The Shakas were foreigners and came to India in the form of invaders in the first century AD, but due to continuous contact with Indian civilization for centuries, they got absorbed in Indian culture. When the Gupta Empire emerged in the 4th century AD, the Shaka satraps merged with the Gupta Empire. The Saka satraps of Mathura and Taxila were inclined towards Jainism and Buddhism while the Sakas of western India; He was a follower of Buddhist and Brahmin religions. That is, some Saka rulers of Rajasthan must have been followers of Buddhism.
During his period Bharatpur and its adjoining area was under the influence of Buddhism. Like the Shakas, the Kushanas were also foreigners and they also came to India in the form of invaders in the first century AD. Kanishka became the emperor of India in 78 AD. He ruled India till 101 AD or 123 AD. When he came to India, he was not a Buddhist, but when he conquered Magadha, he embraced Buddhism. Three types of coins issued by him have been found - the images of the Greek gods, the sun, and the moon are found on the first order of coins. Images of the Iranian god Agni are found on its second-order postures and Buddha's images are found on the third-order postures.
It is inferred from these postures that Kanishka initially followed Greek religion, after that he accepted Iranian religion and finally he became a follower of Buddhism. At Pataliputra, Kanishka met the Buddhist teacher Asvaghosha. He was so impressed by Ashvaghosha's scholarship and personality that he took him with him to his capital Pushppur i.e. Peshawar and took initiation of Buddhism from him.
Just as Ashoka convened the third Buddhist council at Pataliputra, Kanishka convened the fourth Buddhist council at Kundalavan in Kashmir. The purpose of convening this council was to remove the differences arising in Buddhism and to compile Buddhist texts and write authentic commentaries and commentaries on them. About 500 monks and Buddhist masters participated in this sangmi. This meeting was held under the chairmanship of the Buddhist teacher Vasumitra. Acharya Ashwaghosh took the seat of the Deputy Speaker. The proceedings of this meeting were held in Sanskrit language.
It is clear that during this period again the respect of Sanskrit language was increasing. In this assembly the differences arising in Buddhism were resolved and authentic commentaries on the Tripitaka texts were written. Kanishka got these commentaries written on copper plates and kept them in a stone box and got a stupa built on them.
The 'Mahayana' sect was recognized in the Fourth Buddhist Council. The Mahayana sect was a progressive and reformist stream of Buddhists which was in favor of converting to Buddhism according to the time and place. Now Buddhism had spread abroad and foreigners who invaded India accepted Buddhism. In such a situation it became necessary to make a slight change in the principles of Buddhism. In India during this period the practice of Brahmanism and Bhakti Marg was increasing rapidly. Even this Buddhism could not remain unaffected.
Buddhism needed popular modifications to build its popularity. For all these reasons Mahayana was recognized which soon became Bhaktiist, Avatarist and Idolist. The Mahayana sect began to consider Buddha as an incarnation of God and worshiped him by making idols of him and the Bodhisattvas. Although the Mahayana sect had been planted before Kanishka, it was recognized in the Fourth Council of Buddhists and Kanishka made it the state religion. As the patron and supporter of the Mahayana sect, Kanishka enjoys the same high position as Ashoka as the patron and supporter of the Hinayana sect.
The Kushan period Buddha sculptures are found in two types of styles. In the Kushan period sculptures of Mathura style, Buddha is shown sitting on a throne. While most of the Buddhist sculptures made by Kanishka and his successors are found in the Gandhara district and are known as Gandhara art. Many statues of Gandhara art are also found engraved on the coins. Gandhara art is also called Indo-Hellenic art or Indo-Greek art, because it has the impression of Greek art. The figures of the Yavana deities are followed in the Buddha sculptures. This art is also called Greek Buddhist style.
In sculptures of this style, Buddha is found in Kamalasana posture but looks like Greek kings in face and clothes. These statues of Buddha bear a lot of resemblance to those of the Greek god Apollo. The Buddha statues, which have been made indicating the period before the Mahabhinishkarana, show the Buddha in European costumes and jewels.
Rajasthan was also included in the rule of Kanishka. So certainly during his period many Buddhist viharas and chaityas would have been built which are no longer available. Buddha sculptures of this period have also been found from the civilization of Noh near Bharatpur.
Buddhist Monuments in Gupta period
When the Guptas had laid the foundation of their kingdom, it was well understood that instead of providing food, clothing and shelter to the citizens sitting as monks in Buddhist monasteries, it was more preferable to make them soldiers and provide food, clothing and shelter. Is. Therefore he declared Vaishnavism as his state religion in place of Buddhism. Idols of such gods and goddesses were made in whose hands there were weapons. During this period the Varaha idol of the Medini salvation of God also got a special place, through which the Gupta rulers wanted to tell that just as Vishnu created the earth by becoming a Varaha, in the same way the Guptas saved the earth by freeing the country from foreign rulers. .
Grand and huge temples were built by the Gupta rulers throughout the empire and the idols of the Dashavatars of Lord Vishnu were enshrined in them. The sculptures of Lord Vishnu saving Medini in the form of Varaha avatar and sleeping on the Shesha-bed were specially made during this period. Digvavijayas, Ashwamedhas and various types of yagyas started being organized by the Gupta rulers. Due to this the general public was attracted towards Vaishnavism, Buddhism started going back and the construction of Buddhist monasteries and idols almost stopped. It certainly had an effect on Rajasthan too.