News Highlight
India has a long tradition of coinage with images of gods and goddesses, and the Kushans were the first to use the image of Goddess Lakshmi on their coins.
Key Takeaway
- Apart from the image of Goddess Lakshmi on their coins, the Kushans also depicted Oesho (Shiva), moon deity Miro and Buddha in their coinage.
- The Vijayanagara kings used coinage with Hindu idols.
- Harihara –II (1377-1404) of the Vijayanagara kingdom introduced coins that had Brahma-Saraswati, Vishnu-Lakshmi and Shiva-Parvati.
- The British East India Co. at Madras Presidency minted coins labelled as the Three Swamy Pagoda, which depicts Lord Balaji flanked by Sridevi and Bhudevi on either side.
- About the coins with Goddess Lakshmi issued by Mohammed bin Sam, known to us as Mohammed Ghori, after defeating Prithviraj Chauhan in the battle of Terrain in 1192 AD.
The Kushan Empire
- About
- The Kushana Empire or Kushan Dynasty was established by Kujula Kadphises.
- It was an Indo-European nomadic tribe earlier and was formed by Yuezhi, a group of some Chinese people who ruled over the northern parts of India, Afghanistan, and Central China.
- The Origin of Kushana Empire
- The Kushans was one of the broad parts of Yuezhi, the first people who were described as nomadic pastoralists in the history of china.
- They lived in western China’s Gansu during the First millennium BC.
- After a major victory of the Xiongnu, they split into two groups in 176 B.C. and started migrating to northern Afghanistan, most of which settled in ancient Bactria.
- The Yuezhi transformed themselves into a powerful group across South and Central Asia by embracing the cultural values of many linguistic and ethnic groups.
- In the second century B.C.E., they took control of Bactria by defeating its people in wars. They divided Bactria into five states, one of which was known as the Kushans or Guishuang.
- A hundred years later, the chief of Kushans merged all other four states into the Kushana Empire. After defeating the Parthians and Sakas, they moved towards east India.
- Major rulers
- Kujula Kadphises
- He was the first Yuezhi who founded the Kushana Empire after the partition of the Yuezhi group.
- His son Vima Taktu Kadphises or Sadashkana succeeded him.
- He expanded and made the Kushan empire affluent into northwest India by trading with Romans. He issued coins that exhibit the figures of many Dharmas, including God Shiva.
- Kanishka Kadphises [127 C. – 150 C.E.]
- He was the son of Vima Taktu Kadphises and the successor of his father for the Kushana Empire. And the Kushana Dynasty was acknowledged as the great power of its time under his rule.
- Kujula Kadphises
- Significance of Kushana Empire
- The Kushan Empire brought many changes during its reign. It encourages people to follow a different path if they are interested in that. And became the perfect example of Syncretism.
- The development of Sanskrit literature during this period opened a new door for many scholars who were well-versed in the Sanskrit language.
- Many different schools of art flourished.
- The silk road made this empire economically strong through trading with Romans and the emperor of china, and with the help of this road, they could spread the principles taught by Lord Buddha among the neighbouring countries.
- Many beautiful Sculptures and Towers were built by Kanishka I.
- They came to India as foreign invaders but adopted its culture by showing their presence in various events organised by the top scholars of the Kushan Period. Also, king Kanishka opened the school of arts for young learners.
- The coins of this era contained thirty different gods; Kumara, Ardoxsho, Oesho, God Shiva, and Lord Buddha were common deities.
- The decline of Kushan Empire
- Vasudeva was the last king of Kushan who died in 232 A.D.
- After his death, the Sasanian dynasty rose to power in Iran, and North India and Kushan rule declined gradually.
Pic courtesy The Hindu
Content Source: The Hindu