Discovery of an Anomaly
On 14 August 1977 (2520 BE), Indian archaeologists unearthed a red sandstone Buddha statue base at Govindnagar, Mathura, inscribed in hybrid Sanskrit-Prakrit (Brahmi script). Dated to 104 CE (647 BE), it records:
"In the 26th year of Mahārāja Huvishka, on the 26th day of the 2nd month of spring, the merchant Nāgarakṣita—son of Buddhapila and grandson of Balakatta—installed this image of Bhagavān Buddha Amitābha for the worship of all Buddhas. By this merit, may all beings attain supreme enlightenment."
Why This Shakes Buddhist History
Pre-Mahāyāna Amitābha:
Proves Amitābha devotion existed in India 1,800 years ago—centuries before Pure Land Buddhism flourished in China.
Challenges the assumption that Amitābha was "invented" in Central Asia or China.
Kushan-Era Pluralism:
Under King Huvishka (r. 150–180 CE), Mathura’s workshops produced images of Amitābha, Maitreya, and Śākyamuni—showing early Mahāyāna’s roots in mainstream Buddhism.
Merchant Patronage:
The donor Nāgarakṣita ("City-Protected") reflects lay-driven cults, akin to later Silk Road Pure Land communities.
The Forgotten Trail
Xuanzang’s Silence: The 7th-century pilgrim noted Amitābha’s absence in India—yet this inscription predates him by 500 years.
Mathura’s Hidden Legacy: The statue itself is lost, but its base (now in Mathura Museum) hints at a vanished Amitābha cult absorbed into later Mahāyāna.
Did You Know? The date aligns with Kanishka’s era (78 CE start), suggesting Amitābha worship began under the Kushans!
Amitābha vs. Amitābh Bachchan
While Bollywood’s Amitābh Bachchan eclipsed the Buddha in modern India, this artifact whispers: "The ‘Buddha of Infinite Light’ was here first."
Where to See It: Mathura Museum’s Kushan Gallery—where a broken stone speaks louder than scriptures.
(Source: Epigraphia Indica, Vol. 39, 1971–72)
