Shunga, Kanva and Satavahana Rule
NCERT Class 12 - Themes in Indian History Part I, Chapter 2
Shunga, Kanva and Satavahana Rule
After the Mauryas, north India passed to the Shungas and briefly the Kanvas, while the Deccan was held by the Satavahanas. This is the age of brahmanical revival in the north and of flourishing sea trade in the south.
The Shungas
- Pushyamitra Shunga founded the dynasty about 185 BCE after killing the last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha. The capital remained Pataliputra, with Vidisha as an important centre.
- He is associated with a revival of brahmanical practice, and the Ayodhya inscription of Dhanadeva records that he performed the ashvamedha sacrifice.
- The grammarian Patanjali, author of the Mahabhashya on Panini's grammar, is placed in his time.
- Despite the brahmanical revival, Buddhist art flourished - the stone railings and gateways at Bharhut and the railing at Sanchi belong to the Shunga period.
- The last Shunga, Devabhuti, was killed by his minister Vasudeva, who founded the Kanva dynasty. The Kanvas ruled for about forty-five years with four kings.
The Satavahanas
- Also called Andhras in the Puranas, they ruled the Deccan with their capital at Pratishthana (Paithan) on the Godavari.
- Simuka is named as the founder of the line.
- Their kings used matronymic names - Gautamiputra, Vasishthiputra - taking the mother's name, which is unusual in Indian dynastic practice.
- Gautamiputra Satakarni is the greatest ruler. The Nasik inscription, issued by his mother Gautami Balashri, says he destroyed the Shakas, Pahlavas and Yavanas and calls him ekabrahmana and the destroyer of kshatriya pride.
- Vasishthiputra Pulumavi succeeded him, and Yajna Sri Satakarni issued coins showing a ship, evidence of maritime trade.
Satavahana society and economy
- They were the first rulers known to grant land, including tax-free villages, to brahmanas and Buddhist monks - a practice recorded in the Nasik inscriptions.
- Coins were mostly of lead, with some potin, copper and silver; lead itself was imported.
- Trade flowed through the western ports, and Roman gold came in exchange for cotton, spices and beads.
- They excavated and patronised the rock-cut caves and chaityas at Karle, Nasik, Bhaja and Naneghat.
- Though rulers of a brahmanical dynasty, they gave generously to Buddhist monasteries, showing that patronage crossed sectarian lines.
| Dynasty | Founder | Capital | Remembered for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shunga | Pushyamitra Shunga | Pataliputra, Vidisha | Ashvamedha, Patanjali, Bharhut railing |
| Kanva | Vasudeva | Pataliputra | Short rule of four kings |
| Satavahana | Simuka | Pratishthana (Paithan) | Gautamiputra Satakarni, Karle caves, sea trade |
हिंदी संकेत: सातवाहन राजा माता के नाम से जाने जाते थे - गौतमीपुत्र, वासिष्ठीपुत्र। इसका अर्थ यह नहीं कि उत्तराधिकार माता से चलता था; उत्तराधिकार पिता से ही चलता था।
Exam me kaise aata hai
Factual questions ask who founded each dynasty, what the Nasik inscription says, and which metal Satavahana coins used. Match-the-following pairs dynasty with capital or ruler with achievement. Statement-based questions test the claim that the Shungas persecuted Buddhism, which the art evidence complicates.
UPSC / State PSC ke liye
Note the significance of Satavahana land grants - once land and revenue rights pass out of state hands, the foundations of later feudal arrangements are laid. Also note the matronymic names as evidence that women in the royal family held real status, even though succession stayed patrilineal.
Yahan confuse hote hain
✗ The Kanvas were founded by Devabhuti | ✓ Devabhuti was the last Shunga; Vasudeva founded the Kanvas
✗ Satavahana capital was Amaravati | ✓ The capital was Pratishthana or Paithan on the Godavari
✗ Satavahana coins were mainly of gold | ✓ Their coins were mainly of lead, with some potin and copper
Ek nazar me
- Pushyamitra Shunga founded the Shunga dynasty about 185 BCE after killing Brihadratha.
- Patanjali's Mahabhashya belongs to this age; Bharhut and Sanchi railings are Shunga work.
- Devabhuti, the last Shunga, was killed by Vasudeva, who founded the Kanva dynasty.
- Satavahanas ruled the Deccan from Pratishthana; Simuka was the founder.
- Gautamiputra Satakarni is praised in the Nasik inscription of Gautami Balashri.
- They used matronymic names, lead coins, gave land grants and patronised Karle and Nasik caves.