Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

LURE - THRU THE AGES

THE KUSHANAS c. 15 - 78 A.D established in Dharma, the religion of truth". There is no royal title on these coins. The royal title appears on the later coins of Kadphises. Kadphises I used on his coins the following titles : Yavuga (Chief), Maharaja (The great King), Rajatiraja (The king of kings), Sachadharma (steadfast in the true faith). Kadphises II c. 65-67 Kadphises I was succeeded by his son Kadphises II who is also known as Viiria. He completed the conquest of northern India which was started by his predecessor. He conquered the Punjab and a considerable part of Gangetic valley probably as far as Banaras. The conquered Indian provinces were administered by military viceroys. General Pan-cho led an army of victory up to the boundaries of the Roman Empire. The king of Khotan made submission and his example was followed by many others. Kadphises II was alarmed at the advance of the Chinese. He asserted his equality with the Chinese Emperor by demanding a Chinese princess in marriage. The envoy who had been sent by Kadphises II was arrested by General Pan-Cho. Kadphises II accepted the challenge of General Pan-Cho and sent an army of 70,000 cavalry under the command of his Viceroy called Sie. It had to meet innumerable difficul- ties and it was totally defeated. Kadphises II had to pay tribute to China. The conquests of Kadphises I and Kad- phises II opened up the path of commerce be- tween China, the Roman empire and India. In- dian silks, spices and gems were much in de- mand in the Roman empire. THE GUPTAS 300 - 473 A.D. pillar inscription of Samudragupta, the Udayagiri cave inscription, Mathura and Sanchi stone inscriptions; a large number of seals. * The reign of Chandragupta I (320-333 A.D.), Samudragupta, Kumaragupta. * Golden age of Indian literature, contribu- tions of Aryabhata (Mathematician) and Varahamihira. * Declined after the death of Skanda Gupta. Advent The origin of the Guptas is obscure.The Poona copper plate describes Srigupta as the Adiraja (First king). It is generally believed Sri Gupta was the founder of the Gupta dynasty.

Overview *

The Kushanas were a branch of the Yueh- chi - a Central Asian tribe. * They built a powerful empire which included parts of central Asia and the greater part of North India including Kashmir. * They were famous for the support they gave to Buddhism and Sanskrit literature and Gandhara Art. * They were a bridge between India and Central Asia. * Indian culture travelled from India to China through Central Asia in Kushana times. Our sources of information about the. Kushanas are Chinese including Hieun- Tsang, inscriptions and coins. Advent * Kushanas were a section of Yueh-Chi tribes who came from China to India. Kadphisesi c. 15-65 A.D. He was the first king of Kushanas and also the master of Vipin (Gandhara) and Kabul territory. He consolidated his power in Bactria. He attacked the Parthians. He extended his empire from the frontiers of Persia upto Jhelum. The Indo-Greek and Indo-Parthian rulers were completely defeated during the time of Kadphises I. He died at the age of 80. We have many coins of Kadphises I. His earliest coins mention on the obverse in Greek Hermaios, the last ruler of Kabul and also his own name on the reverse, the legend on the coins has the following "Of Kujala kasa, the Kushana chief, Overview * The Gupta period is known as the classical age and Golden Age of India - An age of material prosperity. It witnessed the rise of "a strong feeling of nationalism, establish- ment and consolidation of the empire, a sound administrative set-up.... the splendid output in the field of literature... and the un- paralleled outburst of artistic activity". (Dr. L. D. Barnett). * It was an age of expansion of Indian culture in the Far East - resulted in 'Greater India'. * Main sources, Puranas{ 18) ( Vayu, Vishnu , Bhagawat, Matsya and Brahmananda pu- ranas ), Dharmashastras', the Smritis/ Niti - sara , Kamandaka literature; writings of Fahien (Chinese traveller); the Allahabad

Kadphises II issued both gold and copper coins with different titles, Maharaja, Rajatiraja (King of Kings), Sarvalokesvara (Lord of all spheres), Mahisvara (Lord of Earth). Kanishka, To him is attributed the foundation of the Shaka era of A.D. 78. Kanishka was, strictly speaking, not a Shaka but a Kushana. But the former term was loosely applied to include kindred tribes. His capital was Purushapura or Peshwar, his empire extended from Gandhara to Benaras. He summoned a great Buddhist council to examine Buddhist scriptures. In his court, Aswaghosha, philosopher, poet and dramatist and the author of Buddha Charita flourished. Decline The successors of Kanishka were very weak, for many years, they continued to rule as local rulers in parts of Afghanistan. But the greater part of the Kushana empire was conquered by the Guptas.

Chronology * Sri Gupta * Ghatotkacha

* Chandragupta I (319-335 A.D.) * Samudragupta (c. 335-375 A.D.) * Ramagupta * Chandragupta II (375-414 A.D.)

* Kumaraguptal(415-455A.D.) * Skandagupta (455-467 A.D.) * Puragupta (467-473 A.D.) Wars * The conquest of Magadha by Chandra- gupta I (literary texts). * Samudragupta's campaign against 11 kings of the south, 9 kings of Aryavarta, chief of the wild forest tribes and frontier