Ayodhya Inscription of Dhana

Ayodhya Inscription of Dhana
Oldest sanskrit inscription
MaterialStone
WritingSanskrit
Created1st century BCE – 1st century CE
PlaceAyodhya, Uttar Pradesh
Present locationRanopali monastery, Shri Udasin Sangat Rishi Ashram
Ranopali Ashram, Ayodhya is located in India
Ranopali Ashram, Ayodhya
Ranopali Ashram, Ayodhya
Ranopali Ashram, Ayodhya (India)

Ayodhya Inscription of Dhana is a stone inscription related to a Hindu Deva king named Dhana or Dhana–deva of the 1st-century BCE or 1st century CE.[1][2][3][4] He ruled from the city of Ayodhya, Kosala, in India. His name is found in ancient coins and the inscription. According to P. L. Gupta, he was among the fifteen kings who ruled from Ayodhya between 130 BCE and 158 CE, and whose coins have been found: Muladeva, Vayudeva, Vishakadeva, Dhanadeva, Ajavarman, Sanghamitra, Vijayamitra, Satyamitra, Devamitra and Aryamitra.[5] D.C. Sircar dates the inscription to 1st-century CE based on the epigraphical evidence.[6] The paleography of the inscription is identical to that of the Northern Satraps in Mathura, which gives a 1st century CE date.[1] The damaged inscription is notable for its mention of general Pushyamitra and his descendant Dhana–, his use of Vedic Ashvamedha horse to assert the range of his empire, and the building of a temple shrine.[7]

  1. ^ a b Verma, Thakur Prasad (1971). The Palaeography Of Brahmi Script. p. 84.
  2. ^ P. K. Bhattacharyya. Historical Geography of Madhyapradesh from Early Records. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 9 footnote 6. ISBN 978-81-208-3394-4.
  3. ^ Ashvini Agrawal (1989). Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 126. ISBN 978-81-208-0592-7.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference bhandare77 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ P.L. Gupta (1969), Conference Papers on the Date of Kaniṣka, Editor: Arthur Llewellyn Basham, Brill Archive, 1969, p.118
  6. ^ D.C. Sircar (1965), Select Inscriptions, Volume 1, 2nd Edition, pages 94-95 and footnote 1 on page 95
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference sahnidhana was invoked but never defined (see the help page).