Useful information on the sources and rise of the Kushanas

In the latter part of the first century A.D. and second century A.D. the Kushanas ruled in the North-West of India? Like the Sakas, Pallavas and Yavanas, Kushanas were also a foreign tribe.

However, of all the foreign tribes that came to India, the Kushanas were the most powerful. They made a significant impact upon Indian politics and culture. According to the Chinese historians, the Kushans in fact belonged to Yuch-Clii tribe who were a wandering tribe living in the frontier provinces of China.

Sources for the Kushan period:

There is no such authentic evident about the sources of Kushana period. Very little is known from the coins and inscription. The coins of Kadphises-I and Kadphises-II help us to know that the Kushanas ruled over a vast empire. The figures of Siva, Trishula and Nandi found engraved on the coins of Kadphises indicate that he was a followed of Lord Siva.

The commercial relation with other countries is also indicated by his coins. The coins also help us in fixing up the chronology of the Kushana kings. ‘Madhyamike Sutta’ by Nagarjuna and Buddha Charita by Aswaghosh also throw some light on the reign of the Kushanas. The specimen of the Gandhar School of Art, which are found in large number.

Let us know, the achievements of the Kushan period in the field of art their religion etc. Some useful information is found in the history of the First Hun Dynasty.

It contains an account of Chand Kien, the Chiness Ambassodor in Bactria, regarding the migration of the Yuch Chi to the South- East. It is only due to lack of sources that it can’t be said with certainty as to whether Kanishka was related to Kadphises -II or riot and what was the-date of the coronation of Kanishka.

Rise of the Kushanas:

In the Second Century A.D. a neighboring barbarian tribe known as Hiung-nu defeated the strong tribe of Yuch-Chi and drove them away from China.

Being exiled from their native place, the Yuch-Chi tribe advanced towards West, where it had to face a tribe known as Wu-Sun who lived in the Basin of Illi River.

The Yuch-Chi tribe defeated the Wu-Sun tribe and killed their king. In the mean time the Yuch-Chi tribe was divided into two parts. One branch went towards south and settled in Tibet. This branch was known as the small Yuch -Chi tribe. In the mean time the Yuch-Chi tribe had again to face the Wun-Sun tribe.

This time Hiuno-nu tribe helped Wu-Sun tribe as a result of which Yuch-Chi- had to leave that place too and went to the valley of oxus and reduced to subjection the peaceful inhabitants of the valley of oxus.

The Yuch-Chi consolidated itself at this place. Now they became divided into five groups of Kabilas, – one of which was called the Kushanas. These five groups tought among themselves and the Kushanas came out victorious. There upon the whole Yuch- Chi- tribe was known Fan-Ye have given the following account of the Yuch-Chi.

“In old days the Yuch-Chi-were Vanquished by the Hiung-nu. They then went to Tazhia and divided kingdom among five- Hsi-h (e) or Yabgous, Viz-those of Hsiumi, Shuangmi Kuei- shuang, Hsitun and Tumi. More than hundred Years after that, Hsihon or Yabgon (yaruga) or Kuei -Shuang (Kushana) named Kuiutciu -K’io attacked and annihilated and four other Hsi- hou and made himself king or Lord (wang); he invaded Naganrsi (the Arsakid territory, i.e. Parthia) and took possession of the territory of Kaifon (Kabul) overcame pota and Ki -Pin and became “complete master of these kingdoms Kiiutsin -Kio died at the age of more flian eighty.

His son Yen- Kao- tchen succeeded him as a king. In his turn he conquered Tien- tchon (lit. ‘India’) on the banks of a great river, apparently the kingdom of Taxila referred to by philosatratos, and established there a chief for governing it.

From this time the Yuch-Chi became extremely powerful. All the other countries desingnated them Kushan after their king but the Han detained the old name and called then Ta- Yuct- Chi”.

Early Rulers- Kadphises (15-65- A.D,):

Kujala Kadphises was the first powerful king of the Kushanas. He had adopted the title of” Wang or, king. His empire extended from river Oxus to river Indus.

Bactarira Afghanistan, Eastern portion of Iran and North-West frontier provinces of India were within his empire. Some of his coins indicate that he had expended his empire upto Taxila by defeating.

In the last Indo-Greek king. Hannains. Some of his coins seen to be directly imitated from the coins of his Augustus (27 B.C.-14.A.D) Tiberius (14-37 A.D.) or, Claudius (41-54 A.D.) Kujala Kadphises died at the ripe age of 80 years.

According to Dr. Smith Kadphises-I ruled from 40 A.D. to about 70 A.D. But Dr. Mookheijee disagrees with the view of Dr. Smith and writes that Kadphises -I ruled from about 15 A.D. to 65 A.D.

Kadphises -II:

After Kujala KadpMses or Kadphises -I his son Bima Kadphises or Kadphises -II succeeded him as a king. Kadphises was a very brave and courageous ruler.

He extended the empire inherited by his father and it was he who extended the empire to India proper probably Punjab, According to Stenknow and Dr. Smith Kadphises -II established the Saka era of 78 A.D.

But some how it is rejected by some historians and they say that the successor of Kadphises -I started the Saka Era. A large number of coins made of gold and copper were issued by Kadphises -II. He opened up the path of commerce between China, the Roman Empire and India.

Kanishka:

Kanishka was the greatest most able and most powerful of the Kushana emperors. He was well built and his very figure showed his mighty strength and bravery. He was a great conqueror and built up a vast empire.

Vasishka:

After Kanishka, Vasishka succeeded him as a king. Two inscriptions of Vasishka have found one at Mathura and the other at Sanchi. His coins have not been found .It appears that he lost distant parts no inscriptian are found in any other parts of India. It is said that Vasishka found a city named Jushkpur but there is no reliable evidence to support this contention.

Havishka:

Vasishka was succeeded by Havishka. He was a powerful king and the 30 years of his regin was a prosperous period. Many of his inscriptions have been discovered.

His inscriptions have been found in the Mathura region, in North-West frontier of India and also in Eastern Afghanistan. A large number of his coins have also been found.

An inscription found in Gaya indicates that his empire extended up to Bihar. Some of his coins have been found in Mathura, Vadrak inscription indicates that his empire extended up to Kabul. He was a follower of Buddhism and he built a Buddhist Vihar in Mathura.

His coins have the figures of Iranian Greek and Indian god goddesses. Most of the coins are well-shaped and artistic.

He reined at least up to 138 A.D. Era inscriptions mention the name of Kanishka. Probably this was Kanishka -II, who ruled at the sometime as a contemporary of Huvishka.

Vasudev -I:

After Havishka, Vasudev succeeded him as a king and ruled till 176 A.D. His coins have been found in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Some of the coins of Vasudev have the figures of Siva and Nandi which indicate that he was a worshipper of Siva.

End of Kushana Empire:

No definite information is available regarding the succeesors of Vasudev-I. He was perhaps succeeded by Kanishka-III, who ruled for 80 years. Kanishka -III was succeeded by Vasudev-II, According to Dr. Altekar, he ruled from about 210 to 230 A.D.

In fact the decline of the Kushana Empire started after the death of Vasudev -I. One by one all the provinces became independent and the Sakas established their rule in the North and North -Western provinces of India. In the course of time due to increase of power of Nagas, Bharsivas, Yandhas, Malvas etc, the Kushanas rule was completely ended.