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	''For other uses of the term Sunga see ]''		''For other uses of the term Sunga see ]''

	The '''Sunga empire''' (or '''Shunga empire''') controlled the eastern part of ] from around ] to ]. It was established after the fall of the Indian ]. The capital of the Sungas was at ].		The '''Sunga empire''' (or '''Shunga empire''') controlled the eastern part of ] from around ] to ]. It was established after the fall of the Indian ]. The capital of the Sungas was at ].

	===Overthrow of the Mauryan dynasty (185 BC)===		===Overthrow of the Mauryan dynasty (185 BCE)===
	The ] was established in ], about 50 years after ]'s death, when the king ], the last of the ] rulers, was brutally murdered by the then commander-in-chief of the Mauryan armed forces, ], while he was taking the Guard of Honour of his forces. Pusyamitra Sunga then ascended the throne.		The ] was established in ], about 50 years after ]'s death, when the king ], the last of the ] rulers, was brutally murdered by the then commander-in-chief of the Mauryan armed forces, ], while he was taking the Guard of Honour of his forces. Pusyamitra Sunga then ascended the throne.

	===Persecution of Buddhism===		===Persecution of Buddhism===
	], a ], is known for his hostility and persecution towards the ]. He is recorded as having "destroyed monasteries and killed Monks" (Divyavadana, p429-434): 84.000 Buddhist ]s which had been built by the ] king ] were destroyed (R. Thaper), and 100 gold coins were offered for the head of each Buddhist monk (Indian Historical Quarterly Vol. XXII, p.81 ff cited in Hars.407). A large number of Buddhist monasteries (]s) were converted to ] temples, in such places as ], ], ] or ].		], a ], is known for his hostility and persecution towards the ]. He is recorded as having "destroyed monasteries and killed Monks" (Divyavadana, p429-434): 84.000 Buddhist ]s which had been built by the ] king ] were destroyed (R. Thaper), and 100 gold coins were offered for the head of each Buddhist monk (Indian Historical Quarterly Vol. XXII, p.81 ff cited in Hars.407). A large number of Buddhist monasteries (]s) were converted to ] temples, in such places as ], ], ] or ].

	], wife of the God of Cyclic Destruction ], Sunga period, ], ], ]]]		], wife of the God of Cyclic Destruction ], Sunga period, ], ], ]]]

	===Conflict with the Indo-Greeks (180 BC- )===		===Conflict with the Indo-Greeks (180 BCE- )===
	From around ] the Indian territory was invaded as far as ] by the ] ruler ], with the long-term effect of confining the Sungas to the eastern part of India. Demetrius established an ] kingdom in the northern and northwestern part of India, which was to last until the end of the ], and under which Buddhism was able to flourish. In particular, one of the successors of Demetrius, the Indo-Greek "Saviour king" ] (''Pali'': Milinda) was a strong benefactor of the Buddhist faith at that time.		From around ] the Indian territory was invaded as far as ] by the ] ruler ], with the long-term effect of confining the Sungas to the eastern part of India. Demetrius established an ] kingdom in the northern and northwestern part of India, which was to last until the end of the ], and under which Buddhism was able to flourish. In particular, one of the successors of Demetrius, the Indo-Greek "Saviour king" ] (''Pali'': Milinda) was a strong benefactor of the Buddhist faith at that time.

	===Later Sunga realizations===		===Later Sunga realizations===
	During the historical Sunga period (] to ]), Buddhist activity also managed to survive somewhat in central India (]) as suggested by some architectural expansions that were done at the ]s of ] and ], originally started under King Ashoka. These stupas, however, are located quite far from the Sunga center of power, and it is questioned whether these works were due to the weakness of the control of the Sungas in these areas, or a late sign of tolerance on their part.		During the historical Sunga period (] to ]), Buddhist activity also managed to survive somewhat in central India (]) as suggested by some architectural expansions that were done at the ]s of ] and ], originally started under King Ashoka. These stupas, however, are located quite far from the Sunga center of power, and it is questioned whether these works were due to the weakness of the control of the Sungas in these areas, or a late sign of tolerance on their part.

	The last of the Sunga kings was ].		The last of the Sunga kings was ].

	===List of Sunga kings===		===List of Sunga kings===
	* ] (185 - 149 BC)		* ] (185 - 149 BCE)
	* Agnimitra (149 - 141 BC)		* Agnimitra (149 - 141 BCE)
	* Vasujyeshtha (141 - 131 BC)		* Vasujyeshtha (141 - 131 BCE)
	* Vasumitra (131 - 124 BC)		* Vasumitra (131 - 124 BCE)
	* Andhraka (124 - 122 BC)		* Andhraka (124 - 122 BCE)
	* Pulindaka (122 - 119 BC)		* Pulindaka (122 - 119 BCE)
	* Ghosha		* Ghosha
	* Vajramitra		* Vajramitra
	* Bhagavata		* Bhagavata
	* ] (83 - 73 BC)		* ] (83 - 73 BCE)

	{{Template:Middle kingdoms of India}}		{{Template:Middle kingdoms of India}}

Revision as of 07:15, 27 July 2005

File:SungaMap.jpg

Approximate greatest extent of the Sunga empire (185 BCE-73 BCE)

For other uses of the term Sunga see Sunga (disambiguation)

The Sunga empire (or Shunga empire) controlled the eastern part of India from around 185 to 73 BCE. It was established after the fall of the Indian Mauryan empire. The capital of the Sungas was at Pataliputra.

Overthrow of the Mauryan dynasty (185 BCE)

The Sunga dynasty was established in 185 BCE, about 50 years after Ashoka's death, when the king Brhadrata, the last of the Mauryan rulers, was brutally murdered by the then commander-in-chief of the Mauryan armed forces, Pusyamitra Sunga, while he was taking the Guard of Honour of his forces. Pusyamitra Sunga then ascended the throne.

Persecution of Buddhism

Pusyamitra Sunga, a Brahmin, is known for his hostility and persecution towards the Buddhist faith. He is recorded as having "destroyed monasteries and killed Monks" (Divyavadana, p429-434): 84.000 Buddhist stupas which had been built by the Mauryan king Ashoka were destroyed (R. Thaper), and 100 gold coins were offered for the head of each Buddhist monk (Indian Historical Quarterly Vol. XXII, p.81 ff cited in Hars.407). A large number of Buddhist monasteries (viharas) were converted to Hindu temples, in such places as Nalanda, Bodhgaya, Sarnath or Mathura.

File:SungaDurga.jpg

Plaque of the Mother Goddess Durga, wife of the God of Cyclic Destruction Shiva, Sunga period, 1st century BCE, West Bengal, India

Conflict with the Indo-Greeks (180 BCE- )

From around 180 BCE the Indian territory was invaded as far as Pataliputra by the Greco-Bactrian ruler Demetrius, with the long-term effect of confining the Sungas to the eastern part of India. Demetrius established an Indo-Greek kingdom in the northern and northwestern part of India, which was to last until the end of the 1st century BCE, and under which Buddhism was able to flourish. In particular, one of the successors of Demetrius, the Indo-Greek "Saviour king" Menander (Pali: Milinda) was a strong benefactor of the Buddhist faith at that time.

Later Sunga realizations

During the historical Sunga period (185 to 73 BCE), Buddhist activity also managed to survive somewhat in central India (Madhya Pradesh) as suggested by some architectural expansions that were done at the stupas of Sanchi and Bharhut, originally started under King Ashoka. These stupas, however, are located quite far from the Sunga center of power, and it is questioned whether these works were due to the weakness of the control of the Sungas in these areas, or a late sign of tolerance on their part.

The last of the Sunga kings was Devabhuti.

List of Sunga kings

Pusyamitra Sunga (185 - 149 BCE)
Agnimitra (149 - 141 BCE)
Vasujyeshtha (141 - 131 BCE)
Vasumitra (131 - 124 BCE)
Andhraka (124 - 122 BCE)
Pulindaka (122 - 119 BCE)
Ghosha
Vajramitra
Bhagavata
Devabhuti (83 - 73 BCE)

Middle kingdoms of India

Timeline and cultural period	Northwestern India (Punjab-Sapta Sindhu)	Indo-Gangetic Plain			Central India	Southern India
Timeline and cultural period	Northwestern India (Punjab-Sapta Sindhu)	Upper Gangetic Plain (Ganga-Yamuna doab)	Middle Gangetic Plain	Lower Gangetic Plain	Central India	Southern India
IRON AGE
Culture	Late Vedic Period	Late Vedic Period (Srauta culture) Painted Grey Ware culture	Late Vedic Period (Shramanic culture) Northern Black Polished Ware		Pre-history
6th century BCE	Gandhara	Kuru-Panchala	Magadha		Adivasi (tribes)	Assaka
Culture	Persian-Greek influences	"Second Urbanisation" Rise of Shramana movements Jainism - Buddhism - Ājīvika - Yoga			Pre-history
5th century BCE	(Persian conquests)		Shaishunaga dynasty		Adivasi (tribes)	Assaka
4th century BCE	(Greek conquests)	Nanda empire			Adivasi (tribes)
HISTORICAL AGE
Culture	Spread of Buddhism				Pre-history
3rd century BCE	Maurya Empire					Satavahana dynasty Sangam period (300 BCE – 200 CE) Early Cholas Early Pandyan kingdom Cheras
Culture	Preclassical Hinduism - "Hindu Synthesis" (ca. 200 BC - 300 CE) Epics - Puranas - Ramayana - Mahabharata - Bhagavad Gita - Brahma Sutras - Smarta Tradition Mahayana Buddhism
2nd century BCE	Indo-Greek Kingdom		Shunga Empire Maha-Meghavahana Dynasty			Satavahana dynasty Sangam period (300 BCE – 200 CE) Early Cholas Early Pandyan kingdom Cheras
1st century BCE	Indo-Greek Kingdom		Shunga Empire Maha-Meghavahana Dynasty
1st century CE	Indo-Scythians Indo-Parthians		Kuninda Kingdom
2nd century	Kushan Empire
3rd century	Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom	Kushan Empire	Western Satraps	Kamarupa kingdom	Adivasi (tribes)
Culture	"Golden Age of Hinduism"(ca. CE 320-650) Puranas Co-existence of Hinduism and Buddhism
4th century	Kidarites	Gupta Empire Varman dynasty				Andhra Ikshvakus Kalabhra dynasty Kadamba Dynasty Western Ganga Dynasty
5th century	Hephthalite Empire	Alchon Huns				Vishnukundina Kalabhra dynasty
6th century	Nezak Huns Kabul Shahi		Maitraka		Adivasi (tribes)	Vishnukundina Badami Chalukyas Kalabhra dynasty
Culture	Late-Classical Hinduism (ca. CE 650-1100) Advaita Vedanta - Tantra Decline of Buddhism in India
7th century	Indo-Sassanids		Vakataka dynasty Empire of Harsha	Mlechchha dynasty	Adivasi (tribes)	Badami Chalukyas Eastern Chalukyas Pandyan kingdom (revival) Pallava
8th century	Kabul Shahi		Pala Empire			Eastern Chalukyas Pandyan kingdom Kalachuri
9th century	Kabul Shahi		Gurjara-Pratihara			Rashtrakuta dynasty Eastern Chalukyas Pandyan kingdom Medieval Cholas Chera Perumals of Makkotai
10th century	Ghaznavids			Pala dynasty Kamboja-Pala dynasty		Kalyani Chalukyas Eastern Chalukyas Medieval Cholas Chera Perumals of Makkotai Rashtrakuta
References and sources for table References Samuel Samuel Michaels (2004) p.39 Hiltebeitel (2002) Michaels (2004) p.39 Hiltebeitel (2002) Michaels (2004) p.40 Michaels (2004) p.41 Sources Flood, Gavin D. (1996), An Introduction to Hinduism, Cambridge University Press Hiltebeitel, Alf (2002), Hinduism. In: Joseph Kitagawa, "The Religious Traditions of Asia: Religion, History, and Culture", Routledge Michaels, Axel (2004), Hinduism. Past and present, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press Samuel, Geoffrey (2010), The Origins of Yoga and Tantra. Indic Religions to the Thirteenth Century, Cambridge University Press

References:

"Dictionary of Buddhism" by Damien KEOWN (Oxford University Press, 2003)
"Ashoka and the decline of the Mauryas" Romila Thaper (London 1961).

External Links

List of rulers of Magadha

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