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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
BUDDHISM IN KASHMIR
19 the Government of India. The session of the Fourth Council, the composition of the Vibhāṣā śāstras, the appearance of distinguished writers, and the propagation of Buddhism outside India are some of the factors which render this reign so glorious in the history of Buddhism.
Of the successors of Kanishka, we come across the names of only Vārishka and Huvishka in the several inscriptions relating to this period. Kalhana mentions the names of three successors Hushka, Jushka and Kanishka (I. 168). The Wardak Vase Inscription discloses the Buddhistic leanings of Huvishka but there is no clear evidence about such leanings of Vāsishka. Tāranātha' however tells us that the son of Kanishka maintained several arhants and bhikṣus in his Puşkalāvati palaces for five years. Kalhana informs us that Hushka, Jushka and Kanishka (II) built Hushkapura (mod. Uskur)," Jushkapura (mod. Zukur) and Kanishkapura (mod. Kanespur)," and that these kings, though belonging to the Turuska race, were given to acts of piety. They erected Mathas and Caityas at Suskaletra and other places, and the Buddhists of that time acquired great renown as pravrajitas (recluses) and were predominant in Kashmir, defeating their opponents in disputations.
Though the available accounts of the Kushan rulers are meagre, there are yet ample proofs that Buddhism enjoyed the most prosperous time during this rule all over N. India and specially in Gandhāra and Kashmir. The Council held under the auspices of Kanishka in Kashmir and the valuable work done in the Council bear an eloquent testimony to their influence and popularity.
1 2 3
4 Ibid.
Schicfner, ch. XIII. It is now a small village near Baramūlā, see Stein, i. 168 n. It is a large village near Srinagar. Ibid. It is between Vitastā and the high road connecting Baramülā and Srinagar.
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