A. Royden D'souza

The Kushan Empire (circa 30-375 AD), is one of the four great powers of the ancient world alongside Rome, Parthia, and Han China. The Kushans, originating as nomadic Yuezhi tribes from the Gansu corridor of northwestern China, constructed a vast and prosperous empire that spanned from Central Asia to northern India, becoming the pivotal civilizational hub of the Eurasian continent.

Among Dakṣa’s daughters was Satī, child of extraordinary purity and strength. As she grew, her heart turned instinctively toward Śiva, the great ascetic, the silent lord seated on Kailāsa, who saw no difference between honor and dishonor, gold and dust, life and death.

Saraswathi lifted the vīṇā. One note, and the distances between stars learned how to be measured. A second, and the first meter found its beat. A third, and grammar took root like a tree, branches of cases and tenses spreading clean and even.