Indravarma
Apracha King
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Indravarman or Indravarma (Kharosthi: 𐨀𐨁𐨎𐨡𐨿𐨪𐨬𐨪𐨿𐨨 Iṃ-dra-va-rma, Iṃdravarma[1]), also called Itravasu on his coinage, was an Apracharaja who ruled in Gandhara, with his capital in Bajaur. He succeeded the previous Apracharaja Indravasu, in 50 BC and was the son of the Apracha general. Vispavarma.[2] Indravarma had a son, Aspavarma, commander and later king, known from an inscription discovered at Taxila.[3]
| Indravarma | |
|---|---|
| Apracha King (Gāndhārī: Apacaraja) | |
Coin of Aspavarma, mentioning his father Indravarman. 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 |
| Predecessor | Vispavarma |
| Successor | Aspavarma |
| Spouse | Uttarā |
| Issue | |
| House | Apracharajas |
| Dynasty | Apracha |
| Father | Vispavarma |
| Mother | Rukhuṇaka |
| Religion | Buddhism |
Bajaur casket
Indravarman is known from his dedicatory inscription on the Bajaur casket, an ancient reliquary from the area of Bajaur in ancient Gandhara, in the present-day Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. It is dated to around 5-6 CE.[4]
The inscription which is written in Kharoshthi, translates into English as:
In the sixty third year of the late great king Aya (Azes), on the sixteenth day of the month of Kartia (Kartika), at this auspicious (?) time, Prince Indravarma (Indravarman), son of the king of Apraca, establishes these bodily relics of Lord Sakyamuni; …. He produces brahma-merit together with his mother, Rukhunaka, daughter of Aji…. And these bodily relics having been brought in possession from the Muraka cave stupa, were established in a secure (?), safe, deep (?), depository…
— Text of the Bajaur casket, Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The casket proves the involvement of the kings of the Apraca, in particular King Indravarman, in Buddhism.
Indravarma is also known from a seal inscription, which was discovered in Bajaur.[3] He may have had a sister named Vasavadatta, who is known from the dedication of a water pot.[3]
Silver reliquary
Indravarma is also known for another Buddhist inscription on a silver reliquary in which he mentions him and his father Vispavarma, who was not yet a king. The inscription, which is written in Kharoshthi, translates into English as:
Prince Indravarma, son of Commander Vispavarma, together with his wife establishes these bodily relics in his own stupa. Commander Vispavarma and Sisirena, the wife of the Commander, are (hereby) honored. Indravasu, king of Apraca, and his wife Vasumitra, who is the mother of a living son, are (hereby) honored
— Opening inscription in Gāndhārī Prakrit on the Silver Buddhist reliquary of Prince Indravarma.[2]
The date of the Silver reliquary is thought to be anterior to the Bajaur casket, as Indravarma describes his father as "Commander", rather than the later "King" title. It was probably dedicated in the end of the 1st century BCE.[5]