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Gandhara was an ancient region in the north-west ofPakistan and parts of north-eastAfghanistan fromPeshawer basin andSwat Valley going far up toKabul and thePothohar Plateau.^[1][2] This region played an important role in the history ofSouth Asia andEast Asia.^[3] Following is the list of important Gandharans from modern day'sGandhara region in chronological order;

Important Gandharans who influencedAncient India include;

• Pāṇini (5th century BC), born inŚalatura he was aSanskrit philologist, grammarian, and a revered scholar from Gandhara. Pāṇini is known for his textAṣṭādhyāyī, a sutra-style treatise on Sanskrit grammar.^[4][5]

Founders of variousBuddhistschools and traditions from Gandhara are as follows;

• Kumāralāta (3rd century), born inTakshashila (Taxila) Kumāralāta was the founder ofSautrāntika school of Buddhism, one of original Buddhist schools. He was author of a "collection of dṛṣtānta" (Dṛṣtāntapaṅkti) called the Kalpanāmaṇḍitīkā.Sautrāntika school's teaching latter influenced formation ofJōjitsu school of Japanese Buddhism.
• Vasubandhu (4th century), Born inPuruṣapura (Peshawer) Vasubandhu is considered one of the most influential thinkers in the Gandharan Buddhist philosophical tradition. InJōdo Shinshū (most widely adhered branch of Japanese Buddhism), he is considered the SecondPatriarch; inChan Buddhism, he is the 21st Patriarch. HisAbhidharmakośakārikā ("Commentary on the Treasury of the Abhidharma") is widely used in Tibetan and East Asian Buddhism.^[6]
• Asaṅga (4th century), Born inPuruṣapura (Peshawer) he was "one of the most important spiritual figures" ofMahayana Buddhism and the "founder of theYogachara tradition ofEast Asia". His writing includesMahāyānasaṃgraha (Summary of theGreat Vehicle) andAbhidharma-samuccaya.

Important Gandharans who played a significant role in translation ofbuddhist texts fromSanskrit intoChinese are as below;

• Zhi Yao (2nd century), translated importantBuddhist texts intoChinese during era ofHan dynasty ofChina.^[7]
• Lokakṣema (2nd century), translated important Sanskritsutras into Chinese, during the rule ofHan dynasty of China.^[8]
• Jñānagupta (6th century), translated 39 scriptures in 192 fascicles during the period 561 to 592 into Chinese during the rule ofSui dynasty of China.
• Prajñā (9th century), translated important Sanskritsutras into Chinese during the rule ofTang dynasty of China.
• Dānapāla (11th century), was a Buddhist monk and prolific translator of Sanskrit Buddhist sutras during theSong dynasty in China

During the ancient era (500 BC-500 AD) there were multiple independent Gandharan rulers. Notable in this era were:

• Porus the Elder (4th century BC), ruler of EasternGandhara^[9][10]
• Ambhi (4th century BC), ruler ofTaxila^[11][12]
• Peithon (son of Agenor) (4th century BC), Greek ruler of Gandhara
• Pantaleon (2nd century BC), first Indo Greek ruler of Gandhara
• Menander I (2nd century BC), first Buddhist Indo-Greek ruler of Gandhara
• Archebius (1st century BC), last Indo-Greek ruler of Gandhara
• Maues (1st century BC), first Indo-Scythian ruler of Gandhara
• Kharahostes (1st century BC), last Indo-Scythian ruler of Gandhara
• Gondophares (1st century AD), first Indo-Parthian ruler of Gandhara
• Pacores (1st century AD), last Indo-Parthian ruler of Gandhara
• Vima Takto (1st century AD), first Kushan ruler of Gandhara^[13]
• Kanishka (2nd century AD), first Buddhist Kushan ruler of Gandhara^[14]
• Kipunada (4th century AD), last Kushan ruler of Gandhara
• Kidara I (4th century AD), firstKidarite ruler of Gandhara
• Kandik (5th century AD), lastKidarite ruler of Gandhara

• Marananta (4th century), brought Buddhism toKorean Peninsula.^[15]

• Kushan Empire

• Gandhara

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