THE POST MAURYAN INDIA

THE POST MAURYAN INDIA

• Foreigners who invaded India after the downfall of the Mauryan Empire in the North West = Sakas, Scythians, Parthians, Indo-Greeks or Bactrian Greeks and Kushanas.
• After the death of Ashoka, the Satavahanas became independent in South.
• Befor the formation of Gupta Dynasty, Sungas and Kanvas ruled in the Northern India and Chedis (Kalinga) declared their independence at that time.

Great centre of Buddhist culture

• It is noteworthy that after the fall of the Mauryan state, the Magadha was not an empire, but it was the main center of Buddhist culture.

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Inscriptions / Copper Plates sources

• Ayodhya Inscription of Dana Deva
• Persepolis, Nakshi Rustam Inscriptions
• Moga(Taxila copper plate)
• Junagadh/Girnar Inscription
• Nasik Eulogy
• Inscription of Darius I

Coins

• Coins of Satavahanas
• Coins of Kadphises II
• Roman coins

Literary Sources

• Puranas
• Gargi Samhita
• Harshacharita of Banabhatta
• Mahabhasya of Patanjali
• Brihastkatha of Gunadhya
• Madhyamika Sutra of Nagarjuna
• Buddhacharita of Asvaghosha
• Malavikagnimitra of Kalidasa

Foreign Notice

• Accounts of Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese Buddhist monk and traveler.

The Sungas

• The last king of the Mauryan Empire = Brihadratha.
• Army Commander of Brihadratha = Pushyamitra Sunga.
• The last king of the Maurya Empire who killed Brihadratha = Pushyamitra Sungr.
• Founder of Sunga Dynasty = Pushyamitra Sunga.
• Capital of Pushyamitra Sunga = Pataliputra.
• Sunga king who defeated Menander, king of Bactria = Pushyamitra Sunga.
• Sunga king who defeated the invasion of Kalinga king Karavela = Pushyamitra Sungar.
• Religion followed by Pushyamitra = Vedic religion.
• Sunga king who performed Ashwamedha Yaga (Horse sacrifice) twice = Pushyamitra Sunga.
• Son of Pushyamitra Sunka = Agnimitra.
• Composer of the play “Malavikagnimitra” = Kalidasa.
• Who was he hero of the play “Malavikagnimitra” composed by Kalidasa = Agnimitra, son of Pushyamitra Sunga.
• Son of Agnimitra = Vasumitra.
• A book that mentions the information that Agnimitra’s son Vasumitra defeated the Greeks on the banks of the Sindhu River = Kalidasa’s Malavikagnimitra.
• Period of rule of Sunga dynasty = hundred years.
• The last king of Sunga Dynasty = Devabhuti.
• General of Sunga king Devabhuti = Vasudeva Kanva.
• The last king of the Sunga dynasty Devabhuti was killed by = Vasudeva Kanva, the general of Devabhuti.
• Founder of Kanva dynasty = Vasudeva Kanva.

Importance of Sunga Period

• It was the Sungars who protected the Gangetic valley regions from the invasion of the Bactrian Greeks.
• The Sunga dynasty followed “Vedic” practices.
• Sungas promotoed “Vaishnavism”.
• Sanskrit developed and became the court language.
• During whose reign Sanskrit rose to become the court language = Sungas.

Second grammarian of Sanskrit language

• Second grammarian of Sanskrit language = Patanjali.
• The second grammar book of Sanskrit language = Yogasutra
• Additional Information:

1. 1. 1. First grammarian of Sanskrit language = Panini.
      2. The first grammar book of Sanskrit language = Ashtadhyayi.

• King who patronized Patanjali, the second grammarian of Sanskrit language = Pushyamitra Sunga.

Sanchi Stupa

• Pushyamitra persecuted the Buddhists.
• During whose reign the Buddhist monuments at “Bharhut, Sanchi” were repaired and renovated = Pushyamitra Sunga.
• The use of wood instead of stone for the surrounding walls and gates of the stupas as seen in the Buddhist stupas at Bharhut and Sanchi came into practice during the Sungar period.
• The method of using wood instead of stones in stupas came into practice during whose period = Pushyamitra Sunga reign.
• The expanded Great Stupa of Sanchi and the railings, which enclose it, belong to the= Sunga Period.

Hathigumba Inscription

• Inscription that helps to know about Kalinga King Karavela = Hathigumba Inscription.
• Creator of Hathigumba Inscription = Kalinga King Karavela.
• “Elephant Cave Inscription” = Hathikumba Inscription.
• Contemporary of Sunga Kings = Kalinga King Karavela.

The Kanvas

• Number of kings in Kanva dynasty = four.
• Total years of Kanva dynasty rule = 45 years.
• Four Kanva kings = Vasudeva, Bhumi Mitra, Narayana, Susarman.
• Founder of Kanva Dynasty = Vasudeva Kanva.
• Last king of Kanva Dynasty = Susarman.
• The last king of Kanva dynasty Susarman was killed by = Satavahana king Simuka.

Satavahanas in the South

• Duration of Kushanas rule in North India = 300 years.
• Period of rule of Satavahanas (Andhras) in South India = 450 years.
• Founder of Satavahana dynasty = Simuka.
• How many years did Simuka rule = 23 years.
• Successor to Simuka = Krishna.
• During whose reign the Satavahana kingdom rose to empire = Krishna, Satakarni.
• Satavahana king who performed two Ashvamedha Yagna = Satakarni.
• Greatest ruler among the Satavahana kings = Gautamiputra Satakarni.
• Mother of Gautamiputra Satakarni = Gautami Balasri.
• “Nasik Eulogy” Published by = Gautami Balasri.
• Coins depicting maritime power and naval skills of the Satavahanas (Andhras) = Vasishthiputra Pulumavi coins inscribed with the shape of a ship.

Bogor inscriptions

• The Bogor inscriptions suggest that South India played an important role in the process of early state formation in Southeast Asia.

Literary contribution of Satavahanas

• Satavahana king “Hala” was a great Sanskrit scholar.
• Composer of “Sattasai” (Saptasati) containing 700 stansas in Prakrit language = King Hala.
• The Kantara school of Sanskrit flourished in the Deccan in second century B.C.

Art and Architecture of Satavahanas

• Who built Buddhist stupas at Amaravati = Satavahanas.
• Founders of Amaravati style of art = Satavahanas.
• A standing bronze statue of the Buddha found at the “Oc-Eo”, an archaeological site in Vietnam corresponds to the Amaravati style.
• Later Satavahana kings issued lead or bronze coins bearing the emblem of ships with two masts.
• A stone seal discovered in NakhonPathom in Thailand has the same design.

Greeks, Parthians

• When Alexander left India, he appointed his governors to administer the territories he occupied.
• 2 satrapies (states) were situated in the eastern part = Bactria, Parthia.
• Bactria became an independent state under the leadership of “Diodotus I”.
• Parthia became an independent state under the leadership of “Arsaces”.​

Indo Greeks

• Settled in the north-western part of India and through inter-marriage with Indians, mixed with the Indian culture.

Demetrius the First

• He was the son of the Greco-Bactrian ruler Euthydemus.
• King of Macedonia = Demetrius I
• Who issued bi-lingual square coins = Demetrius I.
• On bi-lingual square coins,

1. 1. 1. 1. Language used in head side= also Greek
         2. Language used in tail side = Kharosthi.

• Scholars are not able to decide which of the three, named Demetrius, was the initiator of the Yavana era, commencing from second century BC (BCE) in India.

Menander

• Famous among Indo-Greek kings = Minanter.
• A book tells about a conversation between the Bactrian king “Milinda” and the Buddhist monk “Nagasena” = MilindaPanha.
• This Milinda king is said to be “Menander”.

Contributions of Indo-Greeks

• Who introduced die system in India = Indo-Greeks.
• Who introduced the system of engraving letters, symbols and figures on coins in India = Indo-Greeks.
• The Gandhara School of Indian Art is heavily indebted to Greek influence.
• Best at building caves = Greeks.
• Mahayana Buddhists learned from the Greeks how to carve caves.

Indo-Parthians (Pahlavas)

• People who came to India after the Indo Greeks = Indo-Scythians.
• Who came to India after Indo-Sythians = Indo-Parthians.
• Who defeated Indo-Parthians = Kushans.
• Founder of Indo-Parthian Dynasty = Gondophernes.
• Indo-Parthian dynasty also called as = Gondopharid dynasty.
• Christian apostle associated with Gondophernes = St. Thomas.
• The Christian preacher who visited the court of Gondophernes = St. Thomas.

Sakas

• Who ended the rule of Indo-Greeks in India = Sakas.
• Sakas are nomadic people, Iranian Scythians.
• They were known as “Sakas” in Sanskrit language.
• Saka rule was founded by = Maos (or) Mogain.
• Capital of Sakas = Sirkap.
• Associated with “Mora inscription” = Sakas.
• King mentioned in Mora inscription = Maos (Moga).
• Images engraved on coins issued by Maos = Shiva, Buddha.
• Saka dynasty king who issued coins with images of Shiva and Buddha = Maos.
• The Sakas appointed kshatrapas or satraps as provincial governors to administer their territories.

Junagadh / Girnar inscription

• Most Important King of Sakar Dynasty = Rudradaman.
• Inscription associated with Rudradaman = Junagadh / Girnar inscription.
• Creator of Junagadh / Girnar inscription = Sakar King Rudradaman.
• First inscription written in pure Sanskrit = Junagadh / Girnar inscription.
• First inscription written in pure Sanskrit in India = Junagadh / Girnar inscription.
• First inscription in chaste Sanskrit = Junagadh / Girnar inscription.

Kushanas

• Kushans belong to Yueh-chi tribal division of China.
• Other 4 sections of the Yueh-chi tribes accepted the leadership of the Kushans.
• Early capital of Kushans = Kabul.
• Capital of Kushans shifted from Kabul to where = Peshawar (Prushapuram).
• Greatest ruler of Kushana kings = Kanishka.

Kanishka

• Greatest King of Kushana Dynasty = Kanishka.
• Kanishka started a new era called as = Saka Era, AD 78.
• Year of accession of Kanishka = AD 78.
• Kanishka conquered Kashmir.
• Defeated the Chinese general “Pan-Chiang” and thwarted the Chinese invasion.
• Kanishka followed “Buddhism”.
• Buddhism supported by Kanishka = Mahayana Buddhism.
• Who converted Kanishka to Buddhism = Asvaghosha.
• The king who declared Buddhism as the state religion = Kanishka.
• Who organized the Fourth Buddhist Council = Kanishka.
• Venue of Fourth Buddhist Council = Kundalavana near Srinagar.
• It was in this fourth council that Buddhism split into two sects namely Hinayana and Mahayana.
• Buddhist scholars presented in Kanishkar Hall = Asvaghosha, Vasumitra and Nagarjuna.
• He built a new city called ‘Kanishkapuram’ in Kashmir.
• The Gandhara School reached its peak during the reign of Kanishka.

First Sanskrit Drama

• Who converted Kanishka to Buddhism = Asvaghosha.
• Author of “Buddhacharita” = Asvaghosha.
• First Sanskrit play = Buddhacharita.
• First Sanskrit Drama = Buddhacharita.
• First Sanskrit Dramatist = Asvaghosha.

Kadphises I

• The first famous military and political leader of the Kushanas = Kadphises I.
• Kadphises I, overthrew the Indo-Greek and Indo-Parthian.

Kadphises II

• He maintained good friendship with Chinese and Roman kings.
• Kushana king who issued coins bearing the image of “Lord Siva” = Kadphises II.
• The King’s name is written in “Karosthi” language on the coin.

Additional information

• Creator of Ayodhya inscription = Dana Deva.
• Author of “Harshacharita” = Banabhatta.
• Author of “Mahabhashya” = Patanjali.
• Author of “Brihastkatha” = Gunadhya.
• Author of “Madhyamika Sutra” = Nagarjuna.
• Author of “Buddhacharita” = Asvaghosha.
• Author of “Malavikagnimitra” = Kalidasa.

 

 

• FIRST TERM
• What is History
• Human Evolution
• Indus Civilisation
• ANCIENT CITIES OF TAMILAGAM
• SECOND TERM
• VEDIC CULTURE IN NORTH INDIA
• MEGALITHIC CULTURE IN SOUTH INDIA
• THE POST MAURYAN INDIA
• THE POST MAURYAN INDIA
• THE POST MAURYAN INDIA
• THE POST MAURYAN INDIA
• THE POST MAURYAN INDIA
• THE POST MAURYAN INDIA
• THE POST MAURYAN INDIA
• THE POST MAURYAN INDIA
• THE POST MAURYAN INDIA
• THE POST MAURYAN INDIA
• GREAT THINKERS AND NEW FAITH
• FROM CHIEFDOMS TO EMPIRES