Jainism Early Faith of Ashoka

Author(s): Edward Thomas
Publisher: Trubner and Company London

Page 98

THE EARLY FAITH OF AŞOKA.
of Mars holds what is described, in the Trésor de Numismatique, as “un bouclier rond," a type which occurs on the
money of Germanicus, A.U.C: 801, A.D. 47 (Pl. xix. 7, 8). Legend. PAO PHOPO (Rao-rethro), Mars. No. 9. (Obver88. Bust of King, as in No. 7.)
Reverse, Figure as in the Plate.
Legend. OANINAA (Oaninda), Anandates. No. 10. (Obver88. Bust as in No. 3. No flame on shoulder, Sassan
ian fillets.) Reverse. As in the Plate. Legend. MAAEHNO (Mahásená), an
Indian form of Mars ? Siva ? No. 11. (Obverse. Bust as in No. 3.) Rever88. Device as in the Plate. Legends. KANAO, KOMAPO,
BIZATO; Skanda, Kumára, Vişákha. No. 12. (Obverse. Bust of King, with ornamental jacket, armlets,
mace, spear, flames on shoulders, etc. Peaked cap as in
A. A. xiv. 5, but with bossed cheek-plates.) Reverse. Device as in the Plate. Legend. A PO, Zend Átars
(the Roman Vulcan). No. 13. (Obverse. Bust of King as in No. 8.) Reverse. Device as in the Plate; exhibiting a three-faced Indian
form of șiva wearing short drawers (janghiyá), in front of which appears, for the first time, a marked definition of the Priapus, which however has nothing in common with the local Linga. The left hands hold the trident and an Indian thunderbolt. The one right hand grasps the wheel or chakra (the symbol of universal dominion), the other is extended to
the small goat. Legend. OKPO. Ugra the "fierce" (a title of șiva). No. 14. Obverse. As exhibited in the Plate. The King wears a
Roman pallium; ornamental cap with cheek-plates and welldefined Sassanian fillets; in the right hand the small ironbound mace,' in the left a standard, surmounted by Şiva's Váhana or the bull Nandi, in the conventional recumbent
position. 1 General Canningham was under the impression that this object was a Budd. hist praying-wheel. I prefer to look upon it as an iron-bound mace, a counterpart of the modern club, so effective in strong hande, known by the name of Tohá-band láthi. The gury of Feridun was an historical weapon. The use of which was affected by the great Mahmúd of Ghazni and his successore after him. The Kadphiees Scythians also were demonstrative about maces, but theirs took the form of a bulky wooden club. See also Tabari (0.T.F.), vol. Ü. p. 228.