Administration, Society, Culture, Religion, Dress/Costume, ornaments/Jewelry in Kushan Period
History of Garhwal, Kumaon (Uttarakhand) - Part 50
Historical Aspects of Ancient communities of Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas-47
(All the History write ups are dedicated to great Historians Hari Krishna Raturi, Badri Datt Pandey and Dr Shiv Prasad Dabral)
By: Bhishma Kukreti
Kushana ways of Administration
The Kushan Empire was extended from Balkh, Khotan to Patliputra, Punjab, at least south of Uttarakhand and Himachal and till Vidisha region around Vindhyahal. Kushana Adminsitrative structure stands between the Greek Shaka and Pahlavi and Gupta regime administrative systems.
The inscriptions and coins suggest that Kushana kings used impressive powerful titles such as Maharaj, Raj, Rajatiraja. The Mahraja title is Indian and Rajatriraj seems to be Parthian. Shahnushai title by Kushan kings on Allahabad Prasasti is taken from Shaka.
There was great influence of Rome on Kushan, Kanishka adopted title as Kaiser. However, Kushan took clue for governing administration from Indian Kings as Mauryas. Kushana appointed regional governors as Kshatrapal or Strups. The Sarnath Kanishka inscription shows that there was duel governorship system for check and balance. This duel system was also there before. Kushana also proclaimed association of divine element with the ruler. Kushan took the system of Devkulas from Romans and Roman took this custom from Egyptians. Kushan also took idea of King as Devputra from Chinese as 'King the Son of Heaven'.
The Kshatrap title was limited to relatives of Kushan or from Kushan cult. Same way, Dandnayak, Mahdandnayak or Prachand dandnayak / chancellor/deputy chancellor etc titles were also reserved for Kushan blood. The village councilor titles were left for Indians.
Multicultural Empire and Multicultural Society
The Kushan kings and their armed forces themselves were of multicultural administrators and people. Kushana adopted elements of Hellenistic culture of Bactria. Kushans adopted Greek alphabets to suit their language. They used Greek legends and Pali legends on their coins that show inclination of Kushans for multicultural social structure and merging into Indian social composition.
Kushan Kings were predominantly were Zoroastrians and later they became Buddhist. Vima Kadphises was Shaivya. That shows that Kushan Kings followed wide varieties of faith.
No changes in Indian Caste System
Indian history is witness that rulers might have adopted their own faith and might have pushed their faith but they were always either failed to abolish caste system from India or the Indian rulers including British never worked hard to abolish caste system.
Brahmins were given prime importance in the time of Kushan regime. The Kushan inscriptions indicate that these Kushan kings or Kushan governors used to offer 'Dakshina' or 'food' to Brahmins.
Joint family system was the social system in Kushan rule. Multiple wives by men was common. There was no 'Parda' or 'Burka' system in the society. Offering 'Pitardan' /Shradh was very common among kings and society.
Kushan Deities
The Kushan deities were varied as Indian deities as Buddha Bodhitsava, Mahasena, Skand Kumar,Shakyamuni Buddha, Avestyvayu, Shiva , Ganesha, and Iranian deities as Ashi Vanghui, Asha Vahista, Atar, Khwarenah, Drvaspa, Vohu Manha, Mah,Mithra, Mazda, Vata, Oxus, Ahura mazda, Tir, Verethranga, Aredvi Sura Anahita.
Costumes in Kushan Period
There are five major types of Kushan costumes of dresses (taken from Kushan Coins and inscriptions and ruins and other literature)
1-Antariy, Utriya and Kaybandh by indigenous people
2-Red brown 'kanchukiy' by harem of indigenous guardians
3-dress by foreign Kushan rulers and their entourage
4-Other foreigners as ambassadors, traders
5-Mixture of indigenous and foreign dress or clothing
The periodical dress and clothing also show the Indian regional influences on foreign invading ruling communities and influence of foreigners on Indian communities. The dressings on coins at different places also show regionalism in dress.
Lanhga and choli by women was common. The women were naked on upper part.
Courty lady used to put on Keybandh, Antriya, Mekhla, hara,Kantha, Keyura, valay,Kundal, Nupur, Angulya, Mukta.
Milkmaid of Mathura put on Ghaghri, kantha, keuyra, valya/chudi, kundal and she had headrest (deelu) for keeping Matki on her head
Female guardian of Gandhar put on Kushan type of Tunic, Keybandh, Antriya, Mekhla, hara,Kantha. The hair is divided into three portions. He holds spear and shield.
The Gandhar Yakshaior female door keeper put on Antariya, Utriya, Hara, Mekhla, and Tunic.
There are clear differences among the women of different regions and different occupation.
The Gandhara donating Brahmin put on Antariya, uttariya, Kantha, Dhoti and hair style is double knot on head.
King Kanishka put on Chunga, Chalana, tunic,
Gandhara soldier put on Antriya, Armor, tunic, Mauli and equipment (sword, sword belt, chest strap,
Ornaments and Headgear of Hairstyle by women in Kushan Period
The women used to be bare headed. The omen used Ratnavli or net. The women used to put foot ornaments, ear ornaments, neck ornaments, hand ornaments but not nose ornaments. Flowers had importance in ornamenting.
There was greater refinement of jewelry in Kushan period than Mauryan period.
Read about Historical Religious, political, administrative, social and cultural aspects of Kushan Era…..in History of Garhwal – Kumaon (Uttarakhand) - Part -51
Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti 22/05/2013
(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon write up is aimed for general readers)
History of Garhwal – Kumaon (Uttarakhand) to be continued… Part -51
Ancient communities of Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas- to be continued…48
Notes on Administration, Society, Culture, Religion, Dress/Costume, ornaments/Jewelry in Kushan Period from Ayodhya archeological materials; Administration, Society, Culture, Religion, Dress/Costume, ornaments/Jewelry in Kushan Period from Mathura archeological materials; Administration, Society, Culture, Religion, Dress/Costume, ornaments/Jewelry in Kushan Period from inscriptions from Balakh, Batesvra, Bazitkhel, Begram , Bhita, Belvadaga, Bhorgarh Bras, Butkhara archeological materials; Administration, Society, Culture, Religion, Dress/Costume, ornaments/Jewelry in Kushan Period from Chahar Bagh, Charsada, Chhat, Dasti-I Nawur, Dat Nagar, Daulatpur, Dhalewan, Jamalgarhi, Ganwariya, Ganghundar, Harigaon, Harsh ka tila, Hastinapur, Hulashkhera, Jodhpur, Kashmir, Afghanistan, archeological materials; Administration, Society, Culture, Religion, Dress/Costume, ornaments/Jewelry in Kushan Period from Khokarkot, Kosam, Muhamadnagar, archeological materials; Administration, Society, Culture, Religion, Dress/Costume, ornaments/Jewelry in Kushan Period from Panda, Kila e Shahi, rangmahal, Ranighat, Rohtak, Shari Bahlol, Sanghol, archeological materials; Administration, Society, Culture, Religion, Dress/Costume, ornaments/Jewelry in Kushan Period from Sankara, Sarnath, Sahr-i-Banu, Shivaki, Singh Bhagwapur, Siswaniya, Shravasti, Gorakhpur, Shringaverpura, Sunet, Surkh Kotal, archeological materials; Administration, Society, Culture, Religion, Dress/Costume, ornaments/Jewelry in Kushan Period from Taxila, Tulumba, Vaisali, Viratgarh, Wazirabad archeological materials; Administration, Society, Culture, Religion, Dress/Costume, ornaments/Jewelry in Kushan Period from Virbhadra, Dehradun archeological materials; Administration, Society, Culture, Religion, Dress/Costume, ornaments/Jewelry in Kushan Period from Tehri Garhwal archeological materials; Administration, Society, Culture, Religion, Dress/Costume, ornaments/Jewelry in Kushan Period from Kashipur , Kumaon archeological materials…
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Bhishma Kukreti
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