SANSKRIT IN KANISHKA EMPIRE

     

     Kanishka was regarded as a successor of Vima  Kadphises (Kadphises II) head of the Kushana section of horde took possession of Ki-pin and Kabul and became complete master of the Indian borderland.

          Kanishka was the only Scythian King known to have established an era in A.D.78.   According to Hiuen Tsang, the great empire pver which Kanishka exercised his sway had its capital at Purushapura or Peshawar.  Epigraphic evidence points to the inclusion within his dominions of the wide expanse of territory from Gandhara and Sue Vihar to Oudh and Beneras.

          Kanishka’s chief title to fame rest on his monuments and on the patronage he extended to the religion of Sakya-Muni (Buddha).  The celebrated Chaitya that he constructed at Peshawar exited the wonder and admiration of travellers. 

In Buddhist ecclesiastical history Kanishka’s name is honoured as that of the prince who summoned a great council to examine the Buddhist scriptures and prepare commentaries on them. Among the celebrities who graced his court the most eminent was Asvaghosha, philosopher, poet, and dramatist. 

According to tradition, Asvaghosha was contemporary or preceptor of Kanishka.  He was the son Suvarnakshi and a resident of Saketa.  He had the titles Bhikshu, Acharya, Bhadanta, Mahakavi and Mahavadin.  He proved his worth by making the horse listen to his discourses leaving aside the fodder and hence his name. 

        Asvaghosha wrote two Mahakavyas and a drama, among them,     1. Saundara-Aanandam in 18 cantos describes how Gautama converted into Buddhist order his half-brother Nanda who was reluctant to leave his life, and the another 2. BuddhaCharitam was originally compose in 28 cantos being  rendered into Chinese and Tibetan language which has been later reconstructed into Sanskrit for 13 cantos. 3. SariputraPrakaranam  or SaradvatiputraPrakaranam in nine acts dealing with the conversation of Maudgalyayana and SariPutra into Buddhism.  The canon of dramaturgy are all strictly followed by the author.