Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
in BUDDHISM AND
HINDUISM
By
Adesh katariya
(plast.adesh@gmail.com)
Kushana Origin
Kushana was a Gotra ( sub-tribe ) of Yuezhi( Guzar),
also called Tushar.
In the epic Mahabharata, tocher called as Tushar were
descendents of ancient Suryabanshi.
In Hindu mythology, the Lunar dynasty (also known
as Somavansha, Chandravansha and as Ailas) was one
of the four principal houses of the Kshatriya varna, or
warriorruling caste.
Cont..
Vima Takto seems to have been a devotee of the Hindu god Shiva,
because some of his coins clearly show an image of Shiva.
Vima Kadphises issued an extensive series of coins and inscriptions
based on hinduism and greek religions. He was the first to introduce
gold coinage in India, in addition to the existing copper and silver
coinage. His coins are of such high quality that some historians
believe that they must have been made by Roman mint masters in
the service of the Kushana kings.
He issued his W type coins both in gold and in copper in different
varieties, i.e. W standing alone, holding attributes, W standing
in front of a bull with his attributes and one type shows him with
attributes only, i.e. liga, trident and akua (Gbl 1984: nr. 1-20).
Cont.
They comprise Iranian deities of Ath (spelled A in Bactrian
script), Mh (Bactrian MAO), Mithra/Mihira (Bactrian MIIPO), Wd
(Bactrian OA) etc.
Forth Buddhist council held during Kanishka region.
Like Asoka, Kanishka converted to Buddhism, employing 500 monks
to regulate Buddhist teachings in his empire.Kanishkas monks
meetings resulted in the creation of Mahayana Buddhism, more
closer to Hinduism.
Kanishka's reliquary casket, for example, features cast
representations of Buddha as well as Hindu dieties Brahma and Indra,
Persian sun and moon gods on the sides of the container and a
garland, supported by cherubs in typical Hellenistic style.
Kanishka attacked over Patliputra for in-tolerence nature of Brahmin
king
The multiplicity of gods that are shown backing the Emperor Kanihka
added to his status and importance and do not seem to indicate any
of his personal religious preferences.
Hinduism of Huvishka
King Huvika demonstrated his innovative approach with a variety of
deities and also introduced a new form of W .Before the time of
Huvika, W was shown with one or three heads (Perkins 2007) and
two or four arms holding varying attributes.
The W of Huvika appears regularly with three heads, four arms and
hands, holding a vase, a thunderbolt, a trident, and a club. The central
face has a third eye, the hairs are knotted. This form of W became
the model for iva in Gandhra.
Huvika introduced divine couples on his coins. In the pair W-Nn
(Gbl 1984: nr. 167) both deities assimilate their Indian counterparts:
W assumes characteristics of iva and Nn takes on features of
Parvat. Accordingly, this earliest representation of the divine couple
influenced depiction of the iva-Parvat iconography in Gandhra.
Similarly, the pair W-Omm (spelled OH, ) (Gbl 1984: nr.
310) influenced the idea of Um-Mahevara in Gandhra.
Buddhism
Buddhists texts are full of praise for the Kushan Kanishka, "King of Kings" (circa 100 AD),
whose benevolent patronage supported Buddhism like no one else during his lifetime.
Buddhist Patronage. Kanishka's reputation in Buddhist tradition began with convening
the 4th Buddhist Council in Kashmir, circa 100 AD, which became essential to the
development of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition.
Kanishka provided encouragement to both the Gandhara school of Greco-Buddhist Art
and the Mathura school of Hindu art.
His greatest contribution to Buddhist architecture was the Kanishka stupa at Peshawar.
Archaeologists who rediscovered the base of thes stupa in 1908-1909 ascertained that
this stupa had a diameter of 286 feet.
Reports of Chinese pilgrims such as Xuan Zang indicate that its height was roughly 600 to
681 feet high and was covered with jewels.
This immense multi-storied building must have ranked among the wonders of the ancient
world.
Buddhist monks from the region of Gandhara during Kanishika's lifetime played a key
role in the development and the transmission of Buddhist ideas from India and Gandhara
to China.
For example, the Kushan monk, Lokaksema (c. 178 AD), became the first translator of
Mahayana Buddhist scriptures into Chinese and established a translation bureau at the
Chinese capital Loyang.
First Sermon
Tucker, p.
48
Standing
Buddha
Grey schist
Gandhara
2nd-3rd centuries
AD
Head of the
Buddha
Grey schist
Gandhara
2nd-3rd centuries
AD
Standing Bodhisattvas
Grey schist
Kushana -Gandhara, 2nd-3rd century AD
Tucker, p.
46
Tucker, p.
207
Buddha in
meditation
Limestone
Bactria
2nd century AD
Tucker, p.
39
Head of the
Buddha
Stucco
Gandhara
Thanks
The motive of this this presentation is, to attract good scholers to discuss and research on
the great contribution of Kushana of Yuezhi/Gurjar Tribes.
-Adesh Katariya