Post mauryan period
Sungas
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The founder Pushyamitra Sunga, who was the commander-in-chief under the Mauryas.
According to the Puranas, Pushyamitra became the king after killing his master Brihadratha, the last Mauryan king.
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The challenge was to protect his kingdom against the invasions of the Bactrian Greeks from the northwest.
follower of Brahmanism.
He performed two asvamedha sacrifices.
Buddhist sources refer him as a persecutor of Buddhism.
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Vibhasa, another 2nd century text, states that Pushyamitra burned Buddhist scriptures, killed Buddhist monks, and destroyed 500 monasteries in and around Kashmir.
These activities wiped out the Buddhist doctrine from the north, within five years.
Pushyamitra's rebellion against the Maurya dynasty was a Brahminical reaction to the rise of Buddhism.
Brahmins did not suffer during the Mauryan rule: Ashoka's edicts mention the Brahmins before Shramanas, and the appointment of a Brahmin general (Pushyamitra) shows that the Brahmins were honoured at the Mauryan court.
archaeological evidence shows of destruction to Buddhist establishments at Takshashila and the Sanchi stupa in 2nd century BC (that is, during Pushyamitra's reign) and the Buddhist ruins at Kaushambi, suggested that the destruction of the local monastery might have happened during the reign of Pushyamitra Shunga.
The politically active Buddhists might have supported the Indo-Greek rivals of Pushyamitra, which enraged him to persecute them.
The Ashokavadana states that Pushyamitra declared reward for killing Buddhist monks in Shakala (present-day Sialkot).
After the death of Pushyamitra, his son Agnimitra became the ruler.
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The last Sunga ruler was Devabhuti, who was murdered by his minister Vasudeva Kanva, the founder of the Kanva dynasty.
Many Puranas like Vayu, Brahamānda, Matsya, Vishnu, and Bhagavata Puranas are related to these periods
The Sungas revived Brahmanism and horse sacrifice.
promoted the growth of Vaishnavism and the Sanskrit language.
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The pillar originally supported a statue of Garuda
Vasudeva Kanva was the founder of the Kanva dynasty.
The Kanva dynasty ruled for 45 years.
Satavahanas
In the Deccan, the Satavahanas known as the Andhras established their independent rule after the decline of the Mauryas.
Their rule lasted for about 450 years
The Puranas, coins and inscriptions remain important sources for the history of Satavahanas.
Among the inscriptions, the Nasik and Nanaghad inscriptions throw much light on the reign of Gautamiputra Satakarni.
Simuka:
The founder of the Satavahana dynasty who extended the kingdom up to Nasik
Sri Satakarni:
The third king.
conquered western Malwa and Berar.
performed asvamedha sacrifices.
Hala:
The seventeenth king of the Satavahana dynasty.
became famous for his book Gathasaptasati, also called Sattasai which contains 700 verses in Prakrit language.
Gautamiputra Satakarni:
The greatest ruler of the Satavahana dynasty.
He ruled for a period of 24 years from 106 to 130 A.D.
His achievements were recorded in the Nasik inscription by his mother Gautami Balasri.
captured the whole of Deccan and expanded his empire.
His victory over Nagapana,the ruler of Malwa was remarkable.
He patronized Brahmanism.
also gave donations to Buddhists.
Vashishtaputra Pulamayi.
son of Gautamiputra Satakarni.
extended the Satavahana power up to the mouth of the Krishna river.
issued coins on which the image of ships was inscribed.
They reveal the naval power and maritime trade of the Satavahanas.
The last great ruler of Satavahanas was Yajna Sri Satakarni.
Economic Condition-
Silver coins called Karshapanas were used for trade.
The greatest port of the Satavahanas was Kalyani on the west Deccan.
Gandakasela and Ganjam on the east coast were the other important seaports.
Cultural Contributions
The Satavahanas patronized Brahmanism and Buddhism
They built chaityas and viharas. Vashishtaputra Pulamayi repaired the old Amaravati stupa.
Their architecture in Nagarjunakonda was also notable.
Brahmanism was revived by the Satavahanas along with the performance of asvamedha and rajasuya sacrifices.
They also patronized the Prakrit language and literature.
Questions of Milinda
Greek ruler Menander was also known as Milinda and the capital of his kingdom was Sakala (Sialcot).
He evinced much interest in Buddhism and his dialogues with the Buddhist monk Nagasena was compiled in the Pali work, Milindapanho (Questions of Milinda).
He also embraced Buddhism.
Sakas
There were two different groups of Sakas –the Northern Satraps ruling from Taxila and the Western satraps ruling over Maharashtra.
The founder the Saka rule in India in the first century B.C.was Maues.
His son and successor was Azes I, who was consideredto be the founder of the Vikrama era.
Sakas rulers of Taxila were overthrown by the Parthians.
Kushanas
Branch of Yuchi tribe, whose original home was central Asia
Then they gradually seized Bactria and the Gandhara region.
The founder of the Kushana dynasty was Kujula Kadphises or Kadphises I.
He issued coins in his name.
His son Wima Kadphises or Kadphises II conquered the whole of northwestern India as far as Mathura.
He issued gold coins with high-sounding titles like the „Lord of the Whole World‟.
He was a Shivate.
Kanishka (78 – 120 A.D.)
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most important ruler of the Kushana dynasty.
the founder of the Saka era which starts from 78A.D.
a conqueror and a patron of religion and art.
his empire extended from Gandhara to Pataliputra.
According to Kalhana, Kanishka invaded Kashmir and occupied it
capital was Purushapura or modern day Peshawar.
Mathura was another important city in his empire.
embraced Buddhism in the early part of his reign.
However, being a secular ruler his coins exhibit the images of not only Buddha but also Greek and Hindu gods.
the Mahayana Buddhism came into vogue.
It is different in many respects from the religion taught by the Buddha and propagated by Asoka.
Thus image worship and rituals developed in Mahayana Buddhism.
Buddhist chaityas and viharas were built in different places.
He patronised Buddhist scholars like Vasumitra, Asvagosha and Nagarjuna.
He also convened the Fourth Buddhist Council to discuss matters relating to Buddhist theology and doctrine.
Gandhara Art
Developed during the first and second centuries A.D. in and around Peshawar in northwestern India.
originated during thereign of Indo-Greek rulers but the real patrons of this school of art were the Sakas and the Kushanas, particularly Kanishka.
Specimens of Gandhara sculpture have been found in Taxila, Peshawar and in several places of northwest India.
The Gandhara school made sculptures of the Buddha in various sizes, shapes and postures depicting Buddha‟s birth, his renunciation and his preaching.
Moulding human body in a realistic manner with minute attention to physical features like muscles, moustache and curtly hair.
Thick drapery with large and bold fold lines.- Rich carving, elaborate ornamentation and symbolic expressions.
The main theme was the new form of Buddhism – Mahayanism – and the evolution of an image of Buddha.
Mathura School of Art
developed at Mathura in modern UttarPradesh is called the Mathura art.
flourished in the first centuryA.D.
developed on indigenous lines.
The Buddha images exhibit the spiritual feeling in his face which was largely absent in the Gandhara school.
also carved out the images of Siva and Vishnu along with their consorts Parvathi and Lakshmi.
The female figures of yakshinis and apsaras of the Mathura school were beautifully carved.
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