Post-Mauryan Age, Map, UPSC Notes

Q: What was the Post-Mauryan period known for?

It is known for cultural interactions between India and foreign rulers, the spread of Mahayana Buddhism, and the development of three schools of art and sculptures: Gandhara, Mathura and Amravati.

Q: Who was the famous scholar in the court of Pushyamitra Sunga?

Patanjali was a famous scholar in the court of Pushyamitra Sunga.

Table of Contents☰

Political History of Northern India

After the death of Asoka, his successors were not able to keep the vast Mauryan Empire intact. The subsequent rulers were relatively weak and lacked the same level of administrative and military capabilities as their predecessors.

The provinces started declaring their independence.
The northwest India slipped out of the control of the Mauryas, and a series of foreign invasions affected this region.
Kalinga declared its independence, and the Satavahanas established their independent rule further south.
The religious policy of the Mauryas angered the Shungas, who were staunch followers of Brahmanism.
Thus, Mauryan rule was confined to the Gangetic Valley, and it was soon replaced by the Sunga dynasty.

Shunga Dynasty

Map:Shunga Dynasty

Shunga Dynasty
Period: 185 BC – 73 BC		Capital: Pataliputra and Vidisha
It was founded by Pusyamitra Shunga by assassinating the last Mauryan ruler Brihadratha. They ruled over northwestern and central India in the north, up to Narmada in the south. They defended the Gangetic Valley from foreign invasions. Administration: The Mauryan system of administering the provinces through princes of royal blood continued, and royal power tended to decentralise in the form of the establishment of nuclear kingdoms within the empire.
Pushyamitra Shunga (185 – 149 BCE)	Fought a campaign against Kharavela of Kalinga, who invaded north India. He conducted several campaigns against the Yavanas, Indo-Greeks, who were trying in this period to expand from Bactria into northwestern India. He performed Ashvamedha to legitimise his right to rule. The Ayodhya Inscription of Dhandeva mentions that he performed two Ashwamedha Yagyas. He was a staunch follower of orthodox Hinduism; however, he renovated Buddhist Stupa at Bharhut. Contemporary to Patanjali (author of Mahabhasya) His history is recorded in Banabhatta’s Harshacharita.
Agnimitra (149 – 141 BC)	“Malvikagnimitra”, a Sanskrit drama written by Kalidasa, is related to him. It is based on Sunga king Agnimitra’s love for Vidharbha princess Malvika.
Other Rulers	Vasumitra, Vajramitra, Bhagabhadra, Devabhuti (Last ruler). Devabhuti, the last ruler of the Shunga dynasty, was assassinated by his minister Vasudeva Kanva, thus ending the Shunga empire.
Administration of Shungas
The Mauryan system of administering the provinces through princes of royal blood continued. Royal power tended to decentralise in the form of the establishment of nuclear kingdoms within the empire. Empire was divided into provinces. The provinces were further divided into districts or Janapadas. The head of the administration was the king, who was assisted by a council of ministers (Mantriparishad). The king was responsible for the overall administration of the empire and was advised by the council of ministers on matters of policy and governance.
Contribution of Shungas to Art, Architecture and Literature
Bharhut Stupa (place)	Discovered by Cunninghum. Originally built by Ashoka but enlarged and renovated during the Shunga period in the mid-2nd century BC. Situated at Satna district of Madhya Pradesh. It is important for its sculptures. Its railings are made of red stone. It marks the beginnings of a tradition of Buddhist narrative relief and decoration of sacred buildings. E.g. Queen Mayadevi’s dream and depiction of Ruru Jataka.
Sanchi Stupa (Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh)	Discovered by General Taylor. Originally built by Ashoka but enlarged and renovated during the Shunga period (2nd century BC). Situated in the trading route of Dakshinapatha. Known for the lavish carvings on its decorated gateways /torans built during Satavahanas. Figurines in Sanchi though small, are very naturalistic. Jataka stories are an important part of the narratives.
Heliodorus Pillar (near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh)	Stone column erected by Heliodorus, the Greek ambassador to the court of the Shunga king Bhagabhadra, around 150BC Erected in honour of Vasudeva. The inscription on the Pillar is, therefore, famously known as the Besnagar Inscription. It reveals that the Shungas continued the Maurya tradition of entertaining ambassadors from the Greek court.

Kanva Dynasty

Map: Kanva Dynasty

Kanva Dynasty
Period: 73 BC-28 BC	Capital: Pataliputra and Vidisha
It was founded by Vasudeva Kanva (minister of Shunga King Devabhuti), by killing the last Shunga ruler Devabhuti. Bana, the 7th-century Sanskrit author, gives details of an assassination plot that cost Devabhuti (Devabhumi) his life and brought Vasudeva to power in about 72 BCE. They were Brahmins and are considered descendants of Sage Saubhari. Rulers after Vasudeva: Bhumimitra, Narayana, Susharman (last king). Coins bearing the legend Bhumimitra have been discovered from the Panchala realm. It ruled for a very short period. The last Kanva ruler Susharman was killed by Balipuccha of the Andhra dynasty.

Chedi Dynasty

Chedi Dynasty
Period: 1st century BCE		Capital: Suktimati-Puri
Established in Kalinga around 1st Century BC by King Abhichandra, with Suktimati-Puri as capital on the banks of the river Suktimati. Also known as Cheta or Mahameghavahana, or Chetavamsa. After Ashoka, Kalinga (present-day Orissa) became prominent under the kings of the Chedi dynasty. No information about the kings of the dynasty except Kharavela.
King Kharvela	Ruled approximately around the first century BCE. His achievements are recorded in the Hathigumpha inscription, situated in the Udayagiri hills near Bhuvaneshvar in Orissa. A follower of Jainism. Succeeded by his son Kudepasiri, who is mentioned in an inscription found in the Mancapuri Cave.
Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves (Odisha)	Made under the Kalinga King Kharavela in 1st-2nd century BC near modern-day Bhubaneswar. Has both artificial and natural caves (possibly carved out as residence of Jain monks). Famous for the Hathigumpha inscription, carved out in Brahmi script, which starts out with “Jain Namokar Mantra” and highlights various military campaigns undertaken by King Kharavela. Ranigumpha cave in Udayagiri is double-storied and has some beautiful sculptures.

Post Mauryan Art and Architecture

The art of this period started reflecting the changing socio-political scenario as well. The architecture in the form of rock-cut caves and stupas continued, with each dynasty introducing some unique features of their own.
Similarly, different schools of sculpture emerged, and the art of sculpture reached its climax in the post-Mauryan period.
Development of Stupas: Stupas are Buddhist commemorative monuments usually housing sacred relics associated with the Buddha or other saintly persons.
- Three prominent stupas of this period are at Bharhut and Sanchi(both in M.P), which were originally built by Ashoka but enlarged later, and Amravati and Nagarjunkonda (both in Andhra Pradesh).
- Stupas became larger and more decorative in the post-Mauryan period. Stone was increasingly used in place of wood and brick.
- The Shunga dynasty introduced the idea of torans as beautifully decorated gateways to the stupas.
Early Temples Architecture:
- During this time, Brahmanical temples and images of gods began to be built.
- Myths mentioned in the Puranas became part of narrative representation of the Brahmanical religion.
- Temples were decorated with the images of gods. Each temple had an image of a Chief Deity. These temples are simple structures consisting of a veranda, a hall and a shrine at the rear.
- Important temple sites of this period: Deogarh in Uttar Pradesh, Eran, Nachna-Kuthara and Udayagiri near Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh.
- The shrines of the temples were of three kinds:
  - Sandhara type (without pradikshinapatha),
  - Nirandhara type (with pradakshina patha)
  - Sarvatobhadra (which can be accessed from all sides).

Religion and society

Rise of Brahmanism: People in the post-Mauryan period practised Vedic religion, Buddhism, and Jainism. However, under Shunga’s rule, there was a revival of Brahmanism. There was an increase in rituals such as Ashwamedha and Rajasuya.
- Stories of Pushyamitra’s brutality and hostility against Buddhism are described in the Divyavadana.
Varna system: The four-fold varna system also revived during the post-Mauryan period. Thus, the social structure became rigid as the fourfold varna system was more strengthened. The dominance of priests and the ruling class was strengthened, while the conditions of Shudras remained unchanged.
Position of women: Women’s position in society was generally limited to domestic roles, and they were expected to follow strict codes of conduct as mentioned in the Manusmriti.
Cultural expanse: It was the period of the emergence of various mixed castes and the integration of foreigners into Indian society.

Post-Mauryan Language and Literature

Sanskrit became more popular during this period it was used to write Buddhist texts of this period.
- Patanjali: His important works include: Yoga Sutras (a collection of Sanskrit sutras (aphorisms) on the theory and practice of yoga), Mahabhasya (an ancient treatise on Sanskrit grammar and linguistics) and Patanjali Tantra (medical text).
The Sanskrit language was written using the variant version of Brahmi script. It is believed that the writing serves as a link between the Kalinga Brahmi script and the Maurya script.

Development of trade and commerce

Craft and commerce: Jyestha was the head of the guild of artisans. Mathura was a major centre for the production of a special type of cloth known as shataka.
- Merchant class: During this period, trade flourished and resulted in the rise of many types of merchant guilds.
- Shreshti was the headman of the merchant guild (shreni), while Sarthavaha was the leader of sartha (mobile or caravan trading corporation). Vanijgramo was the head of the corporation of merchants.
Trade routes: Uttarapatha was the internal trade land route connecting northern and eastern parts of India with the northwestern areas.
- Dakshinapatha was the trade land route connecting peninsular India with the western and northern parts of India.
Discovery of monsoon: Discovery of monsoon led to the development of external trade.
Export of spices to the Romans and import of gold and silver from Romans was common.

Decline

Satavahanas: After the decline of the Kanavas, the Satavahanas rose to power.
Foreign invasions: Around the same time, 200 BCE, there were invasions from Central Asia and western China. Among these were the Indo-Greeks, Scythians or Shakas, Parthians or Pahlavas, and Kushanas.
- These invasions not only altered the political structure of northwestern India but also contributed to the transmission and transformation of cultural elements from both India and the Central Asian region.