Kharahostes or Kharaostasa was an Indo-Scythian ruler (probably a satrap) in the northern Indian subcontinent around 10 BCE – 10 CE. He is known from his coins, often in the name of Azes II, and from an inscription on the Mathura lion capital.
According to F. W. Thomas, Kharahostes, the heir apparent, was son of Nada Diaka.[1] However, according to Sten Konow, the chief queen of Mahaksahtrapa Rajuvula was Aiyasi Kamuia.[2]
Kharohostes' coinage bear a dynastic mark (a circle within three pellets), which is rather similar, although not identical, with the dynastic mark of the Kushan ruler Kujula Kadphises (three pellets joined together), which has led to suggestions that they may have been contemporary rulers.
Kharaosta of the Mathura lion capital inscriptions is usually identified with the Satrap Kharaostas or Kharahostes.[3] Kharaosta’s known coins are of two types, presenting legends in Greek characters on the obverse and in Kharoshthi in the reverse.
The Greek and Kharoshthi legend in the coins runs thus:
Kharahostei satrapei Artauou' : 'Kṣatrapasa Pra Kharaoṣtasa Artasa Putrasa (Of Satra[ Kharaosta, son of Arta) [4] Some of his coins write "Ortas" in place of "Artas".
A recently discovered inscribed silver Buddhist reliquary, found in Shinkot in Bajaur (Pakistan) refers to a king "Kharayosta", believed to belong to the final quarter of the first century BCE. This king Kharayosta has been identified with the "Yuvaraja Kharosta" in the lion capital inscriptions and the Kharaostasa or Kharahostes of the coins.[5]