Post-Mauryan / Pre-Gupta Period

I. Native Successors of the Mauryas

Sunga Dynasty (185 BC – 73 BC)

Capital:

• Vidisha (Madhya Pradesh)

Establishment of the Sunga Dynasty

• The Sunga Dynasty was founded by Pushyamitra Sunga, a Brahmin Commander-in-Chief of the last Mauryan ruler Brihadratha, whom he assassinated in 185 BC.

Pushyamitra Sunga

• Pushyamitra Sunga was a staunch follower of orthodox Hinduism (Brahmanism).
• Despite his strong adherence to Brahmanical traditions, the Great Buddhist Stupa at Bharhut (Madhya Pradesh) was constructed during the Sunga period.

Successors of Pushyamitra

• Pushyamitra Sunga was succeeded by his son Agnimitra, who is celebrated as the hero of Kalidasa’s famous Sanskrit play Malavikagnimitram.
• After Agnimitra, the dynasty was ruled by a succession of comparatively weak rulers, including:
  
  • Vasumitra
  • Vajramitra
  • Bhagabhadra
  • Devabhuti
• The weak leadership of these later rulers ultimately contributed to the decline of the Sunga Dynasty.

Religion and Culture

• The Sunga Period witnessed a revival of Brahmanical influence, and the Bhagavata Religion gained increasing prominence.
• Patanjali, the renowned author of the Mahabhashya, was born at Gonarda in Central India.
• He also served as the priest (Purohita) during the performance of two Ashvamedha Yajnas conducted by Pushyamitra Sunga.

Art and Architecture

• The Bharhut Stupa is regarded as the most famous monument of the Sunga Period.
• The magnificent stone gateway (Torana) and railing surrounding the Sanchi Stupa, originally built during the reign of Ashoka, were constructed during the Sunga period.
• Other notable examples of Sunga Art and Architecture include:
  
  • Vihara, Chaitya, and Stupa of Bhaja (near Pune)
  • Amaravati Stupa
  • Nasik Chaitya

Kanva Dynasty (73 BC – 28 BC)

Capital:

• Pataliputra

Establishment of the Kanva Dynasty

• In 73 BC, Devabhuti, the last ruler of the Sunga Dynasty, was assassinated by his minister Vasudeva.
• After seizing power, Vasudeva established the Kanva Dynasty, marking the end of Sunga rule.

End of the Kanva Dynasty

• The Kanva Dynasty ruled for approximately 45 years and came to an end in 28 BC.

Satavahana Dynasty (60 BC – 225 AD)

Capital:

• Pratishthana / Paithan (Maharashtra)

Introduction

• The Satavahanas were the most important native successors of the Mauryas in the Deccan and Central India.
• The Satavahanas are generally identified with the Andhras, who are mentioned in the Puranas.
• Interestingly, the earliest Satavahana rulers did not emerge in Andhra, but in Maharashtra, where most of their early inscriptions have been discovered.

Important Rulers of the Satavahana Dynasty

   Simuka (60 BC – 37 BC)

• • Simuka was the founder of the Satavahana Dynasty.

   Satakarni I

• • Satakarni I was the third ruler of the dynasty.
  • He significantly expanded the kingdom through military conquests, thereby enhancing the power and prestige of the Satavahanas.

   Hala

• • Hala, the 17th ruler, is credited with authoring the famous ‘Gathasaptasati’ (Sattasai) in Prakrit.
  • He was a contemporary of Gunadhya, the celebrated author of the ‘Brihat Katha’, also composed in Prakrit.

   Gautamiputra Satakarni (106 AD – 130 AD)

• • Gautamiputra Satakarni, the 23rd ruler, is regarded as the greatest ruler of the Satavahana Dynasty.
  • He successfully revived Satavahana power and defeated the Saka Kshatrapa Nahapana, restoring the empire’s prestige.

   Vashishthiputra Sri Satakarni

• • Vashishthiputra Sri Satakarni, the 24th ruler, married the daughter of the Saka Kshatrapa Rudradaman.
  • Despite this matrimonial alliance, he was defeated by Rudradaman in battle.

   Yajna Sri Satakarni

• • Yajna Sri Satakarni, the 27th ruler, was the last great ruler of the Satavahana Dynasty.

   Pulumavi III

• • Pulumavi III, the 30th ruler, was the last ruler of the Satavahana Dynasty.

Decline of the Satavahanas

• The Satavahana Dynasty was eventually overthrown by the Ikshvakus during the 3rd Century AD.

Administrative and Religious Contributions

• The Satavahanas introduced the practice of granting land with fiscal and administrative immunities to Brahmanas and Buddhist monks, who thereafter exercised independent authority over such lands.
• The earliest inscriptional evidence of land grants in India dates back to the 1st Century BC, during the Satavahana period.

Art and Architecture

• Under the Satavahanas, numerous Chaityas (Prayer Halls) and Viharas (Monasteries) were excavated from rocks, particularly in the North-Western Deccan and Maharashtra.
• Some of the most famous examples include:
  
  • Nasik Caves
  • Kanheri Caves
  • Karle Chaitya
• The Satavahana period also witnessed the construction of several Stupas, erected over sacred Buddhist relics.
• Among the most notable are:
  
  • Amaravati Stupa, renowned for its rich sculptural art.
  • Nagarjunakonda Stupa, another important centre of Buddhist architecture.

Language and Coinage

• The official language of the Satavahana administration was Prakrit.
• The Satavahanas issued coins primarily in Lead, along with Copper, Bronze, and Potin.

Cheti (Chedi) Dynasty of Kalinga

Origin and Rise

• The political history of Kalinga after the death of Ashoka remains largely obscure.
• A new ruling family known as the Cheti (Chedi) Dynasty emerged in the region, probably during the 1st Century BC.

Source of Information

• Almost all available information about this dynasty is derived from the Hathigumpha Inscription, located near Bhubaneswar (Odisha).
• This inscription records the achievements of Kharavela, the third ruler of the dynasty.

Kharavela

• Kharavela was a devout follower of Jainism and a liberal patron of Jain monks.
• For their residence and religious activities, he sponsored the excavation of rock-cut caves at Udayagiri Hill, situated near Bhubaneswar in Odisha.

II. Foreign Successors of the Mauryas

The Indo-Greeks (2nd Century BC)

Introduction

• The Indo-Greeks (Bactrian Greeks) were the first foreign rulers to establish their rule in North-Western India during the Post-Mauryan Period.

Menander (Milinda)

• The most famous Indo-Greek ruler was Menander (165 BC – 145 BC), also known as Milinda.
• According to tradition, Menander embraced Buddhism under the influence of the Buddhist philosopher Nagasena (also referred to as Nagarjuna in some sources).

Contributions of the Indo-Greeks

• The Indo-Greek rule occupies an important place in Indian history because of the large number of coins issued during their reign.
• They were the first rulers in India to issue coins bearing the definite names and portraits of kings.
• The Indo-Greeks were also the first rulers in India to issue gold coins.
• They introduced Hellenistic (Greek) artistic traditions, which eventually gave rise to the famous Gandhara School of Art in North-Western India.

The Sakas (1st Century BC – 4th Century AD)

Introduction

• The Sakas, also known as the Scythians, succeeded the Indo-Greeks in India.

Western Kshatrapas

• Among the five branches of the Sakas established in different parts of India, the Western Kshatrapas emerged as the most important, ruling Western India until the 4th Century AD.

Rudradaman I (130 AD – 150 AD)

• The greatest Saka ruler was Rudradaman I (130 AD – 150 AD).
• He gained fame for his military victories, particularly against the Satavahanas.
• He is also remembered for repairing the Sudarshan Lake, originally constructed during the Mauryan period.
• Rudradaman was an important patron of Sanskrit and issued the first long inscription in chaste Sanskrit.

Other Important Saka Rulers

• Other notable Saka rulers included:
  
  • Nahapana
  • Ushavadata
  • Chastana
  • Chamatika

Vikrama Samvat

• According to tradition, in 58 BC, the King of Ujjain, Vikramaditya, defeated the Sakas.
• The famous Vikrama Samvat Era is believed to have commenced in 58 BC.

The Parthians (1st Century BC – 1st Century AD)

Introduction

• The Parthians (Pahlavas) originally inhabited Iran.
• They replaced the Sakas in North-Western India, although the territory under their control was much smaller than that of the Sakas.

Gondophernes

• The most prominent Parthian ruler was Gondophernes.
• According to tradition, St. Thomas visited India during the reign of Gondophernes for the propagation of Christianity.

The Kushans (1st Century AD – 3rd Century AD)

Origin

• The Kushans belonged to one of the five Yuechi (Yuezhi) clans of Central Asia.
• They displaced the Parthians from North-Western India and gradually expanded into the Lower Indus Basin and the Upper and Middle Gangetic Basin.

Early Kushan Rulers

• The first Kushan dynasty was established by Kadphises I (Kujula Kadphises).
• His successor, Kadphises II (Vima Kadphises), became the first Kushan ruler to issue gold coins.

Kanishka and the Second Kushan Dynasty

• The second Kushan dynasty was founded by Kanishka.
• Under his leadership, the Kushan Empire expanded extensively into Upper India.
• The empire had two capitals:
  
  • Purushapura (Peshawar)
  • Mathura

Kanishka (78 AD – 101 AD)

• Kanishka (78 AD – 101 AD) was the greatest Kushan ruler and is often referred to as the “Second Ashoka.”
• He inaugurated the Saka Era in 78 AD, which is officially used by the Government of India as the National Calendar Era.
• Kanishka was a great patron of Mahayana Buddhism.
• During his reign, the Fourth Buddhist Council was convened at Kundalvana in Kashmir, where the doctrines of Mahayana Buddhism were systematized and finalized.

Later Kushan Ruler

• Vasudeva I was the last great ruler of the Kushan Dynasty.

Trade and Economy

• The Kushans exercised control over the famous Silk Route, extending from China through Central Asia to Iran and Western Asia.
• Control over this international trade route generated immense wealth and prosperity for the Kushan Empire.

Coinage

• The Kushans were the first rulers in India to issue gold coins on a large scale.

Patronage of Learning

• The court of Kanishka was adorned by several distinguished scholars, including:
  
  • Parshva
  • Vasumitra
  • Ashvaghosha
  • Nagarjuna
  • Charaka
  • Mathara