Vima Kadphises
Also called: Kadphises II · Topic: Post-Mauryan India: Shungas to Kushanas · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Vima Kadphises was a Kushana king of c. 1st century CE and the father of Kanishka. He issued gold coins on a large scale. The Kushanas were the first rulers in India to issue gold coins, and these coins matched the weight of Roman gold coins. Many of his coins show the god Shiva, which suggests that he was a Shaiva, a worshipper of Shiva.
Example
A gold coin of Vima Kadphises shows the king on one side. On the other side is Shiva standing with Nandi, his bull. The Rabatak inscription from Afghanistan names Vima Kadphises as Kanishka's father.
Don't confuse with
- Vima Taktu: he was Kanishka's grandfather and an earlier king. The names are similar, but they are two different rulers.
- Kujula Kadphises: he was the founder of the dynasty and issued mostly copper coins, not large amounts of gold.
Related concepts
- Kushanas
- Kujula Kadphises
- Kanishka
- Huvishka
- Divine kingship
- Devaputra
- Kanishka's coins
- Rabatak inscription
- Kanishka casket