Q. Describe the achievements of Kanishka.
Or
Who were Kushanas?Give an estimate of Kanishka?
Or
Assess the achievements of Kanishka as a conqueror, administrator. and a patron of religion, art and learning.
Or
“Kanishka was equally great in the fields of peace and war.” Analyse the statement.
Ans.
The Kushanas
Origin of the Kushanas. —
The Kushanas were a branch of the nomadic tribe called Yue-Chis of north-western China. In the middle of the second century B.C.. they were driven away from their homes by another tribe Hiuang Ner.
Driven out of China, the Kushanas wandered into Central Asia and then advanced into India through the North-western border. On their way, they subdued the Sakas, the Parthians and the Bactrians. In the course of time they became civilised and gave up their nomadic life.
Kushana rulers –
There were three main Kushana rulers:
(i) Kadphises 1
(ii) Kadphises 2
(iii) Kanishka
Kajulu Kadphises or Kadphisex I (15-65 A.D.)-
He established the Kushana empire which at that time included Bactria, a part of Parthia and Kabul Valley. Kadphises took the title of ‘Great King of Kings”.
Kadphises II or Wemne Kadphises (65 to 75 A.D.)
He ascended the throne after the death of his father. He annexed Gandhara and Punjab and extended his dominion upto Mathura. He is said to have embraced Hinduism. He issued gold coins which bear the figure of Shiva. This suggests that he was a devotee of Shiva.
Kanishka (78 A.D. to 120 A.D.)
Duration of Kanishka’s reign,there is a sharp controversy regarding the duration of the rule of Kanishka throne in 58 B.C. and founded the Vikram Era.
In the views of Fergusson, Rapson and Raychaudhry, Kanishka was the founder of the Saka Era in 78 AD
Marshall and Smith think that Kanishka’s rule began about the middle of the 2nd century A.D. and ended before the close of the 2nd century A.D.
Dr. R.C. Majumdar is of the view that Kanishka founded an era in 248 A.D..
Dr. R.C. Bhandarkar places Kanishka’s accession in 278 A.D.
Achievements of Kanishka
Kanishka is generally compared with Chandragupta Maurya for his military power and Ashoka for his patronage to Buddhism.
Kanishka was a great victor, a capable administrator, tolerant in religion, promoter of Buddhism, builder of stupas and a lover of art and literature.
1) Wars and Conquests of Kanishka
(i) Conquest of Kashmir- Kanishka’s first conquest was Kashmir. He had a great love for Kashmir. It is said that he willed to be buried here. He erected a large number of monuments and founded a town known as Kanshipura which is now represented by a village called Kanispor.
(ii)Conquest of Magadha– Magadha was the second important Kingdom conquered. After the capture of Patilputra, the capial of Magadha, Asvagosha, the great Buddhist philosopher fell into the hands of Kanishka.
(iii) *Wars with Sakas.- Kanishka waged war against the Saka satraps of Punjab and Ujjain.
(iv) Other conquests– Kanishka conquered Kashgar, Yarkand and Khotan.
(v) War with China- There are different versions regarding his war with Pan-Chao, the General of Chinese King Ho-ti. Probably, his army was defeated by the Chinese General and Kanishka’s 70,000 strong cavalry met with disaster. Some years later he himself led another expedition to avenge the previous defeat of his army. This time he was successful but was killed by his own soldiers during this expedition. His soldiers had become tired of the constant fighting and therefore revolted and killed him. According to a legend the king once fell ill. His soldiers covered him with a quilt and a man sat on top of him and the king died on the spot.
(2)Extent of Kanishka’s empire-
Kanishka’s empire included territories in and outisde India. His Indian territories included North-western frontier Province, Sindh, Punjab, Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and probably some areas in Bihar and Bengal. Outside India, his possessions included Afghanistan, Bactria, Parthia, Kashgar, Khotan and Yarkand.
3)Administration–
Kanishka divided his empire in several provinces. These provinces were ruled by governors or Kshatraps appointed by Kanishka himself. Among the most important provinces were: Afghanistan, Khotan. Yarkand. Kashgar (all outside India). Sindh. Punjab, Kashmir and Mathura. Kanishka’s capital was Peshawar. Kanishka was a great admin- istrator. Peace and order prevailed in the vast empire of Kanishka.
4)Kanishka — a promoter of Buddhism-
In the words of Dr. Ray Choudhry, “Kanishka’s fame rests not so much on his conquests as on his patronage of the religion of Sakyamuni.” In the promotion of Buddhism, he is compared with Ashoka. Kanishka was a foreigner by birth, an Indian by choice but a Buddhist by faith. Like Ashoka, he took several steps for the promotion of Buddhism. His love for Buddhism is greatly reflected in art. literature, sculpture, buildings and coins. Coins are an important source of information about the religion of Kanishka. These coins also indicate to some extent how in due course of his life, he became a Buddhist. The coins issued during the reign of Kanishka are of three kinds. One type of coins bear the images of the Greek gods which suggests that in the beginning he believed in the religion of Greek gods. The second type of coins have pictures of the Iranian god of fire which indicates that he took to Iranian religion. The third type of coins exhibit the image of Buddha which shows that he turned to Buddhism. It is widely believed that after his victory over Magadha he became a Buddhist. Most probably, Ashvagosha, a Buddhist scholar, won his heart and Kanishka became a follower of Buddhism..
Kanishka took the following steps for the promotion of Buddhism:
1. Buddhism a state religion-
Kanishka made Buddhism a state religion.
2. Patronage to Buddhist scholars-
Kanishka was very respectful to the Buddhist scholars. Ashvagosha was chief among them: Several other scholars were patronised by him.
Nagarujna and Vasumitra were other great scholars of his court.
3. Building Buddhist monasteries-
Kanishka repaired many old mon- asteries and built several new ones. A lot of money was given to the Buddhist monks for their maintenance. He also built a number of stupas in the memory of Buddha. The monasteries and viharas became great centres of Buddhist learning.
4.Fourth Buddhist Council-
Kanishka convened the fourth Buddhist Council which was attended by about 500 monks and scholars. The Council was held under the presidentship of Vasumitra and Vice Presidentship of Ashvagosha. There is no agreement on the place at which the Council was held, two places — Kundenvanta near Srinagar in Kashmir and Jullundur in the Punjab. The primary objective of the conference was to settle various controversies and disputes that had arisen in the principles and practices of Buddhism. The entire Buddhist literature was reviewed. Voluminous commentaries on the three Pitakas were prepared. A book known as Mahavibhasa was prepared which contained detailed exposition of Buddhist philosophy. The decisions of the Council were written on sheets of copper which were placed in stone chests and deposited in a stupa built specifically for this purpose. Tara Nath, a Tibetan historian states that the Buddhist Council settled the dispute among 18 schools of Buddhism.
5. Mahayana Sect of Buddhism-
During the reign of Kanishka, some reforms were introduced in the philosophy and practices of Buddhism and which led to the emergence of a new sect called Mahayana. In the words of V. A. Smith, “As a royal supporter and patron of Mahayanism, he (Kanishka) occupies an equally great place as Ashoka had occupied with regard to Hinayanism (the old Buddhism).”
6. Art as a vehicle of spreading Buddhism-
The Gandhara School of Art grew during this period. The artists and sculptors of this period picked their themes from the life of Buddha and thus became instrumental in spreading Buddhism. The images and paintings of Buddha and Boddhistavas were so beautiful that people started admiring and adoring Buddhism.
7.Coins- Kanishka issued several coins exhibiting the images of Buddha.
8.Buddhist monks and scholars sent to foreign countries-
Like Ahsoka, Kanishka also sent Buddhist monks and scholars to spread Buddhism in countries like Tibet, China, Japan, and Central Asia.
5.Kanishka as a promoter of literary figures–
Besides Ashvagosha, Nagarjuna and Vasumitra there were other great figures in his court. Charaka, the great physicians flourished in his reign. Mathura a politician of great inteligence, was one of his ministers. Agesilous a Greek engineer. also adorned his court.
6.Kanishka as a great builder-
Kanishka built a number of monasteries, stupas and towns. He built a town Sirsukh near Taxila, and another Kanishpura — in Kashmir.
7.Prosperous trade and commerce-
During Kanishka’s reign, trade- foreign as well inland flourished. India had trade relations with the Chinese empire, the Parthinan empire and the Roman empire. India exported cotton, maslin, medicinal herbs, pearls and ivory and imported stones of luxury. gold, silver and wine. The trade was carried on both by land and sea-routes. The exports brought enormous riches to the country
8.Patron of art and sculpture-
The city of Mathura was made beautiful with a large number of sculptures. An important relic of this period is a headless statue of Kanishka. Kanishka adorned Purushapura (modern Peshawar) his capital with many noble edifices, public buildings and Buddhist monasteries. He erected a great relic tower at his capital-the superstructure of carved wood in 13 storeys to a height of at least 400 ft. It was surmounted by a mighty iron pinnacle. Totally indigenous art flourished during his reign at Amravati. The ornamental sculpture depicted in the Amravati medallion bears testimony to the excellence of purely Indian style influenced by any foreign art.
9.Gandhara School of Art–
A new school of art, namely the Gandhara School of Art emerged during Kanishka’s reign. It was a mixture of Indian and Greek Art.
10. Mathura School of Art-
Mathura School of Art made a great progress during the period of Kanishka.
11.Religious tolerance-
Kanishka, although a strong promoter of Buddhism, showed due consideration to other religious.