History of India, c. 150 A.D. to 350 A.D.: Naga–Vakataka Imperial Period c14.s5.6

c14.s5.6

‘Deva Nāga,’ ‘Bhava Nāga’—all prove that sense of Śaiva responsibility and necessity which the time required. Their repeated aśvamedhas, like the revival of the names of divine heroes, are records in themselves. A series of acts of valour continued, and repeated exertions resulted in progressive destruction of the Kushan power in Āryāvarta. Soon after the rise of Virasena we find the Kushans pushed back as far as the neighbourhood of Sirhind from the Gangetic valley. About 226-241 A.D., the Kushan king (Junāh=Yauvan)¹ had diplomatic dealings with Ardashir, the first Sassanian emperor, from Sirhind.² By that time North-Eastern India up to the confines of the Punjab had been freed. This is amply borne out by the coins of Virasena which are found all over the United Provinces, and parts of the Punjab. The Kushans were so pressed by the Bhārasivas that they ultimately sought the protection of the Sassanian Emperor Shapur (between 238 and 269 A.D.) whose effigy they had to stamp on their coins. Before Samudra Gupta, the greater portion of the Punjab as well had been liberated. The Mādrakas were striking their own coins once more and negotiated peace with and accepted the suzerainty of Samudra Gupta. The hills up to Kāṅgrā once more were under Hindu rulers when Samudra Gupta appeared on the scene. Most of this achievement is to be credited to the Bhārasiva Nāgas, performers of ten aśvamedhas; and the maintenance of that free inheritance for 50 years, with further progress, to the Vākāṭakas, who carried on the Bhārasiva policy.