Rukhuna reliquary

The Rukhuna reliquary, also sometimes Rukhana reliquary, also described as the Bajaur reliquary inscription, is a Buddhist reliquary which was dedicated and inscribed in 16 CE by Rukhuna, Queen of Indo-Scythian king Vijayamitra (ruled 12 BCE - 20 CE). The inscription on the reliquary, also called the Bajaur reliquary inscription, was published by Richard Salomon with a photograph in 2005, and gives a relationship between several eras of the period, and especially a confirmation of a Yavana era (Yoṇaṇa vaṣaye) in relation to the Azes era, that is "Azes era= Yavana era - 128 years".[2][3]

Rukhuna reliquary
Outside view of the Rukhuna reliquary, and inscription inside the lid. The dates in Kharoshthi are highlighted and shown in arabic numbers. Photograph published by Richard Salomon in 2005.[1]
MaterialPolished grey schist.[1]
Size16x16 centimeters.[1]
WritingKharoshthi
Created16 CE
Bajaur
Location of the discovery of the find of the Rukhana reliquary, Bajaur, Pakistan.
Bajaur
Bajaur (Gandhara)

Inscription

The inscription is very useful to clarify relative chronologies during the period. The inscription reads:

"In the twenty-seventh - 27 - year in the reign of Lord Vijayamitra, the King of the Apraca; in the seventy-third - 73 - year which is called "of Azes", in the two hundred and first - 201 - year of the Yonas (Greeks), on the eighth day of the month of Sravana; on this day was established [this] stupa by Rukhuna, the wife of the King of Apraca, [and] by Vijayamitra, the king of Apraca, [and] by Indravarma (Indravasu?), the commander (stratega), [together] with their wives and sons."

— Rukhuna reliquary inscription.[4][5]

In Kharoshthi, the referential dates at the beginning of the inscription appear both in words and in numbers, together with the name of the era they are calculated in, and are given as follows:

vaṣaye sataviśaye 20 4 1 1 1 iśparasa Vijayamitrasa Apacarajasa aṇuśastiye ye vucati

"In the twenty-seventh - 27 - year in the reign of Lord Vijayamitra, the King of the Apraca"
ayasa vaṣaye tresa⟨*ta⟩timae 20 20 20 10 1 1 1
"in the seventy-third - 73 - year which is called "of Azes""
Yoṇaṇa vaṣaye ekaduśatimaye 2 100 1
"in the two hundred and first - 201 - year of the Yonas (Greeks)"
Śravaṇasa masasa divasaye aṭhamaye iśa divasaṃmi pratiṭ́havidu thuve Rukhuṇaye Apacarajabharyae Vijayamitreṇa Apracarajeṇa Iṃdravarmeṇa strategeṇa sabharyarehi sakumarehi

"on the eighth day of the month of Sravana; on this day was established [this] stupa by Rukhuna, the wife of the King of Apraca, [and] by Vijayamitra, the king of Apraca, [and] by Indravarma (Indravasu?), the commander (stratega), [together] with their wives and sons."

— Kharoshthi dates in the Rukhuna reliquary[6][7][8]

This dedication also indicates that King Vijayamitra and his wife Rukhuna were followers of Buddhism.

Since Vijamitra is said to have ruled 27 years already, his reign started in 12 BCE, and ended probably a few years after the dedication took place, around 20 CE.

The authenticity of the inscription is nearly unanimously accepted by the academic community, Gérard Fussman being a dissenting voice.[9]

Similar examples of reliquaries
  • The Darunta reliquary from Passani Stupa No.2 is structurally similar to the Rukhuna reliquary, especially with the inside compartments.[1]
  • Another similar example: the Bimaran casket. This reliquary is inscribed on the outside, rather than the inside.
  • Broadly similar stone containers with compartments from Ai-Khanoum, 2nd century BCE.[10]
  • Stone vessels (pyxides) from the Temple with niches, Sanctuary of Ai-Khanoum, 3rd-2nd century BCE.[10]

Notes
  1. Salomon, Richard (2005). A New Inscription dated in the "Yona" (Greek) Era of 186/5 B.C. Brepols. pp. 359–400. ISBN 978-2-503-51681-3.
  2. Des Indo-Grecs aux Sassanides: données pour l'histoire et la géographie historique, Rika Gyselen Peeters Publishers, 2007, p.109
  3. Mac Dowall, David W. (2007). The Eras of Demetrius, Eucratides and Azes. Peeters Publishers. pp. 103–110. ISBN 9782952137614.
  4. "Afghanistan, carrefour en l'Est et l'Ouest" p.373. Also Senior 2003
  5. Des Indo-Grecs aux Sassanides, Rika Gyselen, Peeters Publishers, 2007, p.103
  6. "Silk Road Art and Archaeology". Journal of the Institute of Silk Road Studies, Kamakura. The Institute. 9: 49. 2003.
  7. Baums, Stefan. 2012. “Catalog and Revised Texts and Translations of Gandharan Reliquary Inscriptions.” In David Jongeward, Elizabeth Errington, Richard Salomon and Stefan Baums, Gandharan Buddhist Reliquaries. Gandharan Studies, Volume 1, pp. 200–51. Seattle: Early Buddhist Manuscripts Project.
  8. Fussman, Gérard. The riddle of the ancient eras is not yet solved (PDF). p. 242.
  9. Fussman, Gérard. The riddle of the ancient eras is not yet solved (PDF). pp. 239–259.
  10. Falk, Harry (2015). Buddhistische Reliquienbehälter aus der Sammlung Gritli von Mitterwallner. p. 135.

References
  • Baums, Stefan. 2012. “Catalog and Revised Texts and Translations of Gandharan Reliquary Inscriptions.” In: David Jongeward, Elizabeth Errington, Richard Salomon and Stefan Baums, Gandharan Buddhist Reliquaries, pp. 212–213, Seattle: Early Buddhist Manuscripts Project (Gandharan Studies, Volume 1).
  • Baums, Stefan, and Andrew Glass. 2002– . Catalog of Gāndhārī Texts, nos. CKI 405
  • Senior, R.C. (2006). Indo-Scythian coins and history. Volume IV. Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. ISBN 0-9709268-6-3.
  • Richard SALOMON, "A New Inscription dated in the "Yona" (Greek) Era of 186/5 B.C." in Afghanistan, ancien carrefour entre l'est et l'ouest, O. Bopearachchi, M.-F. Boussac (eds.), 2005, ISBN 978-2-503-51681-3 Languages: French, English
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