vijayasena; but that he belonged to a different family is shown, first, by the formation of his name, and, secondly, by the fact that, instead of continuing to record the date by years of the Kshatrapa era in numerals on the obverse of his coins, he starts an era of his own and gives the number of the year in words Qn the reverse. Two varieties of Igvaradatta's coins have been found dated respectively "in the first year" and "in the second year." They are well struck, and the Nagarl characters of the inscription are distinct. The bust on the obverse seems to be imitated sometimes from that of Vlradaman, sometimes from that of Vijayasena; THE WESTERN KSHATEAPAS. . 657 while the reverse bears the customary symbols with a legend of the usual form. Who this great and independent Mahakshatrapa was is, to a great extent, a mystery; but we have sufficient evidence to admit of our making at least a plausible conjecture. la the inscriptions at Nasik we find records of gifts made by kings bearing similar names to bhikshus living in the caves. These kings were of the Abhira tribe. We find, for instance, in inscription 15 of cave 11 (see Bombay Gazetteer, vol. xvi. p. 579) record of the gift of a permanent capital made to the mendicants by a female worshipper named Vishnudatta, a Qakanika (Qaka lady) " in the ninth year of the king, the Abhira Icvarasena, son of the Abhira Qivadatta." These kings date in years of their own reigns, call them- selves Great Kings, and appear, from the style of letters in their inscriptions, to belong to a period somewhat later than that of Nahapana. Who these kings were, and where their capital was situated, is as yet unknown, and the subject requires further investigation. Icvaradatta was, in all probability, a descendant of these kings, if we may judge from his name and his method of chronology. It appears that these Abhlras were connected with the Kshatrapas, and, in the inscriptions, some of them are mentioned as commanders of the Kshatrapas' armies. One of them, indeed, seems to have gained considerable power, and to have established himself as a ruler in the Deccan. It is not impossible that Igvaradatta may have been one of his descendants, who added to the. power bequeathed to him, and, having proceeded as far as Gujarat, assumed the title of a Mahakshatrapa. If so, the Kshatrapa Viradaman remained unmolested all through this period as testified by the dates on his coins. If we suppose Icvaradatta to have attained his greatness in the year 171, the last year of Vijayasena, this year (always supposing that the Kshatrapas used the Qaka era) would correspond with A.D. 249, the first year of the Trikutaka era, of which Icvaradatta may quite possibly have been the founder. 058 THE WESTERN KSHATBAPAS,

XVII. DAMAJADACRI, SON OF DAMASENA. [Mahakshatrapa: dated coin, 176.] Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Damasenaputrasa Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Damajadagriyah. PL 17. This prince, the fourth son of Damasena who struck coins, succeeded his brother Vijayasena as Mahakshatrapa, possibly after an interval during which the interloper Icvaradatta held the chief power. I possess eight coins of DamajadackI, three only of which bear dates. On two of these the numerals for 100 and for 70 can be deciphered, while nothing certain can be said about the units. The solitary specimen, on which the date can be completely read, bears the date 176. The chronology of this prince is, therefore, in a most unsatisfactory state, and neither the beginning nor the end of his reign can be fixed with any certainty.

XVIII. RUDRASENA, SON OF VlRADAMAN. [Mahakshatrapa : dated coins 180-190.] Rajnah Kshatrapasa Flradamaputrasa Rajno Mahdkshatrapasa Rvdrasenasa. PL 18. Damajada9rl seems to have been succeeded as Mahaksha- trapa by his nephew Rudrasena, the son of Viradam^m. In spite of the lack of distinctly dated coins, we may therefore perhaps place the end of Damajadacrl's reign as late as 179, Rudrasena's coins, which are very numerous, are badly executed, and the bust on the obverse is in low relief. Of the 80 specimens in my possession, fifteen bear legible dates ranging from 180 to 190 :—one, 180 ; one, 183 ; one, 185 ; three, 186; eight, 188; one, 190.

XIX. BHARTRIDAMAN, SON OP RTJDRASENA. [Mahakshatrapa: dated coins 200-214.] Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Rudrasenaputrasa Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Bhartridamnah. PL 19.

XX. VlCVASIMHA, SON OF RtJDRASENA. [Kshatrapa: dated coins, 198-203.] Rajno MaMkshatrapasa Rudrasenapulrasa Rajnah Kshatrapasa Vigva8t'mhasa. PL 20. On one. combated 198, Rajnah Kshtrapasa (sic) Rudrasenaputrasa etc. THE WESTERN KSHATRAPAS. 659

After the last dated coin of Rudrasena, 190, an interval occurs for which no dated specimens have hitherto been found. The earliest date of his son Vicvasimha as Kshatrapa is 198, while his son Bhartridaman appears first as Mahaksha- trapa in 200. The coins of both are common. I possess 33 specimens of Bhartridaman's coins. There are among them a few specimens of fair execution, but most of them are badly struck. Eight of them afford dates: one, 200 ; one, 203 ; one, 207 ; two, 211 ; one, 212; one,213; one, 214. The coins of Vicvasimha are likewise of poor workmanship. The legend is often scarcely decipherable, and the date is rarely visible. Of my 54 specimens, seven only have dates, and these are nearly all indistinct. Two are dated 198; three, 200; one, 201; and one, 203. The great number of Vi§vasimha's coins would seem to indicate a long reign; and, in view of the small proportion of dated specimens, and of the long interval between him and Rudrasena, we may perhaps place the beginning of his reign at about the year 193.

XXI. SLMHASENA, SON OF RTLDRASENA. [Mahakshatrapa: no dated coins.] Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Rudrasenasa putrasa Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Simhasenasa. PI. 21.

XXII. VI§VASENA, SON OF BHARTRIDAMAN. [Kshatrapa: dated coins, 216-223.] Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Bhartridamnah putrasa Rojnah K&hatrapasa Vigvasenasa. PI. 22. The reigns of Simhasena and his nephew Vicvasena, as Mahakshatrapa and Kshatrapa respectively, were probably, for a short time at least, concurrent, if, as is likely, Simhasena succeeded his brother Bhartridaman (latest coins 214) as Mahakshatrapa. Vicvasena, as we know from his coins, was reiguing at least as early as 216. I have only one specimen of Simhasena's coinage, and on this the date is unfortunately illegible. Nothing certain can therefore be said as to his date. The style of his coin differs considerably from those immediately preceding. The coins of Vicvasena are by no means rare, but of the 660 THE WBSTEfiN KSHATSAPAS. coins found very few bear distinct dates. Of the twenty-nine in my possession only two are dated: one, 216; and one, 223:. Vicvasena appears as Kshatrapa only. At this period a break occurs in the Kshatrapa dynasty, and we find next a Kshatrapa who does not describe himself as the son of a previous Mahakshatrapa or Kshatrapa.

XXIII. RlTDRASIMHA, SON OF SVAMI JlVADAMAN. [Kshatrapa : dated coins, 231-240.] Svami Jivadamaputrasa Rajnah Kshatrapasa Rudrasimhasa. PL 23. In inscriptions the Kshatrapas constantly bear the title Svami, but this is its first occurrence on the silver coinage. The Svami Jlvadaman mentioned as the father of the Kshatrapa Rudrasimha may perhaps belong to a younger branch of the royal family, and his son may have succeeded as Kshatrapa of Surashtra on failure of the direct succession. It is also possible that some foreign prince may have invaded the country and made one of his officers Kshatrapa. A change in the style of coinage, an improvement in fact, might seem to indicate a change of dynasty. I have fourteen specimens, four with dates : one, 231; one, 233 ; one, 234; one, 240.

XXIV. YAYODAMANJ SON OF RUDRASIMHA. [Kshatrapa : dated coins, 240.] Rajnah Kshatrapasa Rudrasimhasa putrasa Rajnah Kshatrapasa Tagodamnah. PL 24. Of the five coins which I have of this prince, three bear the date 240; the others are illegible. It will be noticed, therefore, that the only date known on Yacodaman's coins is the last found on those of his father Rudrasimha. As his coins are rare, Yacodaman probably reigned only a short time.

XXV. SlMHASENA, SISTER'S SON OF RtJDRASIMHA. [Mahakshatrapa: no dated coins.] Rajno Mahakshatrapasa Sv&mi Rudrasimhasa Rajno Mahahhatrapasa svasriyasya Svami Simhasmasa. PL 25. This curious coin, which I believe to be unique, has no date. We are consequently at a loss to know where to place THE WESTERN XSHATBAPAS". 661 this sister's son of Rudrasimha. If there is any meaning in the title Mahakshatrapa assumed by this prince, and also given to his uncle Rudrasimha, who never claims it for himself, Simhasena may have been contemporary with Tacodaman, son of Rudrasimha. He may also perhaps have succeeded Yacodaman as a simple Ksbatrapa, and subse- quently won for himself the higher dignity. For some con- siderable period previous to this, the title of Mahakshatrapa does not appear on the coins. The last instance was that of Simhasena son of Rudrasena, whose solitary updated specimen gives us no information as to his age. The last datei specimen of a Mahakshatrapa coin was that of Bhartridaman in 214. This fact, together with other indications, e.g. the degradation of the coinage, wowd lead us to suppose that the dynasty had suffered some diminution of power. The resumption of the title Mahakshatrapa may either mean that this loss had been retrieved, or it may be only another instance of the fact that pompous titles are often used as a consolation for the loss of real power.

XXVI. RUDRASENA, SON OF RUDRADAMAN. [Mahakshatrapa: dated coins, 270-298.] Jtaj'no Mahafohatrapasa Svdmi Sudradama-putrasa Rajno Maha- kshatrapasa Svami liudrasenasa. Fl. 26. "We here learn the name of a Mahakshatrapa of whom no coins have been found—Svami Rudradaman, the father of Svami Rudrasena. He probably succeeded Simhasena, but it is quite impossible to say what relation he bore to him. The coins of Svami Rudrasena are fairly common. I have 54 specimens, fifteen of which are dated as follows: two, 270; one, 280; one, 284; one, 287 ; two, 288; one, 290 ; four, 292; one, 294; one, 295; one, 298. The large gaps which we find in the dates of the coins all through this period seem to bear evidence to some disturbances in the kingdom. The long interval between 270 and 280 may perhaps be thus explained. 662 THE WESTEKN XSHATRAPAS;

XXVII. RUDRASIMHA, SOX OF SATYASIMHA. [Mahakshatrapasa : dated coin 310.] Hajna Mahakshatrapasa Svdmi Satyasirnhasa putrasa Rdjno Mahd- fohatrapasa Svami Jiudrasimhasa. Fl. 27. In this case too the Mahakshatrapa Satyasimha would seem to be known only by the mention of his name on the coins of his son Rudrasimha. I have five coins of Rudra- simha, but the date cannot be read on any of them. Both Dr. Biihler and Sir Alexander Cunningham, however, state that they have seen specimens of this prince bearing the date 310. These coins are the latest of the dynasty of the Western Kshatrapas hitherto found, and it is not unlikely that Rudrasimha, the son of Satyasimha, may have been actually the last prince of his line. The last known date, 310, of the Qaka era, would correspond to A.D. 388 ; and we know that the Western Kshatrapas were conquered by the Guptas during the reign of Chandragupta Yikramaditya about the year 90 of the Gupta era, i.e. about A.D. 409.