Post Mauryan period

Post-Mauryan dynasties 

After the Mauryan Empire came to an end around 185 BCE, India entered a new phase known as the Post-Mauryan Period. This was a time of political changes, where many smaller kingdoms and foreign rulers rose to power in different parts of the country.

Though the big central empire was gone, this period saw a lot of cultural growth, trade expansion, and religious developments. New art styles, like the Gandhara and Mathura schools, flourished, and Buddhism spread even more, especially with support from rulers like Kanishka of the Kushan dynasty.

It was also a time when India became more connected to the rest of the world through trade with the Roman Empire, Central Asia, and China.

👉Post-Mauryan dynasties (200 BC TO 300 AD)

🏔 Foreign invasion in North India: The Mauryan and Seleucid empires had disintegrated at the same time in 185 BC, and hence their governors declared independence and construction of the Great Wall of China in 220 BC

Indo-Greeks

After the fall of the Mauryan Empire, several foreign rulers invaded northwestern India. Among the earliest and most significant were the Indo-Greeks, who were originally part of Alexander the Great’s successors from Bactria (modern-day Afghanistan).

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Key Facts about Indo-Greeks

• Region ruled: Parts of northwestern India, including Punjab, Gandhara, and parts of western UP.

• Famous ruler: Menander I (Milinda) – a powerful king who expanded Indo-Greek territory deep into the Indian subcontinent.

• Religious influence: Menander converted to Buddhism and is remembered in the famous Buddhist text "Milindapanho" (The Questions of Milinda).

• Cultural contribution: The Indo-Greek period marked the beginning of Greco-Buddhist art, especially in the Gandhara School, where Indian themes were depicted in Hellenistic style (Greek-style sculptures).

• Coins: The Indo-Greeks were the first to issue gold coins in India and introduced realistic portraiture on coins. They used Greek and Kharosthi scripts.

Sakas or Scythian Dynasty

The Sakas, also known as Scythians, succeeded the Yavanas (Indo-Greeks) in India. Unlike the Greeks, the Sakas controlled a much larger territory, spreading across various parts of India and Afghanistan. Historically, they are said to have established five major branches, each ruling in different regions.

Vikramaditya and the Expulsion of the Sakas

In 58 BCE, a legendary king from Ujjain defeated the Sakas and adopted the title Vikramaditya. To commemorate his victory, he introduced a new calendar era called the Vikrama Samvat, starting from 57 BCE.

The title "Vikramaditya" became so prestigious that more than 14 kings in Indian history are known by this name. Among them, Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty was the most famous Vikramaditya.

The Satrap System 

The Satrap system referred to the decentralized governance of the Saka empire, with five distinct branches each controlling a different region. These branches were often vassals of the Kushanas and followed administrative systems influenced by the Achaemenids and Seleucids of Persia.

Key features of this system included:

• Hereditary rule

• Dual kingship – at times, two kings ruled the same territory jointly

• Decentralized power centers across India and Afghanistan

Pahlavas (Parthians) 

The Pahlavas, also known as Parthians, were Iranian-origin rulers who entered northwestern India after the Sakas. Though their rule was short-lived, they controlled parts of Punjab and Gandhara in the 1st century CE. Their most notable ruler was Gondophernes, who is also mentioned in Christian texts related to Saint Thomas. The Pahlavas acted as a cultural bridge between West Asia and India.

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Kushan Dynasty (1st – 3rd Century CE)

• The Kushans were a Central Asian tribe from the Yuezhi confederation.

• They entered India via Afghanistan and established a powerful empire in northwest India, Afghanistan, and parts of Central Asia.

• Kujula Kadphises was the founder who united the Yuezhi tribes and began Kushan rule in India.

• Kanishka the Great (c. 78 CE) was the most prominent ruler of this dynasty.

  • He started the Shaka Era in 78 CE.

  • Convened the Fourth Buddhist Council in Kashmir.

  • A strong patron of Mahayana Buddhism, which spread under his rule to Central Asia and China.

• The Gandhara and Mathura schools of art flourished, blending Indian and Greco-Roman styles.

• Issued gold coins that featured Buddhist, Hindu, Greek, and Iranian deities, showcasing religious tolerance.

• Played a major role in international trade through the Silk Road, connecting India with Rome, Persia, and China.

• Major capitals during their rule included Peshawar, Mathura, and Kapisa (Afghanistan).

• The Kushans contributed significantly to the spread of Buddhism, development of art, and India’s connection with global trade networks.

Indigenous Dynasties 

shungas

• extension of empire: from the river Ganga to the Narmada valley, Vidisha, and parts of northern India.
• Sources of information: Patanjali's Mahabhashya, Divyavadana, Kalidasa's Malavikagnimitram, Bana's Harshacharita, Besnagar pillar inscription.
• Important Rulers: 
• Pushyamitra Shunga:
•  After defeating the last Mauryan king, Brihadrath, in 185 BC, he established the Shunga Empire.
• He also defeated the Kharavela king in a battle.
• He also performed Vedic sacrifices like Vajapeya and Rajasuya.
• Patanjali, a Sanskrit grammarian, was patronized by him.
•  Agnimitra:
• He was the son and successor of Pushyamitra Shunga.
• The most famous poem written by Kalidas's Malavikagnimitram tells the story of Malvika and Agnimitra.
• Bhagabhadra: mentioned in the Besnagar inscription of Heliodorus. 

Contribution of the Shunga dynasty:

• Religion and caste system: revived bhagwatism and brahmanism.
• Language: The Sanskrit language gained prominence at this time.
• Art: They replaced wood with stone in the railings of the Buddhist stupa.

Kanvas:

• Rise of Power: They came to power after the decline of the Sunga dynasty.
• The Origin-Kanva dynasty had a Brahmanical origin
• Founder- Vasudeva Kanva
• Capital -Paraliputra.
• Important Kanva Rulers- Vasudev Kanva(founder) and Susarman(the Last Kanva ruler who was killed by the Satavahana king, Balipuccha.)

Chedis(dynasty of kalinga)

• Chedi dynasty was one of the 16 mahajanapadas.
• Kalinga became prominent under the kings of the Chedi dynasty.
• Founder: Mahameghvarman. 
• Greatest ruler: Kharavela of Kalinga, who came to power in the 1st century.
• He patronized Jainism and provided cave shelters for Jaina monks in Udaigiri Hills(viz, Ranigumpha, Hathigumpha, and Ganeshagumpha caves ).

Satvahanas:

• origin- they were feudatories of the Mauryans. They are called Andhras or Andhrabrithyas.
• capital- Prathistanapura
• founder-simuka
• Important rulers of Satvahanas:
• Simuka - founder
• Hala
• A great scholar, and he wrote Gadhāsaptasati.
• Leelavathi is also associated with him.
• Gautamiputra Satakarni- 
• He was the first ruler who took his mother's name as a prefix to his name
• The Nasik inscription of Gautami Balasari highlighted his achievements.

• Other rulers: vashishtaputra satakarni,yagnasari satkarni,pulomavi III

Important Notable works of Satvahanas:

• Satvahanas followed the Mauryan administration model, dividing their kingdom into five aharas under amatyas and mahamattaras.
• They became the first rulers to issue land grants.
• gautamiputra satkarni promoted budhism by donating land to mahasanghikas.
• Fresco paintings of the Ajanta Caves belonged to the Satvahanas.
• They had patronized the Amravati School of Arts.
• Satvahanas were succeeded by Vakatakas in peninsular India.

Significance of the post-Mauryan period

political significance

• Several invasions from the north-west led to a westward shift in the focus of political power away from the Magadha region.
• Satrap system of the Sakas was also developed in this period.

Societal significance

• evolution of jatis was the dominant feature of post-Mauryan society.
• Manusmriti mentions that about 60 jatis
• tribals were given untouchable status; all social, religious disability were imposed on them.

Economic significance

• Money was increasingly used as a medium of exchange.
• Trade with foreign countries flourished at this time, and major trade routes (Silk route) emerged.

Religious significance

• This period is associated with the emergence of Mahayana Buddhism.
• Trinity worship gained prominence.
• Idolatry began in Jainism too during this period.
• Bhagavatism: rise of a new religious sect.it believes in salvation through bhakti.
• Greek ambassador Heliodorus was a great follower of bhagavatism.In his Besnagar inscription, he called Krishna as Devadeva and himself as Parambhagavata.

Cultural significance

• Three different styles of art and architecture developed during this period, namely:
• 1. Gandhar School of Art was patronized by the Indo-Greeks and Kushans.
• 2. Mathura School of Art was patronized by the Sakas and Kushans.
• 3. Amravati School of Art was patronized by Satvahanas and Ikshavakus.

 

conclusion

The Post-Mauryan period, though politically fragmented, was a time of remarkable transformation in Indian history. Foreign dynasties like the Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Parthians, and Kushans not only shaped the political map but also left deep imprints on art, religion, and trade. Indigenous powers like the Shungas, Satvahanas, Kanvas, and Chedis upheld Indian traditions while also adapting to new cultural influences.

This era witnessed the rise of Mahayana Buddhism, the spread of Bhagavatism, the evolution of social structures like jatis, and the flourishing of artistic traditions such as Gandhara, Mathura, and Amravati schools. The integration of India into global trade networks via the Silk Road further strengthened its position as a cultural and economic hub.

In essence, the Post-Mauryan period was a bridge between the centralised Mauryan rule and the later classical empires like the Guptas, laying the groundwork for a more diversified and dynamic Indian civilization.