Post-Maurya/Pre-Gupta Period (185BC-319 AD)

Post-Maurya/Pre-Gupta Period (185BC-319 AD)

I. Native Successors of the Mauryas

Sunga Dynasty: 185 BC – 73 BC [Capital – Vidisha (M.P.)]The 

• The Sunga Dynasty was established by Pushyamitra Sunga, a Brahmin Commander-in-Chief of the last Mauryan ruler named Brihadratha in 185 BC.

• Pushyamitra was a staunch adherent of orthodox Hinduism. However, the great Buddhist stupa at Bharhut (in M.P.) was built during the reign of the Sungas.

• Pushyamitra was succeeded by his son Agnimitra, the hero of Kalidasa's drama 'Malvikagnimitra'.

• After Agnimitra, a series of weak rulers such as Vasumitra, Vajramitra, Bhagabhadra, and Devabhuti followed, leading to the decline of the dynasty.

• During their rule, there was a revival of Brahminical influence.

• The Bhagavata religion became important.

• Patanjali, author of the 'Mahabhasya', was born at Gonarda in Central India. Patanjali was the priest of 2 Asvamedha Yajnas, performed by Pushynutra Sunga.

Sunga Art and Architecture

• In the arts, the Bharhut Stupa is the most famous monument of the Sunga period.

• The fine gateway railing that surrounds the Sanchi stupa, built by Ashoka, was constructed during the Sunga period.

• Other examples of Sunga Art:

  • Vihar

  • Chaitya

  • Stupa of Bhaja (Poona)

  • Amaravati Stupa

  • Nasika Chaitya, etc.

Kanva Dynasty : 73 BC - 28 BC [Capital - Patliputra]

• In 73 BC, Devabhuti, the last ruler of the Sunga dynasty, was murdered by his minister Vasudeva, who usurped the throne and founded the Kanva dynasty.

• The period of the Kanva rule came to an end in 28 BC.

Satavahana Dynasty: 60 BC - 225 AD [Capital - Pratishtana/Paithan (Maharashtra)]

• The most important of the native successors of the Mauryas in the Deccan and Central India were the Satvahanas.

• The Satvahanas are considered to be identical with the Andhra, who were mentioned in the Puranas.

• The early Satvahana kings appeared not in Andhra but in Maharashtra, where most of their early inscriptions have been found.

• Simuka (60 BC-37 BC) was the founder of the Satvahana dynasty.

• Satakorni I, its 3rd ruler, raised its power and prestige through conquests.

Cultural Contributions

• Hala, its 17th ruler, was the author of 'Gathasaptasati' or 'Sattasai' in Prakrit.

• Gunadhya, the author of 'Vrihat Katha' (in Prakrit), was the contemporary of Hala.

• It was Gautamiputra Satakami (106-130 AD) who revived the Satavahana power and defeated the Saka Ksatrap Nahapana.

• He was the greatest Satavahan ruler (23rd Satavahana ruler).

• Vasishthiputra Sri Satakarni, its 24th rule, was married to the daughter of Saka Kstrapa Rudradaman, but was defeated by him twice.

• Yajna Sri Satakarni, its 27th ruler was the dynasty's last great ruler.

• Pulamavi IV, its 30th ruler, was the last Satavahana ruler.

• Satavahanas were finally succeeded by the Ikshvakus in the 3rd Century AD.

Administrative and Religious Policies

• Satavahanas started the practice of donating land with fiscal and administrative immunities to Brahmanas and Buddhist monks, which eventually weakened their authority.

• The earliest inscriptional evidence of a land grant in India belongs to the 1st century BC.

Satavahana Art and Architecture

• Under the Satavahanas, many Chaityas (worship halls) and Viharas (monasteries) were cut out from rocks, mainly in North-West Deccan or Maharashtra.

• The famous examples were Nasik, Kanher, and Karle.

• Stupas (large round structures erected over a sacred relic) were constructed all around Ellora.

• The most famous of these, attributed to the Satavahana period, are Amravati (a sculptural treasure house) and Nagarjunakonda.

Language and Coinage

• The official language of the Satavahanas was Prakrit,

• The Satavahanas issued their coins in lead (mainly), copper, bronze, and potin.

Cheti/leadi Dynasty of Kalinga

• The history of Kalinga after the death of Ashoka is shrouded in obscurity.

• A new dynasty, known as the Chedi dynasty, rose in the region probably in the 1st century BC.

• Our information about this dynasty is derived solely from the Hathigumpha inscription (near Bhubaneshwar, Orissa) of Kharavela, the 3rd ruler of the dynasty.

• A follower of Jainism, Kharavela was a liberal patron of Jain monks for whose residence he constructed caves on the Udayagiri hill, near Bhubaneshwar in Orissa.

II. Foreign Successors of the Mauryas

The Indo-Greeks: 2nd Century BC

• The Indo-Greeks (Baeterian Greeks) were the first foreign rulers of North-Western India in the post-Maurya period.

• The most famous Indo-Greek ruler was Menander (165 BC - 145 BC), also known as Milinda. He was converted to Buddhism by Nagasena or Nagarjuna.

Contributions

• The Indo-Greek rule is important in the history of India because of the large number of coins that they issued.

• The Indo-Greeks were the first rulers in India to issue coins, which can be attributed to the kings.

• They were the first to issue gold coins.

• They introduced Hellenic, i.e., Greek features in art, giving rise to the Gandhar school in North-Western India.

The Sakas : 1st Century BC - 4th Century AD

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

• Among the five branches of Sakas with their seats of power in different parts of India, the most important was the one which ruled in Western India till the 4th Century AD.

Important Rulers

• The most famous Saka ruler in India was Rudradaman (130 AD - 150 AD).

• He is famous not only for his military conquests (particularly against the Satavahanas) but also for his public works (he repaired the famous Sudarsan Lake of the Mauryan period to irrigate the dry region of Saurashtra).

• He is also known for his patronage of Sanskrit (he issued the first-ever long inscription in chaste Sanskrit).

• Other important Saka rulers in India were Nahapana, Ushavadeva, Ghamatika, Chashtana, etc.

Era Introduction

• In about 58 BC, a king of Ujjain - Vikramaditya - is supposed to have fought effectively against the Sakas.

• An era called Vikrama Samvat is reckoned from 58 BC.

The Parthians : 1st Century BC - 1st Century AD

• Originally, the Parthians (Pahlavas) lived in Iran.

• They replaced the Sakas in North-Western India, but controlled an area much smaller than the Sakas.

• The most famous Parthian king was Gondapherne, during whose reign St. Thomas is said to have come to India for the propagation of Christianity.

The Kushans : 1st Century AD - 3rd Century AD

• The Kushans were one of the five Yeuchi clans of Central Asia.

• They replaced the Parthians in North-Western India and then expanded to the lower Indus basin and the upper and middle Gangetic basin.

• The first Kushan dynasty was founded by Kadphises I / Kujul Kadphises.

• The second king was Kadphises II / Verna Kadphises, who issued gold coins.

Kanishka and His Contributions

• According to the Rabatak inscription (Rabatak village, Baglan province, Afghanistan), Kanishka was the son of Vema Kadphises.

• Kanishka extended the Kushan power over upper India.

• His capitals were at Peshawar (Purushapura) and Mathura.

• The most famous Kushan ruler was Kanishka (78 AD - 101 AD), also known as 'Second Ashoka'.

• He started an era in 78 AD, which is now known as the Saka era and is used by the Government of India.

• Kanishka was a great patron of Mahayana Buddhism.

• In his reign, the 4th Buddhist council was held in Kundalavana, Kashmir, where the doctrines of the Mahayana form of Buddhism were finalised.

Scholars and the Economy

• The last great Kushan ruler was Vasudeva I.

• The Kushans controlled the famous Silk Road starting from China, passing through their empire, on to Iran and Western Asia.

• This route was a source of great income to the Kushans.

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

• In the royal court of Kanishka, a host of scholars found patronage. Parsva, Vasumitra, Asvaghosha, Nagarjuna, Charak, and Mathara were some of them.

Facts about Post-Mauryas

Art Schools

• Amaravati School (150 BC - 400 AD) – Satvahanas

• Gandhar School (50 BC - 5th Century AD) – Saka – Kushans

• Mathura School (150 AD - 300 AD) – Saka-Kushans

Note: The influence of Greek sculpture is very evident in the Gandhara school, while the Mathura school evolved an indigenous form.

Trade and Cultural Exchange

• In 46-47 AD, Hippalus, a Greek sailor, discovered the monsoon sea route to India from West Asia.

• Important ports: Barygaza (Bharoch) and Barbairicum (Western Coast); Aricamedu (Podeku – according to 'Periplus') – near Pondicherry (Eastern Coast).

• “Bullion was flowing out of Rome to India”—Pliny.

• Ancient Sources:

  • Geographica — Strabo

  • Geography — Ptolemy

  • Natural History — Pliny

  • Periplus of the Erythraean Sea — Unknown

Note: India had contacts with Central Asia, China, the Graeco-Roman World, and South-East Asia.

Final Thoughts

The post-Mauryan period marked a transformative phase in Indian history, with both native and foreign dynasties contributing to its political, cultural, and religious evolution.

Native powers like the Sungas, Kanvas, and Satavahanas revived Brahmanical traditions and regional art, while foreign rulers such as the Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Parthians, and Kushans brought new influences through trade, coinage, and Hellenistic art forms.

The Kushan ruler Kanishka played a pivotal role in the spread of Mahayana Buddhism and connecting India to Central Asia via the Silk Route. This era was marked by increased regionalism, religious diversity, artistic innovation, and enhanced international contact.

Far from decline, it was a period of rich cultural and historical development that laid the foundation for classical Indian civilization.