Eternal India Encyclopedia

LURE - THRU THE AGES

Eternal India

encyclopedia

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

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

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.

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