Liaka Kusuluka

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Liaka Kusulaka was an Indo-Scythian satrap of the area of Chukhsa, near Taxila, in the northwestern South Asia during the 1st century BCE. Liaka Kusulaka is mentioned in the Taxila copper plate (British Museum).

Variants

• Liaka
• Liako (Pali)
• Greek: Λιακο Κοζουλο, Liako Kozoulo, on his coins,
• Pali: Liaka Kusulaka or Liako Kusuluko

Jat clans

• Kajla

History

He is mentioned in the Taxila copper plate inscription (Konow 1929: 23-29), dated between 90 and 6 BCE, as the father of Patika Kusulaka, and is characterized as a "kshaharata" (also the name of the first dynasty of the Western Satraps) and as kshatrapa of Chukhsa.

He minted coins which are direct imitations of the coins of Eucratides (King's head and Dioscuri), with his name inscribed "ΛΙΑΚΟ ΚΟΖΟΥΛΟ".

The name "Κοζουλο" was also used by the first Kushan ruler Kujula Kadphises (Greek: Κοζουλου Καδφιζου, Kozoulou Kadphizou or Κοζολα Καδαφες, Kozola Kadaphes), which may suggest some family connection.

Taxila copper-plate or Maues (Moga) inscription

Text of the Taxila copper plate inscription 1 [samva]tsaraye athasatatimae 20 20 20 10 4 4 maharayasa mahamtasa mogasa pa[ne]masa masasa divase pamcame 4 1 etaye purvaye kshaha[ra]ta[sa] 2 [cukh]sa ca kshatrapasa liako kusuluko nama tasa [pu]tro pati[ko] takhaśilaye nagare utarena pracu deśo kshema nama atra 3 (*de)she patiko apratithavita bhagavata śakamunisa shariram (*pra)tithaveti [samgha]ramam ca sarvabudhana puyae mata-pitaram puyayamt(*o) 4 [kshatra]pasa saputradarasa ayu-bala-vardhi[e] bhratara sarva ca [nyatiga-bamdha]vasa ca puyayamto maha-danapati patikasa jauvanyae 5 rohinimitrenya ya ima[mi] samgharame navakamika Reverse: Patikasa kshatrapa Liaka

Original text of the Taxila copper plate inscription

The Taxila copper-plate, also called the Moga inscription or the Patika copper-plate is a notable archaeological artifact found in the area of Taxila, Gandhara, in modern Pakistan. It is now in the collection of the British Museum, Collected by: A A Roberts, Transferred from: Royal Asiatic Society.

Description

The copper plate is dated to a period between the 1st century BCE and the 1st century CE. It bears an imprecise date: the 5th day of the Macedonian month of Panemos, in the year 78 of king Moga. It is thought it may be related to the establishment of a Maues era, which would give a date around 6 CE.

The copper plate is written in the Kharoshthi script (a script derived from Aramaic). It relates the dedication of a relic of the Buddha Shakyamuni (Pali: śakamuni, literally "Master of the Shakas") to a Buddhist monastery by the Indo-Scythian (Pali: "śaka") ruler Patika Kusulaka, son of Liaka Kusulaka, satrap of Chukhsa, near Taxila.

The inscription is significant in that it documents the fact that Indo-Scythians practiced the Buddhist faith. It is also famous for mentioning Patika Kusulaka, who also appears as a "Great Satrap" in the Mathura lion capital inscription.

English translation

In the seventy-eighth, 78, year of the Great King, the Great Moga, on the fifth, 5, day of the month Ancient Macedonian Calendar (Panemos), on this first, of the Kshaharata

and Kshatrapa of Chukhsa - Liaka Kusuluka by name - his son Patika - in the town of Takshasila, to the north, the eastern region, Kshema by name

In this place Patika establishes a (formerly not) established relic of the Lord Shakyamuni and a sangharama (through Rohinimitra who is the overseer of work of this sangharama)

For the worship of all Buddhas, worshipping his mother and father, for the increase of the life and power of the Kshatrapa, together with his son and wife, worshipping all his brothers and his blood-relations and kinsmen.

At the jauva-order of the great gift-lord Patika

To Patika the Kshatrapa Liaka

References

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