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Question 43 of 55 · Post-Mauryan & Gupta Age
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The Kushana rulers adopted the title 'Devaputra', which means:

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Answer: Option B — Son of God

Detailed Solution

The Kushana rulers adopted the title "Devaputra", meaning "Son of God" (son of the gods).

About the title "Devaputra":

  • It is found in Kushana inscriptions, such as those of Kanishka and Huvishka.
  • Many historians believe that the title was inspired by the Chinese emperors, who called themselves "Tianzi" ("Son of Heaven").
  • NCERT notes that the Kushana rulers adopted the title "devaputra", or "son of god", possibly inspired by Chinese rulers who called themselves "sons of heaven".

Other titles of the Kushanas:

  • "Maharaja" and "Rajatiraja" (king of kings), inspired by Indian and Persian (Parthian) traditions.
  • "Shaonanoshao" (king of kings) in the Bactrian language, from the Persian title "Shahanshah".
  • "Kaisara" (Caesar), inspired by the Roman emperors, used in one inscription.
  • The use of these titles from different cultures shows that the Kushanas ruled a large empire with many cultures, and wanted to claim a high status.

The Kushana idea of kingship:

  • NCERT explains that the notion of kingship that the Kushana rulers wished to project is best illustrated through their coins and sculpture.
  • Colossal statues of Kushana rulers have been found installed in a shrine ("devakula") near Mathura, and in Afghanistan.
  • Some historians suggest that this indicates that the Kushanas considered themselves godlike.
  • Their coins show the kings in Central Asian dress (with long coats, boots and pointed caps), often standing near a fire altar, along with images of many gods.

The gods on Kushana coins:

  • Greek gods (Helios, Selene), Iranian gods (Mithra, Ardochsho, Oado), and Indian gods (Shiva, the Buddha, Skanda).
  • This shows their religious tolerance and the diversity of their empire.

About the Kushanas:

  • They were a branch of the Yuezhi people of Central Asia.
  • They ruled a large empire from Central Asia to the Ganga valley, in the 1st-3rd centuries CE.
  • Kanishka was their greatest ruler.

Other titles in Indian history:

"Maharajadhiraja" (great king of kings): used by the Guptas.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗"King of kings" is the meaning of Rajatiraja.
  • ✗"Beloved of the gods" is the meaning of a different title.
  • ✗"Lord of the earth" is not the meaning of Devaputra.

Quick tip

Remember: Devaputra = "Son of God" (Kushanas; inspired by the Chinese "Son of Heaven"); Rajatiraja = king of kings; Kushana statues in a devakula near Mathura.

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Post-Mauryan & Gupta Age — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Post-Mauryan & Gupta Age, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers the period after the Mauryas: the Shungas, Satavahanas, Indo-Greeks, Shakas and Kushanas, followed by the Gupta Empire, often called the classical age of India, and the reign of Harshavardhana. It includes art, literature, science and administration in these periods. Exams test the rulers and their achievements (Kanishka and the fourth Buddhist council, Samudragupta's Allahabad Pillar inscription, Chandragupta II and Fa-Hien), the Gandhara and Mathura schools of art, and Gupta scholars such as Kalidasa, Aryabhata and Varahamihira. Harsha's reign is usually tested with Hiuen Tsang and Nalanda University. Practise the post-Mauryan and Gupta age questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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