Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

LURE - THRU THE AGES

THE SHUNGAS 185 - 73 B.C. Construction of magnificent stupas. * Literary progress - Mahabhashya and Ma- lavikagnimitra. Strengths * Reign of Pushyamitra Shunga for 36 long years * Performance of horse sacrifices. Weakness * Inability to defeat Kalinga ruler Kharav- ela. / * Short rule of successors of Pushyamitra Shunga. * Persecution of Buddhism. Pushyamitra Shunga (185-149 B.C.) Pushyamitra Shunga founded the Shunga dynasty by usurping power from the Mauryas and ruled for 36 years; in initial stages he had to face Yavanas and their invasion (Gargi Samhita)\ he defeated them; also won second , battle against Yavanas (Malavikagnimitram - Kalidasa). King Kharavela of Kalinga was a contemporary of the Shungas and the Hathigumpha inscription provides full details regarding his reign. He attacked Magadha twice, once in 165 B.C. and again in 161 B.C. - in the first war Pushyamitra retreated and in the second he was forced to submit to Kharav- ela (V.A. Smith). He also lost Ujjain to the Andhra king Satakami I; performed two horse sacrifices; he patronised Brahminism; Bud- dhist texts describe him as a great persecutor of Buddhism. He destroyed stupas, burnt monas- tries and killed the monks: Patanjali, the great grammarian, lived during this period. The famous work 'Mahabhashya' is an impressive study of syntax and evolution of words; the period is also well known for literature (as per the epigraphs discovered at Ayodhya); he died in about 149 B.C. He was succeeded by Agnimitra, who ruled for 8 years; succeeded by Sujyeshtha (7 years), *

Overview * Shungas succeeded the Mauryas and ruled for 112 years (185-73 B.C). * Pushyamitra Shunga was the founder of the dynasty and ruled Pataliputra for 36 years (185-149 B.C.). * King Kharavela of Kalinga was a contem- porary of the Shungas, (Hathigumpha in- scription, Orissa). * The reign of Kanvas (73-28 B.C.) - succes- sors of Shungas. * Patanjali's work Mahabhashya provides details regarding the Shungas. * The presence of Shungas offered a check on the incursions of the Yavanas. * The work 'Manusmriti' is attributed to this period. * The Bharhut railings belong to the Shunga period. Advent Pushyamitra Shunga assassinated the last of the Mauryas, usurped the throne and founded the Shunga dynasty at Pataliputra, they were the immediate heirs to the Mauryan empire and ruled between 185 and 73 B.C.

Sumitra (133 B.C.), Vajramitra (123 B.C.), Bhagavata (114 B.C.) and Devabhuti (82 B.C.). After the murder of Devabhuti in about 73 B.C. the Shunga dynasty came to an end. The immediate successors of Shungas were the Kanvas under Vasudeva; they had 4 kings who ruled for 45 years (Puranas), their rule lasted from about 73 B.C. to 28 B.C. (V.A. Smith); the Kanva kings were mainly Brah- mins and their rule was confined to Magadha alone. They were overthrown by Satavahanas (Puranas). Significance of Shunga period The rule of the Shungas marks an important epoch in the history of central India. The re- newed incursions of the Yavanas (Greeks) received a check; there was an outburst of activities in the spheres of religion, art and literature comparable to that of the Guptas; in fact it was "a brilliant anticipation of the golden age of the Guptas" (Sathianathair); the stone railings and stone gateways of the Bud- dhist Stupas were the magnificent features of the Shunga art (the Bharhut railings); the im- portant monuments of the period are the Vihara (Poona) rock-cut stupas and chaitya hall (at Bhaja), the chaitya hall no. 9 at Ajanta, Stupa ( Amaravati ) Vrikshadevata (at Bharhut), Garuda pillar at Besnagar, railing at Bodh Gaya; Brahminical religion asserted itself during this period in a very aggressive form, resulting in the persecution of Buddhism; the Mahabhashya of Patanjali and Manusmriti are attributed to this period; Patanjali refers to the Sabha of Pushyamitra. Probably it refers to Tribunal of justice. Decline The Shunga dynasty came to an end after the murder of its last ruler Devabhuti in 73 B.C. by his minister Vasudeva; later Vasudeva ascended to the throne and founded the Kanva dynasty in about 73 B.C. (Bana).

Chronology *

Pushyamitra Shunga

(185-149 B.C.)

*

Agnimitr a Sujyeshth a Sumitra Vajramitra Bhagavata Devabhuti

(133 -123 B.C.) (123-144 B.C.) ( 1 1 4 - 82 B.C.) (82 - 73 B.C.)

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* King Kharavela of Kalinga (Kharavela Dy- nasty) contemporary of Shungas. * The Kanvas (73-28 B.C.) (Successors of Shungas) Wars * Two Yavana wars : One war at the begin- ning of the reign of Pushyamitra and the second at the end. * War with Vidarba: Attack on Magadha by king Kharavela of Kalinga (once in 165 and another in 161 B.C.). Impact * Central India safeguarded from the attacks of Yavanas who were about to capture north India. Achievements * Immediate successors to the first and pow- erful empire of India - the Mauryans.

Lotus medallion with human head, Indian Museum, Calcutta.

Lotus frieze, Bharhut vedika, Indian Museum, Calcutta.