Eastern Expansion of the Kusana Empire
Summary
The article addresses the geographical boundaries of the Kusana Empire, arguing against the parochial view that limited its eastern frontier to the Yamuna river. The author contends that the empire under Kaniska extended significantly further east into the regions of Bihar, Bengal, and Orissa. The main argument is supported by a combination of epigraphic, numismatic, sculptural, and literary evidence. The text discusses several specific sources, including the Buxar hoard of Kusana coins, the Sarnath inscription, and finds from places like Saheth-Maheth, Gaya, Rajgir, and Nongarh. The author notes that red sandstone images of the Mathura style, inscribed in Kusana characters, have been found in eastern India. Furthermore, the presence of copper coins of Kaniska, Huviska, and Wima-Kadphises in areas such as Tamluk, Murshidabad, Pataliputra, and Mayurbhanj is cited as evidence of political domination, as copper coinage was intended for local use. The article also references the roles of local governors like Kharapallana and Vanaspara, and discusses the implications of a gold coin impression of Huviska found beneath the Vajrasana at Bodh-Gaya. The author evaluates and dismisses counterarguments regarding the geographical locations of contemporary tribal republics, asserting that the Kusana Empire was a loosely organized institution that allowed for the existence of semi-autonomous states. Ultimately, the synthesis of numismatic, epigraphic, sculptural, and literary data leads to the conclusion that the territories of Bihar, Bengal, and Orissa were within the sphere of influence of Kaniska. J. E. van Lohuizen de Leuw, The “Scythian Period,” 1914 p. 362 Hind.
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Conclusion
The article establishes that the Kusana Empire under Kaniska extended its political and cultural influence significantly into eastern India, encompassing regions like Magadha, Pataliputra, and Orissa. This conclusion is drawn from a convergence of numismatic, epigraphic, and sculptural evidence, including the specific findspots of Kaniska's inscriptions, the proliferation of Mathura-style red sandstone images in local Kusana characters, and the widespread discovery of local copper coinage. The presence of imperial coins alongside local issues, such as the Puri-Kusana series, underscores direct political control rather than mere trade. Furthermore, the administration of eastern territories by high-ranking satraps like Kharapallana and Vanaspara, alongside the introduction of the Kaniska era, solidifies the argument for a vast, albeit loosely organized, imperial structure that reached the eastern seaboard.