All about Syncretism and Absorption

It’s true that religious persecution had been visible across different time periods in history. However, the Kushanas managed to do what modern civil societies struggle with: living in harmony with communities practising different modes of worship.

Various Kushana Deities. Image source: mintage world

Religion has played a significant role in social formations. All civilizations and empires have had some form of worship. The Kushanas were nomads who moved to India when they were displaced from their homes by the Huns.

They braved the harsh cold, crossed dangerous passes, defeated the weak rulers, and established their empire at Purushapura. The Kushana empire included much of the modern-day territory of Afghanistan, Punjab, Kashmir, Sindh, Gujarat, and even Nepal. One could say that the Kushanas were the strongest rulers of their time.

Religious life was characterized by many beliefs and cults. Zoroastrianism and Pre-Hellenistic cultures were widely practised. The Greek settlers living in the Graeco-Bactrian region had their modes of worship. They tried to understand the local cultures and made an effort to identify the local deities with their greek ones. For instance, Zeus was identified with Ahura Mazda, Heracles with Verethragna, Apollo and Helios with Mithra, and Artemis with Nana.

As the merchants from the Indian subcontinent began moving Graeco-Bactrian regions for trade, ideas of Brahmanism and Buddhism were disseminated.

When the Kushanas arrived, they perhaps did not follow Zoroastrianism or the other forms of worship prevalent in the region. But they probably had a form of nature worship that may have been similar to the pre-Hellenistic mode.

When Vima Kadphises ruled the empire, the worship of Lord Shiva became prominent. However, when his Kanishka ascended the throne, he focused on the Bactrian and Iranian religious cults. However, the relevance of Indian religion and Shiva remained unchanged.

After the death of Kanishka, Buddhism came into the limelight. Kanishka II was an ardent advocate of Buddhist practises and did his best to preserve the religion. He built stupas and founded monasteries. Like his predecessors, Kanishka II did not neglect the other religions present in his kingdom.

Some other deities that were worshipped were Ardochsho, the goddess of fortune; Athsho, the fire god’ Pharo- the god of fortune and fire; and Mao- the lunar deity.

It is an admirable quality and a unique feature that the Kushana empire sustained all its religions safely. The Indian religious deities and cultural practices made their way to Bactria through trade routes. Similarly, Zoroastrianism and any Greek Divinities also made their way to India. To the Kushanas, syncretism was the most important aspect of religion in the Kushana Pantheon.