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LURE - THRU THE AGES
Eternal India
encyclopedia
THE SHUNGAS 185 - 73 B.C.
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.
*
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),
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).
Lotus frieze, Bharhut vedika,
Indian Museum, Calcutta.
Lotus medallion with human
head, Indian Museum, Calcutta.
Chronology
*
Pushyamitra Shunga
(185-149 B.C.)
*
Agnimitr
a
Sujyeshth
a
Sumitra
(133 -123 B.C.)
*
Vajramitra
(123-144 B.C.)
*
Bhagavata
( 1 1 4 - 82 B.C.)
*
Devabhuti
(82 - 73 B.C.)
*
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.