In the post-Mauryan period, the political power in India was shared between native and foreign dynasties. Besides, the foreign dynasties there were many native dynasties that flourished in India. The important native dynasties are discussed below:
Sungas:
Sungas were the Brahmins who belonged to the Bharadwaja clan. They served as higher officials in the Mauryan administration and ended the Mauryan rule to establish their own kingdom. They ruled from Vidisa in Madhya Pradesh as their capital. According to the Puranas, there were ten kings in the Sunga dynasty.
- Pushyamitra Sunga
Pushyamitra was the founder of this dynasty. He served as the Senapati and assassinated the last Mauryan king Brihadratha. Yavanas (Indo-Greeks) were defeated twice by him. Malavikagnimitra of Kalidasa also mentions it.
Pushyamitra performed two Asvamedha sacrifices at Ayodhya. According to the Buddhist text Divyavadana, Pushyamitra was a staunch opponent of Buddhism and destroyed 84,000 Buddhist stupas. But this claim was struck down by the scholars as there is enough evidence that he built many Buddhist monuments at Gaya, Barhut and Sanchi.
| PRELIMS- 2016 Which one of the following books of Ancient India has the love story of the son of the founder of the Sunga Dynasty? SwapnavasavadattaMalavikagnimitraMeghadootaRatnavaliAnswer: (b) |
A distinguished poet Patanjali lived in the court of Pushyamitra. He authored Mahabhashya, a Sanskrit book on grammar which is a commentary on Ashtadhyayi written by Panini.
- Agnimitra:
He was the second ruler of the Sunga dynasty. Agnimitra is the hero of the play Malavikagnimitra written by Kalidasa. The love and marriage of Agnimitra with a princess named Malavika is the storyline of this play.
- Kasiputra Bhagabhadra:
He was the sixth ruler of the dynasty. A Greek ambassador Heliodorus came to his court. The Besnagar pillar inscription of Heloidorus near Vidisa reveals that he was sent by the Greek King Antialsedus to the court of Bhagabhadra. This inscription is written in the Prakrit language and Kharoshti script. The coins of Bhagabhadra have been found in the Karimnagar district of Telangana.
- Devabhuti:
Devabhuti was the last of the Sunga dynasty. His military commander Vasudeva Kanya assassinated him and founded the Kanva dynasty.
| PRELIMS-2020 With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements: Panini is associated with Pushyamitra Shunga. Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana. Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta – II. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: (c) |
Kanva dynasty:
They were brahmanas belonged to the kanvayana gotra. Pataliputra was the capital of Kanvas. Complete information about the Kanvas is not available. According to the Puranas, Vasudeva Kanva was the first king and Susarma was the last king of this dynasty. Puranas also inform that a king of Andhra invaded Pataliputra, killed Susarma and put an end to the Kanva dynasty.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. FAQ: What were Sungas and Kanvas in the context of the Post-Mauryan Age?
Answer: The Sungas and Kanvas were two distinct dynasties that succeeded the Mauryan Empire in ancient India during the Post-Mauryan Age. The Sunga dynasty ruled from approximately 185 BCE to 73 BCE, followed by the Kanvas, who ruled until around 28 BCE.
2. FAQ: What were the major achievements of the Sunga dynasty during their rule?
Answer: The Sunga dynasty is known for reviving Hindu traditions and practices, particularly Brahmanism, after the decline of Buddhism during the Mauryan period. They played a crucial role in the restoration of Indian cultural and religious traditions, and their patronage extended to various arts and literature.
3. FAQ: How did the Kanvas contribute to the cultural and political landscape of the Post-Mauryan era?
Answer: The Kanvas continued the efforts of the Sungas in promoting Hinduism and revitalizing traditional Indian culture. However, their rule was relatively short-lived. Despite this, they made contributions to literature, and their reign is considered a transitional phase leading to the Gupta Empire, often referred to as the “Golden Age” of ancient Indian history.
4. FAQ: What challenges did the Sungas and Kanvas face during their rule in the Post-Mauryan period?
Answer: The Sungas and Kanvas faced internal and external challenges, including regional revolts and invasions. The political landscape was often characterized by instability, and these dynasties had to contend with maintaining control over a vast and diverse empire. The short duration of the Kanvas’ rule is indicative of the volatile nature of the time.
5. FAQ: How did the decline of the Sungas and Kanvas pave the way for the Gupta Empire?
Answer: The decline of the Sunga and Kanva dynasties created a power vacuum, eventually filled by the Gupta Empire. The Gupta period, starting around the 4th century CE, is considered a high point in Indian history, marked by significant achievements in art, science, and literature. The Gupta rulers built upon the foundations laid by their predecessors, including the Sungas and Kanvas, contributing to the flourishing of classical Indian civilization.
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