Mathura lion capital

Mathura lion capital
The Mathura lion capital on display in the Sir Joseph Hotung Gallery for China and South Asia, at the British Museum.
Material	Red Sandstone
Size	Height 34cm Width 52.5cm
Writing	Prakrit inscription written in Kharoshthi script
Created	1–10 CE
Discovered	Mathura in Central India
Present location	British Museum, London
Mathura (Discovery)

The Mathura lion capital is an Indo-Scythian sandstone capital (a part of a pillar) from Mathura in Northern India, dated to the first decade of the 1st century CE (1–10 CE).^[1] It was consecrated under the rule of Rajuvula, one of the Northern Satraps of the region of Mathura.

The capital was unearthed at the Saptarishi mound of Mathura by Bhagwan Lal Indraji in 1869.^[2] It is covered with Prakrit inscriptions in the kharoshthi script of northwestern India.^[3] The capital was made on the occasion of the funeral of "the illustrious king Muki and his horse" (Muki has been conjectured to be Maues).

The capital describes, among other donations, the gift of a stupa with a relic of the Buddha, by Queen Ayasia, the "chief queen of the Indo-Scythian ruler of Mathura, satrap Rajuvula". The Mathura lion capital, an Indo-Scythian sandstone capital from Mathura in Central India, and dated to the 1st century CE, describes in kharoshthi the gift of a stupa with a relic of the Buddha, by queen Nadasi Kasa, "the wife of Rajuvula" and "daughter of Aiyasi Kamuia", who is mentioned as the "daughter of Kharahostes". The lion capital also mentions the genealogy of several Indo-Scythian satraps of Mathura. It mentions Sodasa, son of Rajuvula, who succeeded him and also made Mathura his capital.

The capital also displays at its center a Buddhist triratana symbol, further confirming the involvement of Indo-Scythian rulers with Buddhism.

The inscription indicates support of the Sarvastivadin, against the Mahasamghikas.^[4]

It is on display in the South Asia section of the Sir Joseph Hotung Gallery for China and South Asia at the British Museum.

List of inscriptions[]

Buddhist symbol of the triratana at the center of the capital, supported by a convoluted tree, possibly a variation of the anthemion design.

Kharoshthi inscription on base of Mathura capital.

Lion detail on the Mathura lion capital. British Museum.

Layout of the Mathura lion capital inscriptions.^[5]

In a Latin transliteration of simplified Kharosthi script, the inscriptions read:^{[6][7][8][9][10]}