Post-Mauryan Dynasties

After the fall of the Mauryas, political power scattered across the subcontinent, and this age witnessed major developments in art, architecture and religion.

• The period spans roughly from 200 BC to 300 AD — the gap between the Mauryas and the Guptas.
• It saw the rise of multiple political powers in different parts of the subcontinent.
• New features appeared in art, architecture and religion, including the revival of Bhagavatism.
• Foreign invaders introduced coinage, the Saka era and new art styles into India.

A quick snapshot of the major powers — their period, founder or most famous ruler, and capital — is the highest-yield table for the exam.

The Shungas were Brahmins from Vidisha who replaced the Mauryas and championed the revival of Brahminism.

• They ruled from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh; their capital was Pataliputra (with Vaishali as the capital in the later period).
• Major cities of the Shungas were Ujjain, Mathura, Saket, Sanchi and Kapilavastu.
• Pushyamitra Shunga performed 2 Ashwamedha yajnas under the sage Patanjali, ruling in North India.
• The Shungas were Brahmins and promoted Brahminism.
• This period saw the revival of Bhagavatism; Patanjali's classic "Mahabhashya" was written at this time.
• The Manusmriti was also compiled during this period.
• Agnimitra (2nd ruler) had served as a viceroy under the Mauryan empire, conquered Vidarbha (which became independent in his period), and repelled an attack from Kharavela.
• The Great Buddhist Stupa at Bharhut (M.P.) was built during his reign.
• The stone railing around the Sanchi Stupa (the stupa itself built by Ashoka) was constructed in the Shunga period, along with the fine gateway railing.

The short-lived Kanva dynasty took over from the Shungas at Pataliputra before being absorbed by the Satavahanas.

• They ruled from Pataliputra.
• It was a short dynasty of only four rulers.
• The official Brahmin character of the Magadhan throne continued under them.

The Satavahanas became the dominant power in the Deccan and central India, famous for their lead coins and patronage of trade.

• Their capital was Pratishthana (Paithan); the most important port city was Bhrigukaccha (Bharuch).
• Their official language was Prakrit.
• They issued their coins mainly in lead, and also in copper, bronze and potin.
• They started the practice of donating land with fiscal and administrative rights to Brahmanas and Buddhist monks, which seeded later feudalism.
• Famous Stupas of the period are at Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda.
• Two important religious constructions were the Chaitya (prayer hall / Buddhist temple) and the Vihara (monastery / residence for monks).

Gautamiputra Satakarni revived the dynasty's fortunes and is regarded as the greatest Satavahana ruler.

• He raised the power and prestige of the Satavahanas to great heights and performed Vedic sacrifices.
• He was the first king to issue the "matronymic" (Gautamiputra) title after his mother's name.
• His achievements are recorded in the Nasik inscription issued by his mother, Gautami Balasri.
• Satakarni I, the son of Simuka, succeeded Simuka and was the longest-ruling king of the Satavahana empire.
• Satakarni II defeated the Sakas, Yavanas and Pahlavas to regain the power of the Satavahanas and fought a battle with Kharavela.
• Vasishthiputra Sri Satakarni, the 24th ruler, married the daughter of the Saka ruler Rudradaman, but was defeated twice by the latter.
• Yajna Sri Satakarni, the 27th ruler, was the dynasty's last great king.
• Hala, the 17th ruler, authored "Gathasaptasati" (Sattasai) in Prakrit, a collection of love lyrics.
• The Satavahanas were finally succeeded by the Vakataka dynasty in Maharashtra and the Ikshvaku dynasty in Andhra Pradesh.

The list tallies closely with the one prepared by Pargiter — there were 30 kings and a half, whose total duration of rule adds to 448 and a half years.

In the Kalinga region, the Chedi dynasty rose under its famous warrior-king Kharavela.

• The capital of this dynasty was Sisupalgarh.
• Its most important ruler was Kharavela.
• Kharavela patronised Jainism, and the Hathigumpha inscription gives a reference to his victories.

From the north-west, four waves of foreign rulers entered India in succession; their order is a favourite exam question.

The Indo-Greeks (Bactrian Greeks) were the first foreign power to rule north-western India after the Mauryas, and they revolutionised Indian coinage.

• The most important Indo-Greek ruler was Menander / Milinda (165–145 BC), with his capital at Sialkot.
• Menander was converted to Buddhism by Nagasena (Nagarjuna).
• He is mentioned in the famous Buddhist text "Milinda-Panho" (Questions of Milinda).
• They ruled over the north-western part of the country in the post-Maurya period.
• Demetrius was the first to invade India after Alexander.
• The Greek ambassador Heliodorus, sent by king Antialcidas to the Shunga court, constructed the Garudadhwaja (Heliodorus) pillar at Besnagar / Vidisha in honour of God Vasudeva — a key proof of Bhagavatism.

The Sakas (Scythians) overthrew the Greeks and spread across India in five branches, with Rudradaman I as their greatest ruler.

• The Shakas overthrew the Greeks in north-western India.
• The first Saka king in India was Maues / Moga.
• Rudradaman repaired the famous Sudarshan Lake (built in the Maurya period) and patronised Sanskrit.
• The Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman is the first major inscription written in Sanskrit.
• The first Indian Saka king was Vikramaditya / Ujjain, who defeated the Sakas and started the Vikram Samvat era in 57 BC.
• The Sakas ruled western India until the 4th century AD; other important Saka rulers were Nahapana, Ushavadeva, Ghatamika and Chashtana.
• The five seats of power (Satraps) of the Sakas were:

The Parthians, who came from Iran, controlled a smaller area than the Sakas but are linked to an early Christian tradition in India.

• Originally the Parthians (Pahlavas) lived in Iran.
• They replaced the Sakas in north-western India, but controlled a much smaller area.
• The Pahlavas restricted themselves to issuing copper coins (and rarely silver).

The Kushanas built the greatest of the foreign empires in India and are best known for their ruler Kanishka, who launched the Saka era.

• They replaced the Parthians and expanded into the lower Indus basin and the upper-and-middle Gangetic basin.
• They controlled the famous Silk Route (from China to Iran and West Asia) — a great source of income.
• The Kushanas were the first rulers in India to issue gold coins on a wide scale.
• The last great Kushana ruler was Vasudeva I.

Kanishka, the greatest Kushana, is remembered for the Saka era and the 4th Buddhist Council.

• He convened the 4th Buddhist Council in Kashmir (under Vasumitra and Ashvaghosha).
• His capital was Peshawar (Purushapura).
• A famous headless statue of Kanishka was found at Mathura.
• His empire spread over a large area covering Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and India.
• Kanishka patronised the Gandhara school (Greek-influenced) and the Mathura school of art; the Kushana period is the golden age of these art schools.

Post-Mauryan India saw rich developments in cave architecture, stupas and the great schools of sculpture.

• Apsidal vault-roof chaitya halls are found at Ajanta, Pitalkhora and Bhaja; the pillarless type at Thana-Nadsur; the flat type at Kondivite.
• The second major cave development was the excavation of Viharas.
• Purpose of cave structures: a Chaitya is a prayer hall for monks; a Vihara is the residence / rest place for monks.
• Stupa No. 1 at Sanchi has upper and lower pradakshinapatha (circumambulatory paths) and four decorated toranas depicting events from the Buddha's life and the Jatakas.
• According to tradition there are 24 Buddhas, but only the first (Dipankar) and last six are pictorially represented at Sanchi.
• The two great sculpture schools were the Gandhara school (Greco-Roman / Hellenistic influence) and the Mathura school (indigenous, red sandstone).