8. POST-MAURYAN PERIOD (c. 200 BCE – 300 CE)

8. POST-MAURYAN PERIOD (c. 200 BCE – 300 CE)

After the Mauryas, India was ruled by several regional dynasties — a mix of native and foreign (Indo-Greek, Shaka, Parthian, Kushan) powers.

8.1 Shunga Dynasty (c. 185 BCE – 73 BCE)

• Founder: Pushyamitra Shunga — assassinated last Mauryan ruler Brihadratha; capital at Pataliputra, later Vidisha.
• Revived Brahmanical Hinduism; performed Ashvamedha yajnas; some texts (Buddhist sources) allege persecution of Buddhists, though debated.
• Patronized art — Bharhut Stupa railings/gateways, expansion of Sanchi Stupa (the original brick stupa of Ashoka was encased in stone and enlarged).
• Grammarian Patanjali (author of Mahabhashya, commentary on Panini's grammar) lived during Pushyamitra's reign, was possibly his priest.
• Last ruler: Devabhuti, killed by his minister Vasudeva Kanva, who founded the Kanva dynasty.

8.2 Kanva Dynasty (c. 73 BCE – 28 BCE)

• Founded by Vasudeva Kanva; short-lived, ruled Magadha region; overthrown by the Satavahanas (per Puranic tradition).

8.3 Indo-Greeks (Bactrian Greeks)

• Descendants of Alexander's Greek settlers in Bactria (Central Asia) who invaded NW India after Mauryan decline.
• Most famous king: Menander (Milinda) (c. 165–130 BCE) — capital at Sakala (Sialkot); converted to Buddhism under monk Nagasena; conversation recorded in the Buddhist text "Milindapanho" (Questions of Milinda).
• Introduced Indo-Greek coinage — first rulers in India to issue coins bearing portraits and dates; significant numismatic evidence.

8.4 Shakas (Scythians)

• Central Asian people who established kingdoms in western/northwestern India.
• Notable ruler: Rudradaman I (c. 130–150 CE) of the Western Kshatrapas — famous for the Junagadh Rock Inscription (Gujarat), written in chaste Sanskrit; mentions repair of the Sudarshana Lake (originally built under Chandragupta Maurya).
• Shaka Era (Saka Samvat) begins in 78 CE — adopted as the Indian National Calendar (started, per common tradition, with Kanishka, though this is debated among historians).

8.5 Parthians (Pahlavas)

• Notable ruler: Gondophernes — associated in Christian tradition with the visit of St. Thomas the Apostle to India.

8.6 Kushan Dynasty (c. 1st century CE – 3rd century CE)

• Central Asian nomadic people (Yuezhi tribe); established a large empire spanning Central Asia to northern India.
• Founder: Kujula Kadphises.
• Greatest ruler: Kanishka (c. 78 CE – 101 CE, dates debated) — capital at Purushapura (Peshawar); also held territories at Mathura.
  • Started the Saka Era (78 CE) as per widely accepted view.
  • Great patron of Buddhism — convened the Fourth Buddhist Council at Kundalvana (Kashmir), presided by Vasumitra; led to the formal split into Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism; Kanishka favored Mahayana.
  • Patronized Gandhara School of Art (Greco-Buddhist style, Buddha images with Greek influence — realistic drapery, curly hair) and Mathura School of Art (indigenous style, red sandstone).
  • Patronized scholars: Ashvaghosha (wrote Buddhacharita, biography of Buddha), Nagarjuna (Buddhist philosopher, Madhyamika school), Charaka (physician, "Charaka Samhita" — Ayurveda text), Vasumitra.
  • Kushans facilitated Silk Route trade between India, China, Central Asia, and Rome — brought immense prosperity; Kushan gold coins found in large numbers.

8.7 Satavahana Dynasty (c. 230 BCE – 220 CE) — Deccan/South India

• Also known as Andhras; one of the longest-ruling and most important post-Mauryan dynasties, based in the Deccan.
• Founder: Simuka.
• Greatest ruler: Gautamiputra Satakarni (c. 106–130 CE) — expanded the empire; defeated the Shaka ruler Nahapana; mentioned in his mother Gautami Balashri's Nashik Prashasti (inscription), which praises him extensively.
• Capital: Pratishthana (Paithan) on the Godavari.
• Important for the Amaravati School of Art (stupas, sculptures in Andhra region).
• Followed matrilineal naming custom (names derived from mother's name, e.g., Gautamiputra = "son of Gautami"), though succession was patrilineal.
• Issued lead, potin (coins) — extensive trade with Rome (Roman gold coins found in Deccan hoards) via ports on both coasts.
• Patronized Buddhism as well as Brahmanism; performed Vedic sacrifices (Ashvamedha) while also supporting Buddhist stupas (Amaravati, Nagarjunakonda).

Key Facts / Quick Revision — Post-Mauryan Period

• Shunga founder = Pushyamitra Shunga (killed Brihadratha); patronized Sanchi/Bharhut stupas
• Menander (Milinda) = most famous Indo-Greek king; converted to Buddhism (Milindapanho)
• Rudradaman I = Junagadh inscription (Sanskrit); Shaka Kshatrapa ruler
• Saka Era began 78 CE — basis of Indian National Calendar
• Kanishka = greatest Kushan ruler; 4th Buddhist Council; patron of Gandhara/Mathura art, Ashvaghosha, Nagarjuna, Charaka
• Gautamiputra Satakarni = greatest Satavahana ruler; defeated Nahapana; Nashik inscription by mother Gautami Balashri
• Silk Route trade flourished under Kushans