Post-Mauryan Age in India: Shungas, Kanvas, Ikshvakus

After the decline of the Mauryan Empire in the 2nd century BCE, India witnessed the rise of several powerful indigenous kingdoms alongside the influx of foreign dynasties. These regional powers played a crucial role in shaping India’s political, cultural, and religious landscape. Among them, the Shungas and Kanvas in North India, the Satavahanas in the Deccan, the Ikshvakus in Andhra, the Abhiras in Maharashtra, the Chutus in Karnataka, and the Mahameghavahanas in Odisha emerged as significant ruling powers. They not only defended their territories against foreign invasions but also promoted trade, literature, religion, and art. This era thus represents a dynamic phase of transition, regional consolidation, and cultural flourishing in Indian history.

I. Shunga Dynasty (184 – 75 BCE)

The Shungas were Brahmins belonging to the Bharadwaja gotra. They served as high officials under the Mauryas, later ending Mauryan rule and establishing their own independent kingdom. Their capital was Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh. According to the Puranas, this dynasty had ten rulers.

Pushyamitra Shunga

Founder of the Shunga dynasty. While serving as commander-in-chief under the last Mauryan emperor Brihadratha, he assassinated him and ended the Mauryan Empire.
He is said to have defeated the Indo-Greeks (Yavanas) twice. Kalidasa’s drama Malavikagnimitram also mentions these victories.
Performed two Ashvamedha sacrifices at Ayodhya.
Tibetan Buddhist text Divyavadana describes Pushyamitra as a cruel enemy of Buddhism who destroyed Ashoka’s 84,000 stupas. However, historians dismiss this view. Evidence at Gaya, Bharhut, and Sanchi shows that Pushyamitra actually built several Buddhist monuments, including the famous Mahabodhi Temple at Gaya.
His court hosted the great scholar Patanjali, who wrote Mahabhashya, a commentary on Panini’s Ashtadhyayi.

Agnimitra

Second ruler of the dynasty.
Hero of Kalidasa’s Malavikagnimitram, which narrates his romance and marriage with Princess Malavika.

Kashiputra Bhagabhadra

Sixth ruler of the dynasty.
The Greek ambassador Heliodorus visited his court. The Besnagar pillar inscription, written in Prakrit language and Kharosthi script, records that the Greek king Antialcidas sent him as an envoy.
Coins issued during his reign have been found in Karimnagar (Telangana).

Devabhuti

Last ruler of the Shunga dynasty.
His commander-in-chief Vasudeva Kanva killed him, ended the dynasty, and founded the Kanva dynasty.

II. Kanva Dynasty (75 – 27 BCE)

The Kanvas were Brahmins of the Kanvayana gotra. Their capital was Pataliputra. Complete information about this dynasty is lacking. According to the Matsya and Vayu Puranas, Vasudeva Kanva was the first ruler and Susarman the last. Tradition holds that an Andhra ruler attacked Pataliputra, killed Susarman, and ended the Kanva dynasty.

III. Satavahanas

The Satavahanas unified the Deccan after the Mauryas and ruled for several centuries as a dominant power. Their empire covered Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Inscriptions and literature reveal several capitals:

Kotilingala (Jagitial district, Telangana)
Pratishthanapura (modern Paithan, Aurangabad, Maharashtra)
Srikakulam (Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh)
Dhanyakataka (Amaravati, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh)

According to the Matsya Purana, 30 Satavahana kings ruled for 450 years (225 BCE – 225 CE).

Simuka / Srimukha

First ruler of the dynasty.
Eight coins belonging to him were discovered at Kotilingala.

Satakarni I

Third ruler of the dynasty.
His wife Naganika issued the Nanaghad inscription, detailing his victories.
Satavahana inscriptions were written in Prakrit language using the Brahmi script.
Held titles such as Dakshinapathapati (Lord of the Deccan) and Apratihatacakra (Unstoppable Emperor).
Performed Ashvamedha and Rajasuya sacrifices, along with many others.
Donated cows, horses, elephants, gold, and 13 villages to Brahmins—introducing the practice of land grants. From the Gupta period onward, such land grants were called Agraharas or Brahmadeyas.
Carvings at Nanaghad Buddhist cave depict Satakarni, Naganika, and other royals.

Kuntala Satakarni

13th ruler of the dynasty.
His court hosted two renowned poets:
- Gunadhya – wrote Brihatkatha in Paisachi language.
- Sarvavarman – a Sanskrit poet, author of Katantra Vyakarana (grammar).

Hala

17th ruler, ruled for only five years.
Authored Gathasaptashati in Prakrit, a collection of 700 love poems.
Took the title Kaviraja (Poet-King).

Gautamiputra Satakarni

23rd and greatest Satavahana ruler.
Introduced the practice of adding the mother’s name (Metronymic) to the king’s name.
His mother Gautami Balashri’s Nasik inscription records his victories.
Conquered Asaka (Bodhan), Mulaka (Godavari), Rishika (Krishna region), Vidarbha, Setagiri (Nagarjunakonda), Vaijayanti (Banavasi, Karnataka), Aparanta (Konkan) and others.
His titles included:
- Eka-Brahmana (Protector of Brahmins)
- Kshatriya-Darpamanamardana (Destroyer of Kshatriya pride)
- Shaka-Yavana-Pahlava Nishuudhana (Destroyer of Shakas, Yavanas, and Pahlavas)
- Trisamudra-toya-pitavahana (Lord whose horses drank water from three seas)
- Kshaharata-Vamsha-Nirvaseshakara (Exterminator of the Kshaharata dynasty)
- Rajaraja, Dvijakulavardhana

Vashishtiputra Pulomavi

24th ruler. Some historians believe he shifted the capital from Pratishthana to Dhanyakataka.

Shivasri Satakarni

25th ruler. Married Rudradaman I’s daughter Rudradamanika of the Kardamaka Shaka dynasty.

Yajna Sri Satakarni

27th ruler.
Issued coins with ship symbols made of mixed metal called potin.
Referred to as Trisamudradhipati (Lord of the Three Seas) in Bana’s Harshacharita.
According to tradition, Acharya Nagarjuna, the great Buddhist philosopher, was his contemporary.

Pulomavi III

Last Satavahana ruler.
After their decline, several smaller independent kingdoms emerged, such as:
1. Ikshvakus – ruled Andhra and Telangana from Vijayapuri.
2. Abhiras – ruled Maharashtra from Nasik.
3. Chutus – ruled Karnataka from Banavasi.

Mahameghavahana Dynasty

This dynasty ruled Odisha. Information comes mainly from the Hathigumpha inscription, found in a Jain cave near Udayagiri hills, Bhubaneswar. It was issued by King Kharavela (2nd century BCE), written in Prakrit language and Brahmi script. It records his achievements year by year:

Rebuilt his capital Kalinganagara, destroyed by floods.
Repaired irrigation canals originally built during the Nanda period.
Attacked Pataliputra twice and seized immense wealth.
Defeated the Satavahanas and destroyed their cities.
Defeated the southern confederacy of Pandyas, Cholas, and Cheras.
Considered the second inscription (after Ashoka’s edicts) to mention the southern kingdoms.
Patronized Jainism, constructing Hathigumpha, Rani Gumpha, and Ganesh Gumpha caves at Udayagiri as gifts to Jain monks.

Post-Mauryan Age: Shungas, Ikshvakus & Indigenous Kingdoms of India (Part-2)