Unit II: The Kushanas and Other Powers

1. Kanishka-conquests & achievements

Kanishka I (c. 127–150 CE) was the greatest ruler of the Kushana dynasty, a Yuezhi tribe from Central Asia. He ruled a vast empire that was a true bridge between East and West.

• Conquests & Empire: His empire extended from Central Asia (parts of modern-day Uzbekistan, Tajikistan) and Bactria (Afghanistan) down into the Indian subcontinent, covering most of Northern India.
  • He had two main capitals: Purushapura (Peshawar) in the west and Mathura in the east.
  • He controlled the Silk Road, which was a major source of his empire's wealth.
• Start of the Saka Era: His ascension to the throne in 78 CE is believed to mark the beginning of the Saka Era, which is still used as the official civil calendar by the Government of India.
• Patronage of Buddhism: Kanishka's most significant achievement was his patronage of Mahayana Buddhism.
  • He convened the Fourth Buddhist Council in Kashmir.
  • This council was a turning point: it finalized the doctrines of Mahayana Buddhism and saw Buddhist texts being compiled in Sanskrit for the first time, instead of Pali.
• Patronage of Scholars: His court included many scholars, such as:
  • Ashvaghosha: A poet and philosopher who wrote the Buddhacharita (biography of the Buddha).
  • Charaka: The "Father of Indian Medicine," who compiled the Charaka Samhita, a foundational text of Ayurveda.

2. Art & culture during the Kushana period

The Kushana period was a golden age for art, marked by the emergence of two distinct schools of sculpture. This was the first time the Buddha was depicted in human form.

Gandhara School of Art

• Location: Northwest India (Gandhara region, e.g., Taxila, Peshawar).
• Patronage: Kushanas.
• Influence: Heavily influenced by Greco-Roman (Hellenistic) art styles. It is often called "Greco-Buddhist" art.
• Key Features:
  • Buddha's Appearance: The Buddha is depicted realistically, resembling a Greek god like Apollo.
  • Features include wavy or curly hair (like a Greek), a muscular body, and draped, toga-like robes.
  • The focus is on anatomical perfection and outward beauty.
• Material: Grey or blue schist stone.

Mathura School of Art

• Location: Mathura (on the Yamuna River).
• Patronage: Kushanas.
• Influence: Purely indigenous (Indian), based on local folk art like the *Yaksha* figures.
• Key Features:
  • Buddha's Appearance: The Buddha is depicted with a fleshy, powerful body, a shaven head (or small snail-shell curls), a smiling face, and a sense of inner spiritual energy.
  • The focus is on spiritual essence rather than physical realism.
  • This school also produced the first images of Jain Tirthankaras and Hindu gods (like Vishnu and Shiva).
• Material: Red spotted sandstone.

3. Western Kshatrapas: Rudradaman

The Western Kshatrapas (or Sakas) were rulers of Scythian (Saka) origin who controlled a large part of western and central India (Gujarat, Malwa, Sind).

• Rudradaman I (c. 130–150 CE): He was the greatest ruler of this dynasty. He was a contemporary of the Satavahanas (and their main rival).
• Primary Source: His achievements are famously recorded in the Junagadh (or Girnar) Rock Inscription.
• Significance of the Inscription:
  • It is the first-ever long inscription written in chaste Sanskrit in India (previous ones, like Ashoka's, were in Prakrit).
  • It is a "prashasti" (eulogy) detailing his achievements.
• Key Achievements (from the inscription):
  • Military: He defeated the Satavahanas (Gautamiputra's son, Vasisthiputra Pulumavi) twice but did not destroy them due to a family relationship (his daughter was married to the Satavahana king).
  • Public Works: His most famous act was repairing the Sudarshana Lake (a reservoir first built by the Mauryas). The inscription proudly states he did this "without oppressing the people with forced labor (vishti) or new taxes."

4. Kalinga ruler: Kharavela

Kharavela was the powerful king of the Chedi dynasty, which ruled over Kalinga (modern-day Odisha) in the 1st or 2nd century BCE. He is one of the most important figures in post-Mauryan history.

• Primary Source: Our *only* source of information about him is the Hathigumpha (Elephant Cave) Inscription at Udayagiri, near Bhubaneswar.
• The Inscription:
  • It is written in Prakrit, in the Brahmi script.
  • It provides a unique, year-by-year (annalistic) account of the first 13 years of his reign.
• Key Achievements (from the inscription):
  • Patron of Jainism: He was a devout Jain. The inscription begins with a Jain prayer. He patronized Jain monks and built caves for them.
  • Military Campaigns: He was a great conqueror. The inscription mentions his campaigns against the Satavahanas in the west, and against the Pandyas in the far south.
  • Revenge on Magadha: His most famous campaign was against Magadha (the old Mauryan capital). He is said to have defeated the king of Magadha and brought back the Jain idol that had been taken by the Mauryas.
  • Public Works: He built canals (expanding on one built by the Nandas), roads, and entertainment centers for his people.