A History of Indian Medical Literature v2.c30.692

v2.c30.692

³⁶ The term Śaka is often very loosely applied by Indian scholars. P.V. Sharma does not clearly distinguish between Kuṣāṇas, to which group Kaniṣka belonged, and Śakas (Scythians), although the terms are not synonymous (see, e.g.: A.L. Basham, 1975: 55; R. Thapar, 1975: 44 and 1977: 97–98); he regards the Kuṣāṇas as a group belonging to the Śakas. S.P. Tolstov (1968: 319–320) also describes the Kuṣāṇas as a clan of one of the Śaka tribes (see his remarks on the applications of the terms Kuṣāṇa and Śaka). The Śaka era begins in A.D.78, one of the proposed dates of Kaniṣka's accession to the throne.