University:
Monmouth University
Course:
HS-283 | The Civilizations of Asia (India, China, Japan)
Academic year:

2022
Views:

497

Pages:

1
Author:

do3ran7ut

7. KINGDOMS AFTER THE MAURYAS • • • • • • • • • • • THE SUNGA DYNASTY Pushyamitra founded this dynasty. His dominions extended to south as far as the Narmada River and including cities of Pataliputra, Ayodhya and Vidisha. He performed two Ashvamedha sacrifices. He also defeated the Bactrian king Dematrius. The fifth kind was Bhagabhadra, to whose court Heliodors, the Greek Ambassador visited. A Sunga king, Agnimitra was the hero of Kalidasa’s Malavikagnimitram. Palanjali’s classic Mahabhasya was written at time. It is Sanskrit grammar; it is based on Ashath Adhyay older one. He killed last Maurya king. THE KANVA DYNASTY The founder of this short-lived dynasty was Vasudeva, who killed the last Sunga king Devabhuti. They were swept away by Satavahanas of the Deccan. THE CHETIS OF KALINGA The Hathigumpha inscription (near Bhubhaneshwar, Orissa) of Kharavela, the third ruler of the dynasty gives information about the Chetis. He was a follower of Jainism and patronized it to a great extent. THE SATAVAHANAS OR THE ANDHRAS They were the successors of the Mauryans in the Deccan and the Central India. 18 • • • • • • • • • • • • Simuka is regarded as the founder of this dynasty. The most important king was Gautamiputra Satakarni Satakarni (AD 106-130) who raised the power and prestige of Satavahans to greater heights. He set up his capital at Paithan on the Godavari in Aurangabad district. ASPECTS OF SATAVAHANA Mostly issued lead coins (copper + bronze). Acted as a bridge between North and South India. Satavahans ruler called themselves Brahmans. Performed Vedic rituals and worshipped gods like Krishna, Vasudeva and other. Also promoted Buddhism. Two common religious constructions were the Buddhist temple and Monasteries. Buddhist temples were called Chaitya and Monasteries were called Vihara. Most famous Chaitya is that of Karle in W. Deccan. Their district was called Ahara as it was in Ashoka’s time. Their officials were known as Amatyas and Mahamatras as they were known in Mauryan times. Started the practice of granting tax free villages to Brahmans and Buddhist monks. Official language was Prakrit and script was Brahmi as in Ashokan times. One Prakrit text called Gathasattasai is attributed to a satavahana king called Hala. They followed Mauryas.