Tag: kushans, sakas and hunas

Kanishka was the greatest king of the Kushan dynasty that ruled over the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and possibly areas of Central Asia north of the Kashmir region. He was a great patron of Buddhism. Some of the scholars in the Court of Kanishka were Parsva, Vasumitra, Asvaghosa, Nagarjuna, Charaka and Mathara. Ashvaghosh was a Buddhist philosopher, dramatist, poet and orator from India while Vasumitra was a scholar in his court who headed the 4th Buddhist Council.

Kushan dynasty ruled over the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and possibly areas of Central Asia north of the Kashmir region. Its greatest ruler was Kanishka. The Kushan empire was founded by the Yeuchi clan of Central Asia. Yeuchis were an ancient clan first reported in Chinese histories as nomadic pastoralists.

The first great ruler of the Kushan Empire was Kujula Kadphises I. He was succeeded by Kadphises II or Vima Kadphises. He issued gold coins which showed the wealth and prosperity of his kingdom.

Kanishka was the greatest king of the Kushan dynasty that ruled over the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and possibly areas of Central Asia north of the Kashmir region. He had the title of Devaputra which means son of God. His rule lasted for about 13 years from c. 127. He was a great patron of Buddhism.  

Vima Kadphises also was known as Kadphises II, was the son of Kujula Kadphises who was the founder of Kushan dynasty. Vima adopted the title of 'Lord of the Whole World' in his issued Gold coins.

Gondophares I was the founder of the Indo-Parthian Kingdom which is now in western Pakistan(north-west part of India) towards the end of the 1st century BC. Coins of Gondophernes, some bearing his Indian name Guduphara, indicate that he may have reigned supreme over both eastern Iran and northwestern India. 

Kanishka was the emperor of Kushana empire from year 78 A.D. He started the Saka era. It is still used by the Government of India.

Kanishka was the most powerful ruler of the Kushan Empire. His conquests and patronage of Buddhism played an important role in the development of the Silk Road, and the transmission of Mahayana Buddhism from Gandhara across the Karakoram range to China. He was a patron of Buddhism and he called the 4th Buddhist council in the Kundalvana of Kashmir in 78 AD. His greatest contribution to Buddhist architecture was the Kanishka stupa at Peshawar, Pakistan.

Menander was King of the Indo-Greek Kingdom. He embraced Buddhism under the patronage of Nagasena and was known by the name Milinda. It is described in Milinda Panha which is a Pali Buddhist text.