Syncretism between Buddhism and Ancient Greece, and Buddha Coins

 

Buddhism originated around the 6th century BC. Greeks trade with India started centuries before Alexander's invasion in India that was in 326 BC. Greco-Buddhism is the cultural syncretism between Hellenistic culture (started during the time between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC to the death of Cleopatra VII, or 30 BC) and Buddhism, which developed between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD and flourished for a period of more than 800 years. The philosophical, peaceful and liberating teachings of Buddha had a great impact on Hellenism. Following Alexander's death, after he left India, the successors founded their own kingdoms in Asia minor and Central Asia.

                       

Kushan Empire, Kanishka I, 128-150 AD, Buddha standing facing.

Greco-Buddhism followed the Mauryan Empire (322-183 BC), Seleucid Empire, the Indo-Greek Kingdoms and the Kushan Empire (1st to 3rd century AD). In fact, Chandragupta Maurya's wife was Seleucus I Nicator's (Seleucid Empire) daughter Helena.   Buddhism spread to Gandhara, Central Asia and through the silk route to China, Korea, Japan, East and Southeast Asia. 

                     

Buddhist expansion in Asia during Kushan Era (2nd century BC to the 3rd century AD), through the silk route. Overland and maritime route was interlinked forming the ''great circle of Buddhism''.

Pyrrho of Elis travelled with Alexander, during the Greek invasion from 334-324 BC, and met with Buddhist masters. They impacted and shaped the philosophy of Pyrrho, who preserved these. Pyrrho's Buddhist thought had a major impact on Western philosophy and on Pyrrhonism. 

While the term ''Buddha'' is used in the Agamas (scriptures of ancient Buddhist schools, in Prakrit and Sanskrit) and the Pali Canon, (collection of scriptures preserved in Pali language, now translated in various other languages), the oldest surviving written records of the term ''Buddha'' is from the middle of 3rd century BC, in several Edicts of Ashoka (269-232 BC).

                        

      Thai Pali Canon, standard edition.

The Indians referred to the Greeks as Yonas (Yavana). Greek was one of the first languages in which part of Buddha's teachings were recorded, including the inscriptions of Emperor Ashoka who followed Buddhism. Greeks were the first Europeans to embrace Buddhism, centuries before the advent of Christianity. There is one school of thought that believes that the first sculptors to depict the Buddha in the form of statues, particularly, the standing statues, were of Greek descent (1st century AD). Before this, Buddha was only represented through his symbols (empty throne, Bodhi Tree, Buddha footprints, the Dharam chakra or the Umbrella). The 14th Dalai Lama says, ''One of the distinguishing features of Gandharan school of art is that it has been clearly influenced by Classical Greek style''.

                        

The Buddha in long, heavy robe, Ajanta Caves, 5th century AD, probably derived from Gandhara art.

The arts of the Indian subcontinent were quite affected by Hellenistic art. The iconograph of Vajrapani is clearly that of the Greek divine hero Heracles (Hercules), with varying degrees of hybridization. Menander I (Indo-Greek king, 165-130 BC, whose capital was Sangala, present day Sialkot) was one of the patrons of Buddhism.

                       

Herculean depiction of Vajrapani as protector of Buddha, 2nd century AD, British museum. 

Mahadharmaraksita was a Greek Buddhist master who lived during the 2nd century BC, during the reign of Menander I travelled with 30,000 Greek Buddhist monks from Alexandria in the Caucasus (located to the South of Bactria, in the mountains of the Hindu Kush), to Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka (according to Mahavamsa, a historical chronicle of Sri Lanka written in Pali language, 543 BC).  

                        

Alexandria in the Caucasus is located to the south of Bactria, in the mountains of the Hindu Kush.

Buddhist gravestones decorated with depictions of the ''Dharma Wheel'' have been found in Alexandria, indicating the presence of Buddhism in Ptolemaic Egypt/. Buddhism spread along the river Nile. The ''Meroitic script resembles Kharosthi signs. In fact, 34 of the 42 signs or 81 percent matched. 

Today, there is a sizable Buddhist community in Greece. There are presently many Buddhist Centres in Greece, four Centres formed by the Diamond Way, other Centres are in Athens, Thessaloniki, Sparta and Rhodes.  

Buddhist traditions recognize, Emperor Asoka, Menander and Kanishka as the greatest benefactors of Buddhist faith. Kushan monks, such as Lokaksema (178 AD), travelled to the Chinese capital of Loyang, where they became translators of Buddhist scriptures into Chinese.

Although Buddha was depicted on coins by the Buddhist symbols since the 2nd century BC, the iconographic imagery of Buddha was introduced during the Kushan rule on Kanishka I coins, 127-150 AD. 

                         

The Bimaran Casket, 1st century AD, gold, in the British museum, with a depiction of Buddha, discovered in Afghanistan between 1833 and 1838 from the Stupa at Bimaran near Jalalabad. 

Buddha and Coins

                           

Tillya Tepe gold coin, 1st century BC -1st century AD, found in tomb IV (the male warrior), in Afghanistan's Jowzjan Province, in 1987. Obverse: Kharosthi legend, vigatabhayo, ''The lion who dispelled fear'', Reverse: Kharosthi legend, Dharmacakrapravata, ''the one who turned the Wheel of the Law''

The coin is assumed to be destroyed or melted by Taliban in March 2001.

                       

Kushan, Kanishka I, 128-150 AD, gold, weight 7.9 gm, Obverse: Crowned king standing, holding spear and sacrificing at altar at left, Bactrian legend, ''king of kings Kanishka Kushan'', Reverse: Buddha standing, left hand holding robe, right hand in abhayamudra, ''have no fear'', tamgha at right.

                       

Kushan, Kanishka, 128-150 AD, Tetradrachm, weight 16.4 gm, Obverse: King standing facing, holding spear and sacrificing at altar at left, Bactrian legend, King Kanishka, Reverse: Sakyamuni Buddha standing facing, left hand holding robe, right hand in abhayamudra, ''have no fear.''

                        

Indo-Greek, Menander II, 90-85 BC, Drachm, weight 2.2 gm, Obverse: King wearing aegis, brandishing a spear, Greek legends, ''King Menander the Just'', Reverse: Zeus enthroned, holding Nike and scepter, Nike handing a victory wreath over an eight-spoked wheel to left, monogram to right, Kharosthi legend ''Maharajas Dharmikasa Minamdrasa (King Menander follower of the Dharma).

                       

                                     

Kushan, Kanishka I, 128-150 AD, Bronze, weight 16.2 gm, Obverse: Crowned king standing, holding spear and sacrificing at altar at left, legend around, ''King Kanishka'', Reverse: Maitreya Buddha seated facing a meditation platform, legend around, MHTPATO BOYAO,'' Sakyamuni Buddha.''

                        

                                   

Kushan, Kanishka I, 127-152 AD, Tetradrachm, bronze, weight 16.7 gm, Obverse: Kanishka standing front, head to left, sacrificing with his right hand over altar and holding trident in his left, Reverse: Sakyamuni Buddha standing wearing monk's robe, raising his right in abhayamudra (gesture of reassurance).

                         

Kushan, Kanishka I, 127-152 AD, Tetradrachm, weight 16.6 gm, Obverse: Kanishka standing, head left, holding standard and goad, altar to left, Reverse: Buddha standing facing, hand raised in gesture of abhayamudra, tamgha to outer left.

                      

Buddhism

Greco Buddhism

Buddha and Coins                         

Lord Shiva and Coins

Shiva is one of the most important gods in Hinduism and one of the godheads in the holy Trinity (trimurti) with Brahma and Vishnu. Shiva is one of the most complex gods of Hindus, represents goodness and benevolence, and serves as a protector. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism. Shiva is also associated with Time, and in this capacity, he is both the destroyer and creator of all things. 

           

Kushan, Sasanians, 265-295 AD, gold, Shiva standing facing with flaming hair.

   

In Hinduism, the universe is thought to regenerate in cycles (every 2,160,000,000 years).  Shiva is the Supreme Lord who creates, protects and transforms the universe. Rudra, Mahadev, Shankar, Maheshwar, Bholenath, Natraj, Pashupati and Devendra are the other holy names of Shiva. Shiva is a pan-Hindu deity, revered widely by Hindus all across the world. 

         

Sadashiva, Trimurti, 17.9 ft in height, depicts a three-headed Shiva representing three essential aspects of Shiva, creation, protection and destruction. The three faces represent Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Elephanta Caves (5th century AD).

         

Interestingly, there are eight ancient Shiv temples constructed about 4,000 years ago by ancient architects in an era of no satellite technology or any GPS, which lie more or less on the same geographic longitude of 79 degrees east 41'54''. 

           

. Kedarnath temple 79.0669 degrees

. Kalahashti temple 79.7037 degrees

. Ekambaranatha temple 79.7036 degrees

. Thiruvanamalai temple 79.0747 degrees

. Thiruvanaikaval temple 78.7108 degrees

. Chidambaran Natraj temple 79.6954 degrees

. Rameshwaram temple 79.3129 degrees

. Kaleshwaram temple 79.9067 degrees

It is pertinent to know that the distance between Kedarnath and Rameswaram is of 2383 kilometers.

                         

         The Sacred Meridian 

There are several other sacred ancient temples on this meridian, which include the Five Kedars, or Panch Kedar temples to include Rudranath, Tunganath, Madamaheswar, Kalpeswar and Kedarnath temples. 

  

Since ancient time symbols on coins are the representations of religious belief influenced from nature. Slowly these symbols took form of deities, which are worshipped throughout the Indian peninsula. Lord Shiva or the ''Rudra'' of the Rigveda, was first depicted on the seal of Indus Valley Civilization (3300-1300 BC) found in Mohenjo-Daro. 

           

The Indus Valley seal with the seated figure termed Pashupati (3300-1300 BC).

Thereafter, as the second urbanization took place and coinage appeared, Lord Shiva appeared on coins too.

As Ujjain is home to the the ''jyotirlinga'' of Lord Shiva called Mahakala. So, it's not surprising that a human like figure found on Ujjain coins is called Mahakaal, and the coins as Mahakala type. Copper coins issued during the reign of Vishnumitra/ Jishnumitra, depicted a human figure holding a spear in the left hand and kamandalu besides a tree in the railing. The reverse of both these coins depicts the double orb Ujjaini symbol.

          

Ujjain, AE, 3/4 Karshapana, standing Shiva type, 200 BC, weight 7.2 gm, Obverse: Standing Shiva holding Danda in right and kamandalu in left, sun above railed tree on left and six-armed symbol on right, taurine on top, river at bottom, Reverse: Doubled orbed Ujjaini symbol.

         

Ujjain, 200 BC, AE,1/2 Karshapna, weight 4.3 gm, Obverse: Three headed shiva standing holding Danda and kamandalu, railed tree on right, chakra above fish tank on left, Reserve: Double orbed Ujjaini symbol.

    

The Kushan coinage depicted Lord Shiva with his different yet familiar attributes. Lord Shiva was titled as ''Osho'' on Kushan coinage. It is quite fascinating to study these coins that have different attires and attributes. It surely reflects the perception of Lord Shiva in that era.

           

Kushan Empire, Vasudeva 1 (192-225 AD), Dinar, gold, weight 7.8 gm, Obverse: Vasudeva 1 standing front, nimbate and head to left, holding trident(Trishul) in left hand and sacrificing over altar with right hand in field to right Nandipada, in field to left, trident with ribbons between legs, swastika, Reverse: Shiva standing front, holding diadem in right hand and trident(Trishul) in left, behind his companion, Nandi, standing left, upper left Tamgha.

           

Kushano-Sasanians, Hormizd 1. (265-295 AD),Dinar, gold, weight 7.7 gm, Obverse: Hormizd 1 standing front, head to left, wearing a lion head crown and lotus blossom, holding trident in his left hand and sacrificing over lighted altar with his right hand, trident in field to left and Tamgha in field to right, Reverse: Shiva standing facing with flaming hair, holding diadem in right hand and trident(Trishul) in left hand, behind, bull Nandi.

           

Kushano-Sasanian, Hormizd 1, (265-295 AD), bronze, weight 2.2 gm, Obverse: Draped bust of Hormizd 1 to right, wearing crown with decorated korymbos and a lion's head, Reverse: Shiva standing facing and holding trident (Trishul) in his left hand, behind him bull Nandi.

         

Kushan Empire, Vima Kadphises, 100-127 AD, bronze, weight 17 gm, Obverse: Vima Kadphises standing front, head to left, sacrificing over altar with his right hand, to right club and tamgha, to left trident (Trishul) with an axe on the shaft, Maharajasa Rajadirajasa Tratara, Reverse: Shiva standing facing, holding trident (Trishul) in his right hand and deer skin in his left hand, behind bull Nandi, standing right, in the field Buddhist Triratna.

 

Some coins depict Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati together. These coins are many, from the post Gupta era to coins of the Sangama dynasty and also coins minted by Haidar Ali, father of Tipu Sultan, the king of Mysore.

         

Haider Ali, gold Pagoda, weight 3.4 gm, Obverse: Shiva and Parvati seated facing, Shiva holding Trishul(trident) and Mriga (deer), sun and moon above, Reverse: Persian letter He (for Haider Ali) within a granulated field, unorganized dots within the curve of the letter.

          

Vijayanagar, Sangama dynasty, Devaraya 1(1406-1422 AD), gold pagoda, weight 3.3 gm, Obverse: Shiva Parvati seated, Reverse: Nagari legend Sri Pra/tha padeva/raya in three lines.

Like the coins of Haidar Ali and Vijaynagar, the Marathas of Tanjore also minted coins with Lord Shiva and Parvati. 

           

Marathas of Thanjavur, 1700-1750 AD, copper cash, weight 3.2 gm, Obverse: Shiva seated with Parvati, Reverse: Devnagari legend, Maha/raja.

 

Coins from Tripura issued by King Vijaya Manikya depicted a most philosophically respected and celebrated form of Lord Shiva known as ''Ardhanarishvara''. This coin depicted Lord Shiva with his consort indirectly.

           

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya, 1532-1564 AD, Tanka, weight 10.6 gm, Obverse: Ardhanarishvara, composed of Durga on her lion and Shiva on bull, Reverse: five lines legend within 12 arc scallops, star below the ''sh'' of Mahesh in the third line of the text.

There are a few coins that do not have a depiction of Lord Shiva in the form of an image, but his name is inscribed on these coins.

         

Audumbaras, in the name of Mahadeva, 1st century BC, Obverse: Bhagvata mahadevasa rajarana in Karosthi, Brahma bull standing right, lotus in rigt field, Reverse: Bhagvate mahadevasa rajarana in Brahmi, elephant standing right, trident in right field.

 

           

Ranas of Mewar, copper half unit of Maharana Kumbhakarna, Kumbha 1433-1468 AD, Obverse: letter Shri in double rectangle, Devnagari legend, Shri Ekalingasya Prasadata (by the blessings of Ekalinga) in exergue, Reverse: Devanagri legend in four lines Shri Kumbhala/Meru Maha /Rana Shri Ku/bhakarnasya.

In Indian coinage, Lord Shiva is depicted and symbolized in various forms. These forms include a trident, ling, belpatra, crescent etc. For a dancer, he is Nataraja, for a student, he is Dhyutidhara, for a musician, he is Pranava etc.

Lord Shiva

Lord Shiva and Coins

Pegasus and Coins

Pegasus is a winged divine stallion, usually depicted as pure white in colour, in Greek mythology.  Pegasus was an immortal, winged horse which sprang from the neck of beheaded Gorgon Medousa (Medusa). Bellerophon rode it into battle against the fire-breathing monster known as Khimaira (Chimera). 

                         

Sicily, Syracuse Agathokles, 317-289 BC, Pegasus flying, triskeles below.

Pegasus aided the hero Bellerophon (the hero of Greek mythology, the son of Poseidon and Eurynome. He was the greatest hero and slayer of monsters, before the days of Heracles), in his fight against the Chimera. 

                          

Bellerophon with his horse, Pegasus, stone bas-relief, in the Palazzo Spada, Rome.

Bellerophon, was visited by the goddess in the temple of Athena and presented him with a golden bridle. Bellerophon found Pegasus drinking at the Pierian spring, caught him, and eventually tamed him.

                           

Bellerophon, Pegasus and Athena, fresco of the 3rd style from Pompeii, first half of 1st century.

 

According to early myths, everywhere the winged horse struck his hoof to the earth, an inspiring water spring burst forth. One of these springs was upon the Muses' Mount Helicon, the Hippocrene (horse spring).

Michaud's Biographie universelle relates that when Pegasus was born, he flew to where thunder and lightning are released. After Bellerophon fell off Pegasus while trying to reach Olympus, Pegasus and Athena left him and continued to Olympus where he was stabled with other steeds belonging to Zeus, and was given the task of carrying Zeus' thunderbolts, along with other members of his entourage, his attendants/shield bearers.                

Because of his years of faithful service to Zeus, Pegasus was later honoured with transformation into a constellation. On the day of his catasterism, a single feather fell to the earth near the city of Tarsus.                         

The constellation of Pegasus is the 7th largest constellation in the sky.  it stretches for around 1121 square degrees. It contains only one Messier object, the globular cluster Messier 15, is located around 33,000 light years away from Earth. Currently around 12 stars in Pegasus have been confirmed to host planets.

During World War II, the silhouetted image of Bellerophon the warrior, mounted on the winged Pegasus, was adopted by the United Kingdom's newly raised parachute troops in 1941 as their sleeve insignia. The winged horse has provided an instantly recognizable logo or emblem of inspiration. Pegasus Airlines is a low-cost airline in Turkey.

                           

The emblem of the World War II, British Airborne Forces, Bellerophon riding the flying horse Pegasus.

Pegasus's story was a favourite theme in Greek art and literature. In later antiquity, Pegasus's soaring flight was interpreted as an allegory of the soul' s immortality. In modern times it has been regarded as a symbol of poetic inspiration.  

                              

Pegasus, Attic red-figure squat lekythos, 480-460 BC, from Sicily.

Pegasus and Coins                          

Sicily, Syracuse, Agathocles, 317-289 BC, AR Stater R / Pegasus, weight 8 gm, Obverse: Head of Athena, wearing crested Corinthian helmet, decorated with griffin on the bowl. Reverse: Pegasus flying, triskeles below. 

                          

Corinthia, Corinth circa 400-375 BC, AR Stater, weight 8.1 gm, Obverse: Pegasus flying right, Q below, Reverse: Helmeted head of Athena right, aphlaston behind, retrograde EYO above. 

                       

               

Corinthia, Corinth, 345-307 BC, Stater AR, weight 8 gm, Obverse: Pegasus flying right, Q below, Reverse: Helmeted head of Athena right, quiver and bow behind, I below chin.

                             

Pontos, Amisos, Mithradates, 85-65 BC, weight 11.5 gm, Obverse: Helmeted head of Mithradates VI as the hero Perseus right, Reverse: Pegasus drinking, two monograms in exergue.

                            

Sicily, Syracuse, 344-317 BC, weight 5.1 gm, Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo, Reverse: Pegasus flying.

                            

Augustus, 27 BC- AD 14, AR Denarius, weight 3.8 gm, Rome mint, Obverse: Bare head, right, Reverse: Pegasus walking 

                             

Kingdom of Macedonia, Alexander III, Drachm, 310-301 BC, Lampsakos mint, silver, weight 4.1 gm, Obverse: Head of Heracles, right wearing lion skin, Reverse: Zeus seated left, holding eagle in right hand, Pegasus forepart in field.

Pegasus

Pegasus and Coins

Nahapana (119-124 CE) and Coins

 

Nahapana was an important ruler of the Western Kshatrapas, and descendant of the Indo-Scythians, in northwestern India. According to one of his coins, he was the son of Bhumaka. The Kshatrapa dynasty became very powerful with the accession of Nahapana to the throne. Jain Works (all the known texts in the Apabhramsha language are Jain Works) is unanimous in that Nahapana ruled Ujjain for 40 years while the inscriptions made by Ushavadata evince that Nahapana ruled for 46 years. Thus, Nahapana may have captured Ujjain in his 6th regnal year. 

                         

Nahapana, Drachm, 119-124 CE, Kshatrap Dynasty

Periplus of 60 CE evince that Nahapana ruled Ujjain and fixes his regnal period from around 119 to 124 CE. Nahapana managed to build a strong base in the west, occupying the traditional base of Satavahanas in Western Maharashtra. 

He also established the Kshatrapa coinage, in a style derived from Indo-Greek coinage. Nahapana is mentioned as a donator in inscriptions of numerous Buddhist caves in northern India. The Nasik and Karle inscriptions refer to Nahapana's dynastic name (Kshaharata, for ''Kshatrapa'') but not his ethnicity (Saka- Pahlava). Nahapana had a son-in-law named Ushavadata, as inscribed in the Pandu-lena caves near Nasik. 

                         

Chaitya Caves complex at Karla Caves, built and dedicated by Nahapana in 120 CE.

                           

 

Nahapana inscriptions at Carla Caves. Great Chaitya inscription 13 at the right of the main entrance.

  

He accomplished various charities and conquests on behalf of Nahapana and constructed gardens and tanks at Bharukachchha (Broach), Dashapura (Mandasor in Malva), Govardhana (near Nasik) and Shopara (Sopara in Thane district). 

Overstrikes of Nahapana's coins by the Satavahana king Gautamiputra Satkarni have been found in a hoard at Jogalthambi, Nasik District. This suggests that Gautamiputra defeated Nahapana. The Nasik Cave No 3, inscription No 2, notes that Nahapana's Khakharata race was rooted out, which means all possible heirs might have been killed.

                          

Inscription in three lines, in the Manmodi Caves in Junnar. It bears a Saka era date of year 46, which is 124 CE. Located in Cave 7.

Nahapana was founder of the Saka Satrap dynasty in northwestern India. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, mentions Nambanus as the ruler of the area around Barigaza (Bharuch), identified as Nahapana 

                         

The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, mid first century map showing sea trade routes.

Coins of Nahapana

                          

Kshatrap Dynasty, Nahapana, Drachm, 119-124 AD, silver, weight 2.3 gm, Obverse: Head of king to right, Greek legends around, Reverse: Arrow and thunderbolt in center, Kharosthi legend around, lettering Rajno Kshatrapasa Nahapanasa

                         

The Greco-Prakrit title, RANNIO KSHARTA, for King Kshaharata, found on obverse of the coinage of Nahapana.        

                     

                           

                           

Satavahana, Gautamputa Satakarni, 103-127 AD, overstruck on Nahapana coin, silver, weight 2.2 gm, Obverse: Three arched hill, crescent above, Brahmi legend, '' Satakanis Rajno Gotami Putas'' around, Reverse: Ujjaini symbol overstruck on portrait.

                           

Satavahana, Gautamputa Satakarni, 103-127 AD, overstruck on Nahapana coin, silver, weight 2.2 gm, Obverse: Three arched hill, struck on Nahapana's portrait, Reverse: Ujjaini symbol overstruck on arrow/lightning symbols.

Nahapana

Coins of Nahapana