The Kushanas and the Fourth Buddhist Council
The Kushanas (1st to 3rd century CE) were a Central Asian dynasty. Their greatest ruler, Kanishka, ruled Kashmir too.
Kanishka and Kashmir
- Kanishka founded the town of Kanishkapura (modern Kanispor, Baramulla).
- His successors left their names on towns: Huvishka founded Hushkapura (Ushkur, Baramulla), and Jushka founded Jushkapura (Zukur).
- The Kushanas were great patrons of Buddhism and of Gandhara art.
The Fourth Buddhist Council
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ruler | Kanishka |
| Place | Kundalvana, near Harwan in Kashmir (according to the Kashmiri Buddhist tradition; some scholars place it elsewhere) |
| Date | About the 1st to 2nd century CE |
| President | Vasumitra, with Ashvaghosha as his deputy |
| Outcome | Compilation of the Mahavibhasha commentary on the Abhidharma (a Sarvastivada work). Textbooks link the Council with the Mahayana and Hinayana split |
| Language | Sanskrit was used |
Buddhist scholars linked to Kashmir
- Nagarjuna, the Madhyamika philosopher, is traditionally linked with Kashmir and Harwan.
- Kumarajiva (born in Kucha, Central Asia) studied in Kashmir under Bandhudatta before going to China (4th century CE).
- Kashmir sent many monks to China, Tibet and Central Asia, taking Sanskrit Buddhist texts with them.
The three Kushana kings and their towns
| Kushana king | Town founded | Modern name |
|---|---|---|
| Huska (Huvishka) | Huskapura | Ushkur, Baramulla |
| Juska (Jushka) | Juskapura | Zukur, Srinagar |
| Kanishka | Kanishkapura | Kanispora, Baramulla |
- Kushana rule in Kashmir is said to have lasted till about 178 CE.
- Kanishka's Fourth Buddhist Council at Kundalvana (Kashmir) is said in many textbooks to have led to the split of Buddhism into two sects: Mahayana and Hinayana.
Keep practising
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Prepared for exam revision from standard sources, official publications and the Census. Figures and recent developments change, so check official sources before relying on them. Found a mistake? Tell us.