Kushan Dynasty Inscriptions
Kushan Dynasty Inscriptions are a collection of royal and religious inscriptions from the Kushan Empire, dating from the 1st to 3rd centuries CE.
Overview
The Kushan inscriptions include the Rabatak inscription of Kanishka I, the Mathura inscription of Vasishka, and numerous votive inscriptions from Buddhist and Brahmanical sites across North India and Central Asia.
Historical Context
The Kushan Empire, founded by Kujula Kadphises in the 1st century CE, controlled a vast territory from Central Asia to the Gangetic plain. The most important Kushan inscription is the Rabatak inscription (found in Afghanistan), which lists the names of Kushan kings and their territories. The Mathura inscriptions document Kushan patronage of Buddhist monasteries and Brahmanical temples.
Features/Significance
The Rabatak inscription provides the only contemporary list of Kushan kings and their genealogy. The Kushan inscriptions are multilingual, using Greek, Bactrian, and Kharoshthi scripts. They document the syncretic religious culture of the Kushan period, with patronage of Buddhist, Hindu, and Zoroastrian cults. The inscriptions are key sources for reconstructing Kushan chronology.
Modern Status
The inscriptions are distributed among museums in India, Afghanistan, and international collections. They remain fundamental sources for Kushan history and the study of early Indian epigraphy.
Verification Notes
- Rabatak inscription: Bactrian language, c. 120-150 CE
- Mathura inscriptions: Sanskrit/Prakrit, 1st-3rd centuries CE
- Key sources for Kushan royal genealogy