Bala Bodhisattva

The inscription on the Bodhisattva explains that it was dedicated by a "Brother" (Bhikshu) named Bala, in the "Year 3 of Kanishka". This allows to be a rather precise date on the sculptural style represented by the statue, as year 3 is thought to be approximately 123 CE.

The inscription further states that Kanishka (who ruled from his capital in Mathura) had several satraps under his commands in order to rule his vast territory: the names of the Indo-Scythian Northern Satraps Mahakshatrapa ("Great Satrap") Kharapallana and the Kshatrapa ("Satrap") Vanaspara are mentioned as satraps for the eastern territories of Kanishka's empire. At the same time a "General Lala" and Satraps Vespasi and Liaka are mentioned as in charge of the north.[4][5][6]

Main inscription

Complete inscription of Bhikshu Bala on the octagonal shaft of the umbrella, with the name Mahārājasya Kāṇiṣkasya "Of The Great King Kanishka" at the beginning.

Inscription on the octagonal shaft

There are altogether three inscriptions, the largest one being the inscription on the octagonal shaft of the umbrella. The octagonal shaft and its umbrella are visible in "Avatāraṇa: a Note on the Bodhisattva Image Dated in the Third Year of Kaniṣka in the Sārnāth Museum" by Giovanni Verardi.[7]

Original text:
1. mahārajasya kaṇiskasya sam 3 he 3 di 20-2
2. etaye purvaye bhiksusya pusyavuddhisya saddhyevi-
3. harisya bhiksusya balasya tr[e]pi[ta]kasya
4. bodhisatvo chatrayasti ca pratisthapit[o]
5. baranasiye bhagavato ca[m]k[r?]ame saha mata-
6. pitihi saha upaddhyayaca[rye]hi saddhyevihari-
7. hi amtevasikehi ca saha buddhamitraye trepitika-
8. ye saha ksatra[pe]na vanasparena kharapall[a]-
9. nena ca saha ca[tu]hi parisahi sarvasatvanarn
10. hita[szc]sukharttham

Translation:
1. In the year 3 of the Great King Kaniska, [month] 3 of winter, day 22:
2-3. on this aforementioned [date], [as the gift] of the Monk Bala, Tripitaka Master and companion of the Monk Pusyavuddhi [= Pusyavrddhi or Pusyabuddhi?],
4. this Bodhisattva and umbrella-and-staff was established
5. in Varanasi, at the Lord's promenade, together with [Bala's] mother
6. and father, with his teachers and masters, his companions
7. and students, with the Tripitaka Master Buddhamitra,
8. with the Ksatrapa Vanaspara and Kharapallana,
9. and with the four communities,
10. for the welfare and happiness of all beings.
[8] [9]

Inscriptions on the base of the statue

There are also two smaller inscriptions of similar content at the base of the statue:

At the front of the base of the statue:
"The gift of Friar Bala, a master of the Tripitaka, (namely an image of) the Bodhisattva, has been erected by the great satrap Kharapallana together with the satrap Vanashpara."[10]

At the back of the base of the statue:
"In the 3rd year of the Maharaja Kanishka, the 3rd (month) of winter, the 23rd day, on this (date specified as) above has (this gift) of Friar Bala, a master of the Tripitaka, (namely an image of) the Bodhisattva and an umbrella with a post, been erected."[10]

The style of this statue is somewhat reminiscent of the earlier monumental Yaksha statues, usually dated to a few centuries earlier. On the other hand, despite other known instances of Hellenistic influence on Indian art, very little if any such influence can be seen in this type of statue. Thus, they are quite different from the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara.[11] This statue is in all probability a product of the art of Mathura, which was then transported to the Ganges region.[12]

The discovery was published in the "Archaeological Survey of India Annual Report for the Year 1904–1905", in an article by F.O. Oertel pp. 59–104.

The statue is now in the Sarnath Museum.[2]

• 
  The remaining inscriptions, at the front and back of the base of the Bala Bodhisattva statue.
• 
  Front and back views of the Bala Bodhisattva.
• 
  Frontal view

• Avatāraṇa: a Note on the Bodhisattva Image Dated in the Third Year of Kaniṣka in the Sārnāth Museum, by Giovanni Verardi, East and West, Vol. 35, No. 1/3 (September 1985), pp. 67–101 JSTOR

Indian art
Mathura art