U.P. Lower Sub. Special Prelims 2008

Historical Patronage - Kushans

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which one of the following is NOT associated with the Court of Kanishka?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: D

Concept The court of the Kushan Emperor Kanishka (1st-2nd century CE) was a vibrant center of intellectual activity, particularly for the development of Mahayana Buddhism and Indian medicine.

Explanation Patanjali lived in the 2nd century BCE, making him a contemporary of the Shunga King Pushyamitra, not Kanishka. Ashvaghosha (Poet/Monk), Charaka (Physician), and Nagarjuna (Philosopher) were all associated with Kanishka's patronage.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Option D is correct. Patanjali's *Mahabhashya* references the Shungas, placing him centuries before the Kushans.
Logic 2: Kanishka's reign is famous for the Fourth Buddhist Council and scholars like Vasumitra and Parshva.

Active Recall

Question

Who was the author of the 'Buddhacharita' in Kanishka's court?

Answer

Ashvaghosha, who was a renowned philosopher and poet brought to Kanishka's court from Pataliputra.

Core Insight

The diverse range of scholars in Kanishka's court signifies that his empire was a cosmopolitan hub where science (Charaka), literature (Ashvaghosha), and philosophy (Nagarjuna) flourished simultaneously.