BOYER, Augustin-M. Vannes (Morbihar, Brittany) 20.11.1850 — 2.1.1938. Abbé, S.J. French Indologist and Epigraphist, a Catholic Priest. Educated at the Collège diocésain de Nantes, at the age of 20 a Jesuit novice, first in Angers, then in Saint-Acheul. In addition to philosophy and theology studied mathematics with success. In 1884 ordained and intended first a priestly career, but since 1891 devoted himself to Oriental studies under the guidance of S. Lévi.

The first article in 1897 made Boyer famous. He suggested that the Kṣatrapa era was identical with the Śaka era (starting 78) and identified the Kṣatrapa Nahapāna with Manbanos of the Periplus. His speciality was the Indo-Scythian history, but he also discussed philosophical questions and the Veda. Kaniṣka he dated at the end of the first century CE. He also interpreted succesfully Central Asian inscriptions.

Publications: “Nahapāna et l’ère Çaka”, JA 9:10, 1897, 120-151; “L’époque de Kaniṣka”, JA 9:15, 1900, 526-579.

– “Sur quelques inscriptions de l’Inde”, JA 9:12, 1898, 463-503; “Les inscriptions de Takht i Bahi, de Zeda et de Râmgarh Hill”, JA 10:3, 1904, 457-488; “L’inscription de Sarnāth et ses paralleles d’Allahābād et de Sānchi”, JA 10:10, 1907, 119-142; “L’inscription en kharoṣṭhī du 15 āṣāḍha 136”, JA 11:5, 1915, 281-298 (of Taxila); “L’inscription de Sītābheṅga”, Mélanges S. Lévi 1911, 121-128.

– “Le document N.XV.137”, JA 10:5, 1905, 463-472; “Note sur le manuscrit sanskrit-ouïgour en brāhmī de la mission Grünwedel”, Le Muséon 25, 1906, 103-108; “Inscriptions de Miran”, JA 10:17, 1911, 413-430.

– With Senart & Rapson: “Une tablette kharoṣṭhī sanskrite de la collection de Sir Aurel Stein”, JA 11:12, 1918, 319-327.

– With Senart & Rapson: Kharoṣṭhī Inscriptions discovered by Sir Aurel Stein. I. Text of Inscr. discovered at the Niya Site 1901. II.-III. Inscriptions from Niya, Endere and Lou-lan. 1-2. (3. no more by Boyer). 266 p. 14 pl. Oxford 1920-27.

– “Étude sur l’origine de la doctrine du saṁsāra”, JA 9:18, 1901, 451-499.

– “Yakṣa”, JA 10:7, 1906, 393-477 (Yakṣas in the Veda).

Sources: Filliozat, JA 230, 1938, 290-294.