Table of Contents
Introduction: Achievements of Kanishka
Kanishka was a famous king of the Kushan dynasty who ruled from 127 to 150 CE. Under his rule, the empire grew to its largest size, covering Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India.
Kanishka played a significant role in spreading Mahayana Buddhism across Asia. His support for art, culture, and religion helped make the Kushan Empire a center of trade and culture, influencing the growth of Buddhism along the Silk Road.
Empire of Kanishka the Great
- Kanishka, who reigned from 127–150 CE, is renowned as the most famous ruler of the Kushan Empire.
- Under his leadership, the empire reached its zenith, extending from Central Asia (southern Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) in the northwest to Mathura in the southeast.
- His empire also included regions outside India such as Afghanistan, Bactria, Kashgarh, Khotan, and Yarkhand. Within India, he ruled over Punjab, Kashmir, Sindh, and the entire Uttar Pradesh up to Kashi in the east.
- His influence extended to Bengal and Bihar, as evidenced by the discovery of his coins in these regions.
- The eastern part of his empire was governed by royal representatives known as “Mahakshatrapa” and “Kshatrapa.”
Capitals
- The capital of Kanishka’s empire was Purushapura (modern Peshawar), with Mathura serving as another significant capital.
- He established a new city named Kanishkapura.
- He replaced Greek with Bactrian as the official administrative language.
- Though information about Kanishka’s administration is very limited, the prosperity of the Kushan Empire suggests a highly efficient organizational structure.
Kanishka and Buddhism
- Kanishka was a great patron of Mahayana Buddhism, which is well-documented through coins, inscriptions, and archaeological findings.
- Some of his coins feature images of the Buddha, highlighting his commitment to the religion.
- His support played a crucial role in spreading Mahayana Buddhism to China.
- During his reign, the 4th Buddhist council was held in Kundalavana, Kashmir, and was presided over by Vasumitra and Ashwaghosha. This council compiled a comprehensive commentary on Buddhist scriptures, which were engraved on brass and stored inside a stupa.
- In the 4th Buddhist Council, Buddhism saw a significant division into two sects: Hinayana and Mahayana. This division was pivotal in shaping the future of Buddhism in Asia.
Kanishka Stupa and Buddhist Architecture
- Kanishka’s contributions to Buddhist architecture include the construction of a massive stupa (known as Kanishka stupa) at Purushapura (Peshawar, Pakistan).
- The Stupa was a wooden superstructure, that stood over 120 meters tall and was constructed on a decorated stone base.
- Its iron roof was topped with a 13-layer copper-plated chhatra, and the sides featured Buddha statues.
- The Stupa was regarded as one of the wonders of the world for a long time. In the 400s CE, the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Faxian visited and described it as “the highest of all the towers” in the “terrestrial world.”
- This stupa, supervised by the Greek architect ‘Agesilaos’, housed relics of the Buddha that were later transferred to Burma after their discovery.
- The stupa was excavated in 1908–1909 by a British archaeological mission led by David Brainard Spooner, who also explored the ancient sites of Pataliputra and Nalanda.
What is Kanishka Casket?
- It is a Buddhist reliquary (a container for relics) associated with Kanishka.
- It is believed to have contained relics of the Buddha and was found in the Peshawar Stupa, Pakistan.
- It was discovered in 1908–1909 during the excavation of the Stupa by British archaeologist David Brainard Spooner.
- Made of gilded copper*, the casket is intricately decorated with images of the Buddha and Hindu deities and features inscriptions in the Kharosthi script.
- It is kept in the Peshawar Museum in Pakistan.
*Gilding metal is an alloy of copper and zinc with a much higher copper content. is used in various applications such as bullet jackets, artillery shells, etc. It’s also popular in crafting and jewellery making due to its malleability and attractive appearance.
Cultural and Religious Influence
- Although a devout Buddhist, Kanishka believed in Indian pantheism. His coins depict a diverse array of deities from Hindu (Shiva and Durga), Greek, Zoroastrian, Iranian, and West Asian Elam traditions.
- He was the first king to put the image of Buddha on his coins.
- His court was graced by eminent figures such as the Buddhist sage Vasumitra, the poet and philosopher Asvaghosa, the philosopher Nagarjuna, and the Ayurveda-shastra scholar Charaka.
Rabatak Inscription
- The Rabatak Inscription is a stone tablet inscribed with text in the Bactrian language using the Greek script. It was discovered in 1993 at Rabatak near Surkh Kotal in Afghanistan.
- Dating back to the 2nd century CE, the inscription provides significant information about the rule of Kanishka and the genealogy of the Kushan dynasty.
Achievements of Kanishka UPSC PSC MCQs
Who started the Shaka era and when? [WBCS 2008]
(a) Kadphises in 58 BC
(b) Vikramaditya in 58 BC
(c) Rudradaman I in AD 78
(d) Kanishka in AD 78
Answer: (d) Kanishka in AD 78
Which inscription tells about the various achievements of Rudradaman-I? [BPSC (Pre) 2011]
(a) Junagadh
(b) Bhitari
(c) Nasik
(d) Sanchi
Answer: (a) Junagadh
Who renovated Sudarshan Lake without using forced labour? [UPPSC (Pre) 2014]
(a) Chandragupta Maurya
(b) Bindusar
(c) Ashoka
(d) Rudradaman-I
Answer: (d) Rudradaman-I
The earliest specimen of the ‘Kavya’ style is found in the inscription of- [UPPSC (Pre) 1997]
(a) Rudradaman of Kathiawar
(b) Ashoka
(c) Rajendra I
(d) None of the above
Answer: (a) Rudradaman of Kathiawar
How much is the year difference between the Shaka Samvat and Vikram Samvat? [UP UDA/LDA (Pre) 2006]
(a) 57 years
(b) 78 years
(c) 135 years
(d) 320 years
Answer: (c) 135 years
Which one of the following will be the year of Shaka Samvat in December 2009? [UPPSC (Mains) 2007]
(a) 1931
(b) 1952
(c) 2066
(d) 2087
Answer: (a) 1931
When was Shaka Samvat initiated? [UPRO/ARO (Mains) 2013]
(a) 58 AD
(b) 78 AD
(c) 320 AD
(d) 606 AD
Answer: (b) 78 AD
Chaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Shaka Era corresponds to which one of the following dates of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days? [IAS (Pre) 2014]
(a) 22nd March (or 21st March)
(b) 15th May (or 16th May)
(c) 31st March (or 30th March)
(d) 21st April (or 20th April)
Answer: (a) 22nd March (or 21st March)
Who among the following issued gold coins regularly in ancient India? [UP Lower Sub (Pre) 2004]
(a) Satavahana
(b) Saka
(c) Kushan
(d) Parthian
Answer: (c) Kushan
The largest number of copper coins in Northern and North-Western India were issued by- [UPPCS (Pre) 2005]
(a) Indo-Greeks
(b) Kushans
(c) Sakas
(d) Pratiharas
Answer: (b) Kushans
Which of the following dynasty empires was expanded even outside of India? [UK UDA/LDA (Mains) 2006]
(a) Gupta dynasty
(b) Maurya dynasty
(c) Kushan dynasty
(d) None of these
Answer: (c) Kushan dynasty
Art of Gandhara style flourished during the reign of: [BPSC (Pre) 1992]
(b) Guptas
(c) Akbar
(d) Mauryas
Answer: (a) Kushans
Who among the following was the ruler of the Kushan dynasty? [SSC 2016]
(a) Vikramaditya
(b) Danti Durga
(c) Khadphises I
(d) Pushyamitra
Answer: (c) Khadphises I
Who among the following introduced gold coins for regular use in India? [UPPSC (Pre) 2015]
(a) Vima Kadphises
(b) Kujula Kadphises
(c) Kanishka
(d) Hermwes
Answer: (a) Vima Kadphises
The greatest development in the Kushan period was in the field of- [SSC 2005]
(a) religion
(b) art
(c) literature
(d) architecture
Answer: (a) religion
In which year, the coronation of Kushan king Kanishka was held? [UPPSC (Pre) 1991]
(a) 178 BC
(b) 101 AD
(c) 58 BC
(d) 78 AD
Answer: (d) 78 AD
Which one of the following is not associated with the Court of Kanishka? [UP Lower Sub (Pre) 2008]
(a) Ashvaghosha
(b) Charaka
(c) Nagarjuna
(d) Patanjali
Answer: (d) Patanjali
Who of the following did not adorn the court of Kanishka I? [UPPSC (Mains) 2005]
(a) Ashvaghosha
(b) Parshva
(c) Vasumitra
(d) Vishakhadatta
Answer: (d) Vishakhadatta
Who among the following was the court physician of Kanishka? [SSC CGL 2016]
(a) Vasumitra
(b) Nagarjuna
(c) Charaka
(d) Patanjali
Answer: (c) Charaka
Ashvaghosha was a contemporary of– [UKPSC (Pre) 2010]
(a) Ashoka
(b) Chandragupta-II
(c) Kanishka
(d) Harshvardhan
Answer: (c) Kanishka
150. Buddha is depicted on the coins of [UPPSC (Pre) 2010]
(a) Vima Kadphises
(b) Kanishka
(c) Nahpaad
(d) Budhagupta
Answer: (b) Kanishka
Which of the following cities is not mentioned in the Rabatak inscription of Kanishka? [UPRO/ARO (Mains) 2014]
(a) Shravasti
(b) Kaushambi
(c) Pataliputra
(d) Champa
Answer: (a) Shravasti
Which Chinese general had defeated Kanishka? [UKPSC (Pre) 2003]
(a) Pan Chao
(b) Ban Yong
(c) She Huang Ti
(d) Ho-Ti
Answer: (a) Pan Chao
Buddhism was divided into Mahayana and Hinayana during the reign of which of the following rulers? [SSC 2018]
(a) Kanishka
(b) Chandragupta II
(c) Ashoka
(d) None of these
Answer: (a) Kanishka
The Gandhara School of Art is a synthesis of [UPPSC (Pre) 1996]
(a) Indian and Persian Art
(b) Indian and Chinese Art
(c) Indian and Turk-Afghan Art
(d) Indian and Greek Art
Answer: (d) Indian and Greek Art
Which one of the following sculptures invariably used greenschist as the medium? [IAS (Pre) 1996]
(a) Mauryan sculptures
(b) Mathura sculptures
(c) Bharhut sculptures
(d) Gandhara sculptures
Answer: (d) Gandhara sculptures
Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched? [CGPSC (Pre) 2008, IAS (Pre) 2001]
(a) Harappan Civilisation – Painted Grey Ware
(b) The Kushans – Gandhara School of Art
(c) The Mughals – Ajanta Paintings
(d) The Marathas – Pahari School of Painting
Answer: (b) The Kushans – Gandhara School of Art
Consider the following names of contemporaries of Kanishka and select the correct answer from the codes given below– [UPPSC (Pre) 1994]
I. Ashvaghosha
II. Vasumitra
III. Kalidas
IV. Kamban
Codes:
(a) I and IV
(b) II and III
(c) I and II
(d) All of these
Answer: (c) I and II