Kanishka, Kaniṣka: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Kanishka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Jainism, Prakrit, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Kaniṣka can be transliterated into English as Kaniska or Kanishka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
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In Buddhism
General definition (in Buddhism)
1) Hushka, Jushka and Kanishka are three Turushka Kings reigning in Kashmir around 1765-1645 BCE, according to Kalhana.—Kalhana mentions that the three Turushka kings named Hushka, Jushka and Kanishka reigned over Kashmir 150 years after Buddha nirvana (1865 BCE). Most probably, Buddhism reached north-western India before the reign of Kalashoka (1765-1737 BCE). Hushka, Jushka and Kanishka of Gilgit region established their rule in Kashmir and promoted Buddhism. They built three cities in Kashmir namely Hushkapura, Jushkapura and Kanishkapura.
2) King Kanishka, the great patron of Buddhism (1130-1080 BCE).—Kushana King Kanishka flourished 700 years after Buddha nirvana (1865 BCE) as recorded in Samyuktaratnapitakasutra. Thus, Kanishka must be dated after 1165 BCE. Gilgit Manuscript of Vinayavastu also confirms that Kanishka became king 400 years after the nirvana of Vajrapani (1565 BCE). Hiuen Tsang also tells us that King Kanishka’s Guru Sangharaksha lived 700 years after Buddha nirvana.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Kaniṣka (कनिष्क) ascended the throne in the early 7th century of V.N. i.e., after the Śaka colander came into existence. He built a new city called Puruṣpura -Peshawar and made it his capital. King Kaniṣka converted to Buddhism and started his victory campaigns. He totally obliterated the rule of Parthians from India. After conquering Kashmir, he also occupied some territories of China, Turkistan, Kashgar, Yarkhand, Khotan, etc and thus established his supremacy over a vast territory. His kingdom extended from Iran to Varanasi, China-Turkistan to Kashmir and up to the Vindhya mountains in South.
He built a city in Kashmir and named it Kaniṣpura [Kaniṣkapura] (present Kanispur) after himself. He adapted himself into the Indian culture with such finesse that he seemed an Indian native. Though he was of an alien culture, he followed the path paved by Emperor Aśoka and helped in the propagation and expansion of Buddhism.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
India history and geography
Kanishka I (1131-1092 BCE).—Kanishka, the son of Vim Kadphises, was the greatest king of Kushanas. He reigned over a vast kingdom from Bactria and Gandhara in the west to Magadha and Orissa in the east. Buddhist sources tell us that Kanishka flourished 700 years after Buddha nirvana. He became the patron of Buddhism. He used Bactrian, Kharoshthi and Brahmi scripts in his inscriptions and coins.
King Kanishka flourished 700 years after Buddha nirvana (1865 BCE) as recorded in Samyuktaratnapitakasutra. Thus, Kanishka must be dated after 1165 BCE. Gilgit Manuscript of Vinayavastu confirms that Kanishka became king 400 years after the nirvana of Vajrapani (1565 BCE). Hiuen Tsang also tells us that King Kanishka’s Guru Sangharaksha lived 700 years after Buddha nirvana.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Kaniṣka (कनिष्क).—Name of a celebrated ancient king in India in the first century A. D.
Derivable forms: kaniṣkaḥ (कनिष्कः).
Kaniṣka (कनिष्क).—[masculine] [Name] of an Indoscythic king.
Kaniṣka (कनिष्क):—m. Name of a celebrated king of Northern India (whose reign began in the first century of our era and who, next to Aśoka, was the greatest supporter of Buddhism; his empire seems to have comprised Afghānistān, the Panjāb, Yarkand, Kaṣmīr, Ladak, Agra, Rājputāna, Gujarāt, and Sindh), [Rājataraṅgiṇī]
Kaniṣka (कनिष्क):—m. Nomen proprium eines indoskythischen Königs, welcher in der Geschichte des Buddhismus eine hervorragende Stellung einnimmt, [Lassen’s Indische Alterthumskunde II, 411. fgg. 828. fgg. 852. fgg.] [Rājataraṅgiṇī 1, 168.] kaniṣkapura n. Name einer von ihm erbauten Stadt ebend. [Lassen’s Indische Alterthumskunde II, 865.]
Kaniṣka (कनिष्क):—m. Nomen proprium eines indoscythischen Fürsten. pura n. Nomen proprium einer von ihm erbauten Stadt.
Kaniṣka (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 迦尼色迦 [jiā ní sè jiā]: “Kaniṣka” [Sanskrit personal name].
2) 迦尼色迦王 [jiā ní sè jiā wáng]: “Kaniṣka” [Sanskrit personal name].
3) 迦膩伽 [jiā nì jiā]: “Kaniṣka” [Sanskrit personal name].
4) 迦膩色迦 [jiā nì sè jiā]: “Kaniṣka” [Sanskrit personal name].
5) 迦膩色伽 [jiā nì sè jiā]: “Kaniṣka” [Sanskrit personal name].
6) 迦膩色迦王 [jiā nì sè jiā wáng]: “Kaniṣka” [Sanskrit personal name].
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Kanishkan, Kanishkapura, Kanishkastupa.
Full-text (+50): Kanishkapura, Jia ni se jia, Kanishkastupa, Jia ni se jia wang, Mahavibhasha, Ji ni zha wang, Ji ni jia wang, Ge ni shi ge wang, Peshawar, Jia ni se zha wang, Zha wang, Tan ji ni zha wang, Jia ni se jia yi shi, Kushana, Huvishka, Hushka, Jushka, Qi li duo wang, Fourth Buddhist Council, Jia ni jia.
Relevant text
Search found 86 books and stories containing Kanishka, Kaniska, Kaniṣka; (plurals include: Kanishkas, Kaniskas, Kaniṣkas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
A Historical Study of Kaushambi (by Nirja Sharma)
Kaushambi under the Maghas < [Chapter 2]
Sculptures from Kaushambi < [Chapter 4]
Religion and Society of Kaushambi < [Chapter 1]
Macedonian Intercalary Months and the Era of Azes < [Volume 70 (2009)]
N.L. Westergaard: Pioneer of Iranian and Indian Studies (1815-1878) < [Volume 39 (1978)]
Linguistic observations in Tarim Basin oasis towns, 1st millennium CE. < [Volume 80 (2020)]
Buddhist records of the Western world (Xuanzang) (by Samuel Beal)
Chapter 2 - Country of Chi-na-po-ti (Chinapati) < [Book IV - Fifteen Countries]
Chapter 34 - Country of Kia-pi-shi (Kapiśa or Kapisha) < [Book I - Thirty-Four Countries]
Chapter 21 - Country of Kien-t’o-lo (Gandhara) < [Book II - Three Countries]
History of Indian Medicine (and Ayurveda) (by Shree Gulabkunverba Ayurvedic Society)
Chapter 6 - The Story of Caraka < [Part 1 - The History of Medicine in India]
The Great Buddhist Emperors of Asia (by Shibani Dutta)
Political history of Kashmir (from A.D. 600–1200) (by Krishna Swaroop Saxena)
Part 4 - The history of the Kushanas and Kashmir < [Chapter 2 - Early historical gleanings]
Part 4 - Foreign Relations of ancient Kashmir < [Chapter 15 - Administration]
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