The correct answer is: Ashvaghosha was a contemporary of Kanishka.
Ashvaghosha was a Buddhist scholar, poet, and dramatist who lived in India during the 1st or 2nd century CE. He is best known for his works on Buddhism, including the Buddhacarita (Life of the Buddha) and the Saundarananda (Beautiful Nanda). Ashvaghosha was also a contemporary of the Kushan emperor Kanishka, who ruled over a vast empire in Central Asia and India from the 1st to the 2nd century CE. Kanishka was a patron of Buddhism, and he is credited with spreading the religion throughout his empire.
Ashvaghosha’s works are important sources of information about early Buddhism. They provide insights into the life of the Buddha, his teachings, and the early Buddhist community. Ashvaghosha’s works are also notable for their literary quality. They are written in a clear and elegant style, and they are full of vivid imagery and poetic language.
Ashvaghosha’s works have had a profound influence on Buddhist thought and literature. They have been translated into many languages and are studied by Buddhists all over the world.
The other options are incorrect because:
- Ashoka was a Mauryan emperor who ruled over India from the 3rd century BCE to the 2nd century BCE. He is best known for his Buddhist reforms and his promotion of non-violence.
- Bindusara was the father of Ashoka and the second Mauryan emperor. He ruled over India from the 4th century BCE to the 3rd century BCE.
- Harsha was an Indian emperor who ruled over northern India from the 7th century CE to the 8th century CE. He is best known for his patronage of the arts and literature.
- Kanishka was a Kushan emperor who ruled over Central Asia and India from the 1st to the 2nd century CE. He is credited with spreading Buddhism throughout his empire.