Huvishka

Huvishka ( Kushan: Οοηϸκι, ''Ooēški'', Brahmi: ', '; Kharosthi: 𐨱𐨂𐨬𐨅𐨮𐨿𐨐 ', ') was the emperor of the Kushan Empire from the death of Kanishka (assumed on the best evidence available to be in 150 CE) until the succession of Vasudeva I about thirty years later.

His rule was a period of consolidation for the Empire. Huvishka's territory encompassed Balkh in Bactria to Mathura in India, locations where it is known that he minted his coinage. Gold coins and amulets in his effigy were found as far as Pataliputra and Bodh Gaya, including one such amulet as an offering under the Enlightenment Throne of the Buddha in Bodh Gaya, suggesting with other finds of Kushan coins in the area that Kushan rule may have extended this far east. His reign seems to have been essentially peaceful, consolidating Kushan power in northern India, and moving the centre of the Kushan Empire to the southern capital city of Mathura.

Religion

Huvishka was the son of Kanishka. His reign is also known as the golden age of Kushan rule.

Mahayana Buddhism

The reign of Huvishka corresponds with the first known epigraphic evidence of the Buddha Amitabha, on the bottom part of a 2nd-century statue which has been found in Govindo-Nagar, and now at the Mathura Museum. The statue is dated to "the 28th year of the reign of Huvishka", and dedicated to "Amitabha Buddha" by a family of merchants.

There is also some evidence that Huvishka was a follower of Mahāyāna Buddhism. A Sanskrit manuscript fragment in the Schøyen Collection describes Huvishka as one who has "set forth in the Mahāyāna."

Some reliefs from Gandhara are also thought to portray Huvishka making donations to the Buddha.

Huvishka is widely attested to have supported Buddhism, but the Buddha does not appear on his coinage, possibly out of respect to the Buddha.

File:Amitabha Buddha inscription in the year 26 of Huvishka.jpg, Earliest known "Mahayana" inscription: inscribed pedestal with the first known occurrence of the name of " Amitabha Buddha" in the "year 26" (153 CE, first year of Huvishka)
File:Amitabha Buddha inscription in the year 26 of Huvishka Inscription Buddhasya Amitabhasya.jpg, First known Mahayana inscription: words "''Bu-ddha-sya A-mi-tā-bha-sya''" ("of Amitabha Buddha") in Brahmi script in the inscription.
File:Mathura sculpture Huvishka year 33.jpg, Fragment of a Bodhisattva sculpture inscribed "in the year 33" (𑀲𑀁𑁝𑁔) of "the Great King, son of God, Huvishka" (''Mahārājasya Devaputrasya Huviṣka'', ), Art of Mathura.
File:Iscrizione del regno di huvishka dei kushana sul piedistrallo di una statua di buddha, da mathura, uttar pradesh, 123 dc.jpg, Pedestal of a Buddha statue, with inscription in the name of Huvishka "in the year 45" (𑀲𑀁𑁞𑁔). Starts with ''Mahārājasya Huviṣkasya Devaputrasya...'', ... Uttar Pradesh. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya Museum.

Graeco-Roman deities

Huvishka also incorporates in his coins for the first and only time in Kushan coinage the Hellenistic-Egyptian Serapis (under the name ''ϹΑΡΑΠΟ'', "Sarapo"). Since Serapis was the supreme deity of the pantheon of Alexandria in Egypt, this coin suggests that Huvishka had as strong orientation towards Roman Egypt, which may have been an important market for the products coming from the Kushan Empire.

Another coin possibly depicts the Goddess Roma ("Roma aeterna"), under the name "Rishti" (Greek: ΡΙϷΤ), or "Riom" (Greek: ΡΙΟΜ).

File:Huvishka with god Serapis ("Sarapo").jpg, Another coin of Huvishka holding a scepter, with, on the reverse, deity Serapis (''ϹΑΡΑΠΟ'', "Sarapo")
File:Dinar, Kushan Empire, Depiction of Hercules, 152-192 AD.jpg, Coin of Huvishka. ''Obverse'': ϷΑΟΝΑΝΟϷΑΟ ΟΟΗϷΚΙ ΚΟϷΑΝΟ (''Shaonanoshao Ooishki Koshano'', "King of kings, Huvishka the Kushan"). ''Reverse'': Herakles with legend ΗΡΑΚΙΛΟ (''Erakilo'').
File:CoinOfHuvishkaWithRishtiAsRoma.JPG, Possible depiction of "Roma Aeterna". The legend has been variously read ''Riom'' (Greek: ΡΙΟΜ), or more recently ''Rishti'' (Greek: ΡΙϷΤ).

Iranian deities

Huvishka is also known to have included Iranian deities in his pantheon. Between 164 and 174, he established a temple to '' Pharro'' ("Royal splendour")-''Ardoxsho'' in the stronghold of Ayrtam, near Termez, according to the ''Ayrtam inscription''. He also issued numerous coins in the name of these deities. Many more Iranian deities are also known from his coinage, such as ''Miiro'' ( Mitra), '' Mao'' (the Lunar deity Mah), ''Nana'' (Anahita), ''Atsho'' (Atar, "The Royal fire"). Another Zoroastrian deity, the supreme god ''Ooromozdo'' ( Ahura Mazda), and ''Mazdo oana'' ("Mazda the victorious") also appears. Other Zoroastrian deities include ''Rishti'' ("Uprightness", Arshtat), '' Ashaeixsho'' ("Best righteousness", Asha Vahishta), the Lunar deity Mah (''Mao''), ''Shaoreoro