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2nd century CEKushan Empire
The Kushan emperor linked by tradition to Buddhism in Kashmir.
Kanishka ruled the Kushan Empire, which stretched from Central Asia into northern India. Buddhist tradition remembers him as a great patron who called a council of monks in Kashmir, and Kalhana mentions towns in the Valley named after Kushan rulers.
Facts
- His coins show gods from Greek, Iranian and Indian traditions, including one of the earliest images of the Buddha on a coin.
- The dates of his reign are still debated, with most estimates in the early 2nd century CE.
