Kushan Empire is one of the most interesting Dynasties which ruled over the land of Jammu & Kashmir. The Kushans ruled from first to second century AD, extending its reach to each and every corner of the valley. The chapter of Kushan Empire is truly a glorious one in the Jammu & Kashmir history. During the reign of Kushans in Jammu Kashmir the influence of Buddhism was at its peak. Later the Kushans attained predominance over the other and the leader was Kadphises. And then began the history of Kushans.
Kadphises
kadphises attacked the southern region of Hindu Kush, conquered Kabul and defeated Gandhara including the kingdom of Taxila. Later the leader Kadphises died in 78 AD. By then Kushans had supplemented the prince of Indo-Greeks Saka and Indo-Parthian communities along the frontiers of India. The successor of Kadphises was Vima Kadphsis who conquered large parts of North India. The coins of Kadphises show that his authority extended up to Banaras and also till Indus basin. The valor of this king extended from Narmada to Saka Satraps in Malwa and Western India acknowledged his sovereignty.
Kajula Kadphises (Kadphises I)
The great Kushan ruler who defeated the four other sections of the great Yueh-chi tribe was Kujula Kadphises (or Kadphises I) as he is generally called. He was a great warrior who defeated the Greeks and established his supremacy over Kabul, Kandhar and Afghanistan. It is not definite whether he crossed the Indus or not
Vima Kadphises(Kadphises II)
Vima Kadphises is also popularly known as Kadphises II. He was succeeded about A.C. 45, by his son Kadphises II, who sent an army to conquer Eastern Turkistan. He defeated the Saka Kshatraps and extended the boundaries of his empire up to Benaras. It is generally believed that he entered into a long conflict with China but because of the great Chinese general Pan-Chao he could not achieve anything. According to some historians he suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Chinese and even promised to pay an annual tribute to the Chinese empire.
Vima Kadphises issued a large number of gold coins and some of his coins bearing the figure of Shiva clearly indicate that he was probably a devotee of Shiva. He had maintained friendly relations with the Roman Empire. The discovery of a large number of Roman coins of that period in India clearly indicates that there existed very close commercial relations between India and the Roman Empire during the reign of Vima Kadphises. The Roman gold began to pour in India in exchange for the Indian goods such as silk, spices and various other articles.
Kanishka
Kanishka succeeded Kadphises II in 78 A.C., and extended his empire as far south as the Vindhyas and upper Sind. He annexed Kashmir, and with this we reach once more the terra firma of historical record in the annals of this country. He was a Buddhist by faith, and had his capital at Peshawar where the remains of some of his monuments have been exhumed. He erected numerous monuments in Kashmir, and built the town of Kanishkapura, the modern village of Kanispor, about six miles from Baramulla. Under his patronage the third council of the Buddhist church was held, which carried on its deliberations in the Khandalvan vihar, near Harvan in Kashmir, about 100 A.C., under the presidency of Nagarjuna and drew up the Northern Canon or “Greater Vehicle of the Law.”
The-Great Bodhisattva Nagarjuna
Huvishka,123 A.C.
It is probable that Vasishka and Huvishka, who were the sons of Kanishka, acted in Succession as viceroys, but it appears that Vasishka predeceased his father who was succeeded in his whole empire by Huvishka in 123 A.C.
Huvishka founded Hushkapura, the modern Ushkara, a small village near Varahamula or the modern Baramula. His rule lasted till about 140 A.C.
Vasudeva or Jushka, 140 A.C.
He was succeeded by Vasudeva, also called Jushka, who died in about 178 A.C., when Kushana rule came to an end in Kashmir. The dynasty, however, lasted in Kabul and the Punjab till they were swept away by the Hun invasion in the 5th century A.C. The Kushana chronology, it may be noted, is not yet quite definite.
Abhimanyu I
Jushka was succeeded by Abhimanyu I in whose reign Buddhism received a check in Kashmir.
Reference:
Sufi,G.M.D (1996). Kashmir Under The Mughals. Kashir: Being A History Of Kashmir(pp.41-43) Delhi:Capital Publishing House.
