Indian history · Kings and empires · Post-Mauryan period
Kanishka and the Kushan Empire: Saka Era of 78 CE, Fourth Buddhist Council, Gandhara and Mathura Art, and the Silk Road
The Kushans built an empire that linked India with Central Asia, China and the Roman world along the Silk Road. Their greatest king, Kanishka, patronised Buddhism, gave his name to an era that is still the basis of India's national calendar, and presided over a flowering of art in Gandhara and Mathura. This guide arranges the Kushan story for competitive exams.
The Kushans at a glance
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Origin | Yuezhi people of Central Asia, displaced from western China |
| Founder | Kujula Kadphises (Kadphises I) |
| Gold coinage on a large scale | Vima Kadphises (Kadphises II) |
| Greatest king | Kanishka, accession usually placed in 78 CE (some scholars prefer 127 CE) |
| Capitals | Purushapura (Peshawar); Mathura as a second centre |
| Era | Saka era, beginning 78 CE |
| Religion | Patron of Buddhism (Mahayana); coins show Greek, Iranian, Indian and Buddhist deities |
| Key inscription | Rabatak inscription (Afghanistan), discovered 1993 |
From the Yuezhi to an empire
The Yuezhi were pushed westward by the Xiongnu in the 2nd century BCE and settled in Bactria (northern Afghanistan). One of their five clans, the Kushana, united the others under Kujula Kadphises in the 1st century CE. He extended rule into Kabul and Gandhara. His successors, Vima Takto and Vima Kadphises, pushed into the Indian plains. Vima Kadphises issued abundant gold coins, many with the figure of Shiva and the bull, showing his devotion to Shaivism.
The Rabatak inscription, written in Bactrian using Greek letters, gives the family tree of Kanishka and names the cities under his control, from Afghanistan to Pataliputra and Champa in the Gangetic plain.
Kanishka's empire
Kanishka ruled a vast realm stretching from Central Asia and Afghanistan through Gandhara, Kashmir and Punjab to Mathura and possibly as far east as Varanasi. His statues, coins and inscriptions show him as a powerful warrior-king â the headless statue of Kanishka at Mat near Mathura, wearing a long coat and boots, is one of the best-known Kushan sculptures.
Chinese sources record wars between the Kushans and the Chinese general Ban Chao in Central Asia; the Kushans controlled important stretches of the Silk Road, profiting from trade between China, India and Rome.
The Saka era (78 CE)
The era that began with Kanishka's accession in 78 CE is known as the Saka era (Shaka Samvat). It was later used widely by Saka and other rulers, which explains the name.
The Indian National Calendar, adopted in 1957 on the recommendation of the Calendar Reform Committee headed by Meghnad Saha, is based on the Saka era. Its first month is Chaitra, beginning on 22 March (21 March in leap years).
Kanishka and Buddhism
- Kanishka convened the Fourth Buddhist Council in Kashmir (at Kundalvana), presided over by Vasumitra with Ashvaghosha as deputy.
- The council is associated with the rise of Mahayana Buddhism, which worshipped the Buddha in human form and the ideal of the Bodhisattva.
- He built a great stupa (the Kanishka stupa) at Purushapura, admired by later Chinese pilgrims.
- Buddhism spread from Kushan lands into Central Asia and China.
Scholars at his court
| Scholar | Known for |
|---|---|
| Ashvaghosha | Buddhacharita, a poetic life of the Buddha |
| Vasumitra | President of the Fourth Buddhist Council |
| Nagarjuna | Madhyamika philosophy (by tradition linked with the period) |
| Charaka | Charaka Samhita, a classic of Ayurveda; by tradition Kanishka's physician |
Kushan art: Gandhara and Mathura
The Kushan period saw the first images of the Buddha in human form, made in two great schools:
| Feature | Gandhara school | Mathura school |
|---|---|---|
| Region | North-west (Peshawar, Taxila, Swat) | Mathura, Uttar Pradesh |
| Influence | Greco-Roman (Hellenistic) | Indigenous Indian |
| Material | Grey or blue-grey schist, stucco | Red spotted sandstone |
| Buddha's appearance | Wavy hair, heavy folded robes, spiritual calm | Shaven or snail-shell curls, smiling, energetic |
| Themes | Mostly Buddhist | Buddhist, Jain and Hindu |
A third school, Amaravati, flourished in the Andhra region under the Satavahanas around the same time.
Coinage and economy
The Kushans issued the largest number of gold coins in ancient India up to their time, many matching the weight of the Roman aureus. Coins carried deities of many traditions â Greek (Helios), Iranian (Mithra, Ardochsho), Indian (Shiva/Oesho) and the Buddha (Boddo) â reflecting a multicultural empire. Trade with Rome brought gold into India, a fact noted in Roman complaints about the drain of Roman wealth to the East.
Decline
After Huvishka and Vasudeva I (whose name shows Indian influence), Kushan power declined in the 3rd century CE, squeezed by the Sasanian Persians in the west and regional Indian powers. The Guptas later rose in the Gangetic plain.
Exam traps
- The Saka era (78 CE) is linked with Kanishka, even though it is called "Saka".
- The Fourth Buddhist Council was in Kashmir under Kanishka; the Third was at Pataliputra under Ashoka.
- Gandhara art shows Greco-Roman influence; Mathura art used red sandstone and was indigenous.
- Vima Kadphises â not Kanishka â first issued gold coins in large numbers.
Key points to remember
- Kushans = a Yuezhi clan; founder Kujula Kadphises.
- Kanishka, capital Purushapura; Saka era 78 CE â Indian National Calendar (1957).
- Fourth Buddhist Council, Kashmir; Vasumitra, Ashvaghosha; Mahayana.
- Charaka associated with his court.
- Gandhara and Mathura schools; abundant gold coins; Rabatak inscription.
Practice questions
Q1. The Saka era, which forms the basis of India's national calendar, began in:
- (a) 57 BCE
- (b) 78 CE
- (c) 320 CE
- (d) 606 CE
Show answer
Answer: (b) 78 CE â The Saka era begins in 78 CE, linked with Kanishka's accession.
Q2. The Fourth Buddhist Council under Kanishka was held in:
- (a) Rajagriha
- (b) Vaishali
- (c) Pataliputra
- (d) Kashmir
Show answer
Answer: (d) Kashmir â It was held in Kashmir, presided over by Vasumitra.
Q3. Which Kushan ruler first issued gold coins on a large scale?
- (a) Kujula Kadphises
- (b) Vima Kadphises
- (c) Kanishka
- (d) Huvishka
Show answer
Answer: (b) Vima Kadphises â Vima Kadphises issued abundant gold coins, often showing Shiva.
Q4. The Gandhara school of art was influenced mainly by:
- (a) Persian art
- (b) Chinese art
- (c) Greco-Roman art
- (d) Egyptian art
Show answer
Answer: (c) Greco-Roman art â Gandhara sculpture blends Indian themes with Hellenistic style.
Q5. Buddhacharita was written by:
- (a) Nagarjuna
- (b) Ashvaghosha
- (c) Vasubandhu
- (d) Kalidasa
Show answer
Answer: (b) Ashvaghosha â Ashvaghosha wrote the Buddhacharita.
Q6. The capital of Kanishka was:
- (a) Taxila
- (b) Purushapura
- (c) Sakala
- (d) Pataliputra
Show answer
Answer: (b) Purushapura â Purushapura, modern Peshawar, was Kanishka's capital.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Saka era named after the Sakas if Kanishka started it?
The era was later used extensively by the western Saka rulers of India, and the name stuck.
What is the Rabatak inscription?
A Bactrian-language inscription found in Afghanistan in 1993 that lists Kanishka's ancestors and the cities under his rule.
Which physician is associated with Kanishka's court?
Charaka, author of the Charaka Samhita.
Official sources
Rules, dates and figures can change. Always check the latest official notification or government release before relying on a detail.