A History of Sanskrit Literature c19.12

c19.12

With the beginning of the Græco-Indian period also commenced the incursions of the Scythic tribes, who are called Indo-Scythians by the Greeks, and by the Indians Çakas, the Persian designation of Scythians in general. Of these so-called Scythians the Jāts of the Panjāb are supposed to be the descendants. The rule of these Çaka kings, the earliest of whom is Maues or Moa (*c.* 120 B.C.), endured down to 178 a.d., or about three centuries. Their memory is preserved in India by the Çaka era, which is still in use, and dates from 78 a.d., the inaugural year of Kanishka, the only famous king of this race. His dominions, which included Kānyakubja (Kanauj) on the Ganges, extended beyond the confines of India to parts of Central Asia. A zealous adherent of Buddhism, he made Gāndhāra and Kashmir the chief seat of that religion, and held the fourth Buddhist council in the latter country.