Aspavarma or Aspa (Kharosthi: 𐨀𐨭𐨿𐨤𐨬𐨪𐨿𐨨 A-śpa-va-rma, Aśpavarma[1]) was an Apracha general who ruled in Gandhara. He was the son of the Apracharaja and general Indravarma who ruled in 50 CE.
| Aspavarma | |
|---|---|
| Apracha King (Gāndhārī: Apacaraja) | |
 Coin of Aspavarma Obv King mounted on a horse, holding a whip. Greek legend around ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΝ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ / ΑΖΟΥ. Rev Pallas Athena holding spear, and triratna symbol. Kharoshthi legend around Iṃdravarmaputrasa Aśpavarmasa strategasa jayatasa "Victorious general Aspavarma, son of Indravarma". | |
| Reign | 1st century (c. 15 CE - c. 45 CE) |
| Predecessor | Indravarma |
| Successor | Sasan |
| House | Apracharajas |
| Dynasty | Apracha |
| Father | Indravarma |
| Religion | Buddhism |
Inscriptions
editAsparvama was a son of Apraca king Indravarma, as known from an inscription discovered in Taxila,[2] who himself is known to be the son of Vispavarma according to Indravarma's Silver Reliquary.
Indravarma's Silver Reliquary, which is known for sure to be before the Bajaur casket, hence before 5-6 CE, and is therefore usually dated to the end of the 1st century BCE, describes Aspavarma's grandfather Vispavarma as a general, and not yet a king at that time. This tends to confirm that his grandson, Aspavarma, probably ruled quite some time later, in the middle of the 1st century CE.[3]
Aspavarma is also referenced in Gāndhārī texts, written in Kharoṣṭhī script, dating from the period.[4]
Coinage
editThe coinage shows the king on a horse, holding a whip in his right hand, in a style consistent with that of Azes II (who possibly is identical with Azes I). On the reverse, Athena makes a benediction gesture, and is flanked by a Buddhist triratna symbol.
According to Joe Cribb, from a coinage standpoint, Aspavarma was contemporary to Sasan and Mujatria, just before the rule of Kushan ruler Vima Takto.[3]
References
edit- ^ Cunningham, Alexander, COINS OF THE INDO-SCYTHIANS. The Numismatic Chronicle and Journal of the Numismatic Society, Third Series, Vol. 8 (1888), pp. 199-248
- ^ On the Cusp of an Era: Art in the Pre-Kuṣāṇa World, Doris Srinivasan, BRILL, 2007, p.269-270 [1]
- ^ a b Joe Cribb, p.31 Dating and locating Mujatria and the two Kharahostes
- ^ The British Library Kharosthi Fragments, The British Library/University of Washington Early Buddhist Manuscripts Project.