Who among the following was NOT a ruler of the Kushana dynasty?

The correct answer is Nahapana.

Key Points

• Nahpana was an important ruler of the Western Kshatrapas, a descendant of the Indo-Scythians, in northwestern India.
  • He ruled during the 1st or 2nd century CE.
  • According to one of his coins, he was the son of Bhumaka. 
  • So, Nahapana was not a ruler of the Kushana dynasty.

Additional Information

• Kushans were one of the five Great Yueh-chi tribes.
  • The Great Yuezhi-Chi tribes dwelled in the valley of Oxus.
  • A century later the Kushans of Yuehi-Chi gained dominance over the others.
  • They were led by Kadphises.
  • In the 1st century CE, Kujula Kadphises (Kadphises I) brought these five tribes together and founded the Kushan Empire.
  • They are referred to as Guishuang in the Chinese sources.
  • They moved east towards India by defeating the Parthians and the Sakas in the 1st century AD.
  • Kujula Kadphises was the first Yuezhi chief to lay the establishment of the Kushana Empire in India.
    • He substantiated his supremacy over Kabul, Kandahar and Afghanistan.
    • His successor was his son Vima Taktu or Sadashkana (AD 80 -AD 95) who amplified the empire into northwest India.
  • Ruler Vima Kadphises was the son of Vima Taktu and the father of Kanishka.
  • Kanishka of Kushan Dynasty (127 AD – 150 AD)
    • Kanishka was by far the most powerful sovereign of the Kushana dynasty.
    • His capital was Purushpura (Peshawar).
    • During his rule, the Kushana Empire expanded from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan to Mathura and Kashmir. 
    • It was during his reign that Buddhism got divided into Mahayana and Hinayana.
    • He founded the Shaka Era of A.D. 78.
    • Kanishka patronized Buddhism and organized the 4th Buddhist council in the Kundalvana of Kashmir in 78 AD.
    • The scholars in Kanishka’s court included Vasumitra, Asvaghosa, Nagarjun, Charaka and Parsva.
    • Kanishka battled against King Han Ho-ti, the king of the Han dynasty of China.
      • Kanishka defeated him in the second attempt.
    • He invaded Patliputra and took the Buddhist monk Asvaghosa to Purushpura.
      • Ashvoghosha is considered to be the first Sanskrit dramatist.
    • The Kushana dynasty's decline commenced after his death.
  • Kanishka was succeeded by his son Vasishka.
  • Vasishka was succeeded by Huvishka and Kanishka II (son of Vasishka).
  • Kanishka II was succeeded by Vasudeva I.
  • Vasudeva I was the last great ruler of the Kushanas.
  • After his death, the empire disintegrated.