Rabatak Inscription

[u/songohan2402]

This is the Rabatak inscription of Kaniska. Interesting that even in 2nd century CE, þατριαγγε (realm of the Kshatriyas)- is mainly the NI gangetic plains. He must had been breaking up a network of post-Shunga, Mitras, and regional polities (such as the remnants of Deva dynasty of Ayodhya and the Mitra kings of Kausambi).

One question though: Why does Kanishka stop the eastern boundary at Sri-Campa (Modern Bhagalpur/Bihar)? Was Bengal outside the direct Kushana tributary network, or was Campa simply viewed as the easternmost limit of the traditional Aryavarta?

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[u/Puliali]

One question though: Why does Kanishka stop the eastern boundary at Sri-Campa (Modern Bhagalpur/Bihar)? Was Bengal outside the direct Kushana tributary network, or was Campa simply viewed as the easternmost limit of the traditional Aryavarta?

The classic Dharmasutras consider Bengal to be outside the realm of Aryavarta, and the Pundras are considered mleccha or dasyu in several sources. The Pundras were a tribe that probably resided in the area later known as Pundravardhana, which is located directly east of Bihar. Baudhayana Dharmasutra also considers the Magadhas and Angas to be of "mixed origin", and groups the Pundras with Vangas and Kalingas as people whose regions are sinful to pass through (i.e., they require a penance for traveling to them).

[u/songohan2402 → u/Puliali]

Thanks for the reference to the Baudhayana Dharmasutra—Kalakavana around the Rajmahal/Campa zone really was sort of a hard ideological line where Aryavarta in a classical sense ended. I think its fascinating that Kanishka’s scribes mapped þατριαγγε precisely to these orthodox boundaries, using Campa (the end of Anga-desh) as the riverine gatekeeper to the delta. But still, from what we have found: even if Bengal fell outside direct imperial administration, the finds of Kushana coins and terracottas at Mahasthangarh and Chandraketugarh show it was definitely integrated into their tributary and commercial matrix.

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[u/Impossible-End3959]

Look back in the days bengal used to extremely forested area heck even when turk arrived they considered bengal was heavily forested region

In mughal times it was called penalty state for anyone who was posted there

Aurangzeb famously called bengal as hell well stacked with food.

[u/srmndeep]

Wasnt Kanishka the first one from the Northwest to not only penetrated so deep inside Gangetic Plains till Champa, but also his successors Huvishka, Vasudeva etc controlled the Gangetic Plains for about 100 years. Such a level of success for someone from Northwest was not seen for next 1100 years till Ghori and Delhi Sultanate !

[u/songohan2402 → u/srmndeep]

I think before Kanishka, Menander (the indo-greek king), had entered till Pataliputra and beyond. The Indo-greek fall, and NW and Sindh were under Indo-Parthians (Gondophares). They did penetrate India a little bit, but real penetration to Indian heart came in the period of Vima Kadphises (till Mathura ig), and Kanishka went further.