Post-Mauryan Period and Regional Kingdoms

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Post-Mauryan Period and Regional Kingdoms — Key Facts for TNPSC Group 1 Core concept: After the fall of the Maurya Empire (185 BCE), India witnessed the rise of multiple regional powers including the Shungas, Satavahanas, Kushans, and Cholas — a period of political fragmentation but remarkable cultural and artistic achievements High-yield point: The Satavahanas bridged the Deccan and Andhra; the Kushans under Kanishka hosted the Fourth Buddhist Council and promoted Gandhara art ⚡ Exam tip: TNPSC frequently tests Kanishka’s贡献 and the cultural achievements of this era — Kushan art, Satavahana trade, Sangam literature

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Post-Mauryan Period and Regional Kingdoms — TNPSC Group 1 Study Guide

Overview

Following the assassination of the last Mauryan emperor Brihadratha by his commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE, the Indian subcontinent entered a period of political fragmentation with the emergence of multiple regional kingdoms. While no single empire unified India as the Mauryas had, this era was marked by extraordinary cultural dynamism — the flourishing of classical Sanskrit literature, the development of Greco-Buddhist art, maritime trade connecting India to Rome and Southeast Asia, and the crystallization of Hindu religious practices.

Shunga Dynasty (185–73 BCE)

Rise and Foundation

Pushyamitra Shunga, a Brahmin general, assassinated the last Mauryan emperor Brihadratha and established the Shunga dynasty. This marked a Brahminical reaction against the supposedly Buddhist-tolerant Mauryan rule.

Rulers

King	Reign	Notable Facts
Pushyamitra Shunga	185–149 BCE	Military campaigns against the Greeks; patronized Ayurveda and religious festivals
Agnimitra	149–141 BCE	Succeeded Pushyamitra; mentioned in Malavikagnimitra (Kalidasa’s play)
Vasumitra	141–131 BCE	Fought the Greeks at the Battle of the Sindhu
Ardhakarman	141 BCE	Brief co-regency
Pulindabhuti	c. 131 BCE
Ghosha	c. 129–124 BCE	Possibly queen regent
Dakshayana	c. 124–112 BCE
Vyaghradeva	c. 112–83 BCE
Bhartridaman	c. 83–73 BCE	Last Shunga king; defeated by Gautamiputra Satakarni

Achievements

• Religious patronage: Rebuilt and expanded Buddhist stupas; patronized Brahmins
• Defense against Greeks: Mitradhara Apollodotus and Menander (Milinda) invaded from the northwest
• Literature: Malavikagnimitra by Kalidasa references Agnimitra and Malavika

Decline

The Shungas were eventually overthrown by the Deva dynasty (also called the Mitra dynasty), with Vasudeva as the last significant ruler around 73 BCE.

Satavahana Dynasty (c. 230 BCE–c. 220 CE)

Overview

The Satavahanas (also called Andhras) ruled over the Deccan plateau and Andhra region for nearly 450 years — one of the longest-serving dynasties in Indian history. They were contemporaries of the Shungas, Western Satraps, and later the Guptas.

Key Rulers

King	Period	Notable Facts
Simuka	c. 230–207 BCE	Founder; patron of Shiva
Kanha/Satakarni I	c. 207–177 BCE	Extended Satavahana power
Satakarni II	c. 177–137 BCE	Military campaigns; mentioned in Panini
Gautamiputra Satakarni	c. 106–130 CE	Greatest Satavahana ruler; defeated Western Kshatrapas
Vasishtiputra Satakarni	c. 130–202 CE	Patron of Buddhist caves at Pune
Yajna Shri Satakarni	c. 165–200 CE	Last powerful ruler

Administration

• King (Maharaja): supreme authority
• Mahatalavara: chief minister
• Amatyas: ministers and officials
• Rajjukas: district officers
• Local governance: villages (grama) with assemblies (grama sabha)

Society

• Caste system: Maintained with Brahmins at the top
• Women’s status: Queens (e.g., Gautamiputra’s mother Gautami Balashri) held significant influence
• Marriage: Monogamy for kings; evidence of widow remarriage

Economic Life

• Agriculture: Primary occupation; rice, wheat, barley, cotton
• Trade: The Satavahanas controlled extensive maritime trade
• Coins: Punch-marked coins and Satavahana minted silver and copper coins — portraits of kings on coins
• Guilds (shreni): Organized artisans and traders

Art and Architecture

• Amaravati Stupa (Andhra): One of the finest Buddhist stupas; Buddha images and narrative scenes
• Ajanta Caves (early phase): Buddhist rock-cut caves patronized by Satavahana kings
• Gupta inscriptions: Several Satavahana inscriptions documenting land grants

Foreign Trade

The Satavahanas were crucial intermediaries in India’s trade with Rome:

• Exports: Cotton textiles, spices (pepper, cardamom), precious stones, ivory, silk
• Imports: Roman gold coins ( aurei), wine, silver
• Ports: Broach (Gujarat), Sopara (Maharashtra), Kalyani, Vijayawada
• Inland trade routes: Overland routes through the Deccan connecting ports to northern India

Decline

The Satavahana dynasty declined around 220 CE due to:

• Pressure from the Western Kshatrapas in the northwest
• Internal divisions and weak rulers
• The rise of the Abhiras and other regional powers

Indo-Greek Kingdoms (180 BCE–10 CE)

Overview

Greek rulers who established kingdoms in the northwestern Indian subcontinent after the fall of the Mauryas. The most famous was Menander I (Milinda) who ruled from Sagala (Sialkot).

Key Rulers

King	Territory
Demetrius I	Bactria and Arachosia
Eucratides I	United Bactria; rival of Demetrius
Menander I (Milinda)	Sagala (Sialkot); most famous Indo-Greek king

Menander and Buddhism

Menander I is immortalized in the Milindapanha (Questions of Milinda) — a Buddhist philosophical text where Menander questions the Buddhist monk Nagasena. Menander is described as a Buddhist convert in the text. He is said to have attained Nirvana at Sakala (Sialkot).

Art: Gandhara School

The Indo-Greek period saw the birth of Gandhara art — a unique synthesis of Greek and Indian artistic traditions:

• First Buddha images: The earliest anthropomorphic representations of Buddha — in Greek artistic style
• Technique: Greyware pottery, stucco, schist
• Features: Flowing robes, realistic human anatomy, wavy hair, Corinthian-like halos
• Centers: Taxila, Peshawar, Begram, Bagram

Western Satraps (Kshatrapas) (35–405 CE)

Overview

The Western Satraps were Indo-Scythian rulers who governed western India (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra) as vassals or independent rulers.

Key Rulers

King	Period	Notable Facts
Bhuma I	c. 20 BCE–15 CE	First Kshatrapa
Chashhtana	c. 130–150 CE	Founder of the main Kshatrapa line
Rudrasimha I	c. 155–170 CE
Jivadaman	c. 200–222 CE	First Kshatrapa to issue silver coins
Yashodharma	c. 388–410 CE	Briefly defeated by Chandragupta II

Administration

• Satrap (Kshatrapa): Governor/viceroy
• Mahakshatrapa: Senior satrap
• Silver coinage: Bilingual inscriptions (Greek and Prakrit) — unique feature

Cultural Contributions

• Tempes: Hindu temple architecture began during this period
• Statues: Early examples of Hindu divine imagery
• Literature: Works by Kshatrapa courts

Kushan Empire (c. 30 CE–375 CE)

Overview

The Kushans were a Central Asian dynasty (Yuezhi tribe) that established a vast empire spanning from Central Asia to the Indo-Gangetic plain under Kanishka I. They were crucial for the spread of Buddhism to Central Asia and China.

Key Rulers

King	Period	Notable Facts
Kujula Kadphises	c. 30–80 CE	Founder; issued first gold coins
Vima Kadphises	c. 90–127 CE	Expanded empire; issued gold coins
Kanishka I	c. 127–150 CE	Greatest Kushan emperor; Fourth Buddhist Council
Huvishka	c. 150–183 CE	Continued Buddhist patronage
Vasudeva I	c. 191–225 CE	Last major Kushan king

Kanishka I (c. 127–150 CE)

Kanishka I is one of the most celebrated rulers in Indian history:

• Capital: Purushapura (Peshawar)
• Other capital: Taxila (for eastern territories)
• Military campaigns: Extended Kushan empire to the Ganges; fought the Satavahanas

Kanishka’s贡献

1. Fourth Buddhist Council: Convened at Kundalana (Kashmir) — presided over by Vasumitra; resulted in the compilation of the Mahavibhasha (great exposition) — Sarvastivada school
2. Stupa at Peshawar: Kanishka built the famous Kanishka Stupa at Peshawar — one of the tallest Buddhist structures
3. Buddhist missionaries: Sent Buddhist monks to Central Asia, China, and Southeast Asia
4. Cultural flourishing: Patronized artists and scholars

Kushan Art

The Kushan period saw the mature development of two major art schools:

Gandhara School (Greco-Buddhist):

• Centered: Taxila, Peshawar, Gandhara region
• Medium: Stone, stucco, terracotta
• Features: Greek artistic influence — realistic anatomy, draped toga-like robes, wave-like hair
• Innovation: First anthropomorphic Buddha images

Mathura School (Indigenous Indian):

• Centered: Mathura (Uttar Pradesh)
• Medium: Red sandstone (vakkaka)
• Features: Indian artistic tradition — simplified robes, sensuous body, spiritual calm
• Sourced: Local Mathura sandstone

Key difference: Gandhara Buddha has Greek features, wavy hair, heavy robes. Mathura Buddha has Indian features, bare chest, transparent robe.

Decline

The Kushan empire declined after Vasudeva I due to:

• Pressure from the Sasanian Empire in the west
• Rise of the Gupta Empire in India
• Internal succession disputes

Sangam Literature and the Chola Dynasty (Tamil Regions)

Sangam Age (c. 300 BCE–300 CE)

The Sangam period refers to the ancient Tamil literary tradition — the Tamil academies (Sangam) that produced classical Tamil poetry.

Three Sangams:

1. First Sangam (Madurai): legendary; no works survived
2. Second Sangam (Madurai): works partially survived (Tolkkappiyam grammar)
3. Third Sangam (Madurai): produced the extant Sangam literature

Key works:

• Ettuthokai: Eight anthologies of short poems (akams)
• Purananuru: 400 poems on kings and life
• Tolkappiyam: Earliest Tamil grammar

Tamil dynasties mentioned in Sangam:

• Cheras: Kerala region — capital at Vanji; maritime trade with Rome
• Cholas: Tamil Nadu region — capital at Kaveripoompuhar; seafaring
• Pandyas: Madurai region — capital at Madurai; mentioned in Roman sources

TNPSC-Specific High-Yield Points

• Shunga-Brahminical reaction: Pushyamitra Shunga as Brahminical revival against Mauryan secularism
• Satavahana-Greek (Western Kshatrapa) interactions: Documented in Nashik and Junagadh inscriptions
• Kanishka’s Fourth Buddhist Council: At Kundalana/Kashmir; Sarvastivada school
• Gandhara vs. Mathura art: Key differences — Greek features vs. Indian features
• Menander I (Milinda): Indo-Greek king mentioned in Milindapanha
• Sangam literature: Tamil classical tradition; Chera, Chola, Pandya dynasties
• Roman trade with India: Satavahana-period evidence of Roman gold coins

Practice Questions (Previous Year TNPSC Patterns)

1. The Fourth Buddhist Council was convened by: a) Ashoka b) Kanishka c) Menander d) Pushyamitra

2. Gandhara art is characterized by: a) Indian artistic traditions b) Greek influence c) Chinese influence d) Persian influence

3. The Satavahana dynasty ruled over: a) North India b) Bengal c) Deccan and Andhra d) Punjab

4. The Milindapanha deals with questions between Menander and: a) Ashoka b) Nagasena c) Chanakya d) Kautilya

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