Kosam Inscription of Kanishka

Summary

The Kosam Inscription of Kanishka, carved on a red sandstone pedestal supporting a four-foot-tall Bodhisattva image, is preserved in the Allahabad Municipal Museum. Recovered from Kosam, an ancient Kaudambi site, the inscription dates to the 22nd regnal year of Emperor Kanishka’s reign. It was erected by the Buddhist nun Buddhāmitrā, a Tripitaka scholar, during the eighth day of a fortnight in the Buddha’s promenade. The inscription’s first line initially reads as "Malh[a]r[a]jasya Kaufiylka[sya sam 20 ह] 2-—-pa—di 8 hlo]dh[i]sai[t*]va[m] pra[ii-]," with significant obliteration complicating precise decipherment. Discrepancies exist in interpretations, particularly regarding the regnal year, with some scholars suggesting a possible earlier date if a "20" symbol precedes the "2." The inscription’s final word, read as "nal.m]l-ame" by Goswami, is debated, though alternative readings like "pakama" are proposed without altering meaning. The nun Buddhāmitrā is identified from other Mathura and Sarnath inscriptions, confirming her scholarly background. Separately, the text discusses Vyomadiva, author of the *Vyomavati*, a commentary on the *Prafastapida-bhasya*, with surviving manuscripts in Madras and printed editions by Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series. Despite lacunae, the *Vyomavati*’s conclusion includes verses praising Shiva, though its connection to the inscription’s Vyomasiva remains unresolved. The inscription’s