Who were the Kushanas? Who introduced the Shakabda? Why was it called so?

a. Who were the Kushanas:

The Kushanas invaded India around 1st century BC. Of all the foreign invaders the influence of the Kushanas was widely felt in India. That is why the Kushanas are said to be the most important of all the foreigners who invaded India. The Kushanas were a branch of the Yue-chi tribe.

The Yue-chi nomads had their original home on the Chinese frontier wherefrom they moved to the Sirdariya and the Amudariya river valleys. Here the Yue-chis came to be divided into five branches. Of these branches the Kushanas were the most important.

b. Sakahda: Why Called So?

Kanishka, the greatest of the Kushanas introduced the Saka era or Sakctbda in 78 AD.

It was called so because the era was originally introduced by the Sakas. Kanishka only reintroduced it.

c. Greatness of Kanishka:

The most important king of the Kushanas was Kanishka. Kanishka, indeed, surpassed all the foreigners who came to India and established kingdom.

Kanishka’s achievements lay in his conquest, economic advancement, and patronage to art, literature and religion. As a conqueror he extended the boundary of the Kushana kingdom.

By way of new conquest, he conquered Oudh and Pataliputra. His empire spread from the river Oxus in the north to the Ganges in the south and Khorasan in the west to Varanasi in the east.

Purushpura (modern Peshawar) was his capital. Under Kanishka trade relation was established between India and different countries of Central Asia.

Under him there was great economic advancement of the country. Kanishka is also remembered for his patronage of Buddhism. Because of his missionary activities Kanishka sometimes is called ‘Asoka II’.

Kanishka deserves to be remembered also for his patronage to art and literature. The famous Gandhara School of art flourished during his reign.

Thus whether as a conqueror, a religious zealot or a patron of art and literature, Kanishka was successful and appeared equally great.