Shunga Empire
Sunga Empire was founded by Pushyamitra Sunga who betrayed his master Brihadratha Maurya and defeated him in a war. He killed the Mauryan emperor and destroyed the Mauryan empire completely. Its capital was Pataliputra.[1] Pushyamitra Shunga ruled for 36 years and was succeeded by his son Agnimitra. There were ten Shunga rulers. But after Agnimitra's death, the empire begun to broke up. [2]
The dynasty is noted for its numerous wars with both foreign and native powers (empires).They fought against the Kalinga, the Satavahana dynasty, the Indo-Greek Kingdom and possibly the Panchalas and Mathuras.[3]
Art, education, philosophy, and other forms of learning flourished (developed) during this period.Patanjali's Mahābhāṣya was composed in this period.The Kanva dynasty succeeded the Shungas around 73 BCE.
List of Shunga Emperors
[change | change source]| Emperor | Reign |
|---|---|
| Pushyamitra Shunga | 185–149 BCE |
| Agnimitra | 149–141 BCE |
| Vasujyeshtha | 141–131 BCE |
| Vasumitra | 131–124 BCE |
| Bhadraka (aka Ardraka or Odruka) | 124–122 BCE |
| Pulindaka | 122–119 BCE |
| Ghosha (aka Ghoshavasu) | 119-108 BCE |
| Vajramitra | 108-94 BCE |
| Bhagabhadra (aka Bhagavata) | 94-83 BCE |
| Devabhuti | 83–73 BCE |
Reference
[change | change source]- ↑ Stadtner, Donald (1975). "A Śuṅga Capital from Vidiśā". Artibus Asiae. 37 (1/2): 101–104. doi:10.2307/3250214. JSTOR 3250214.
- ↑ K.A. Nilkantha Shastri (1970), A Comprehensive History of India: Volume 2, p.108: "Soon after Agnimitra there was no 'Sunga empire.'"
- ↑ "New world encyclopedia".
