Post Mauryan Art and Architecture

Introduction:-

• After the death of Ashoka, the Mauryan emperor also happened within 50 years, which resulted in the emergence of field work. There were many foreign invasions during this period, so some historians have referred to this period as "Dark Age". Some other historians have criticized its generalization in light of the economic and cultural achievements of this period.
• This chapter is divided into two parts: 1- The successor states of the Maurya Empire. 2 - Foreign invasion and Central Asian contact.

Successor kingdom of maurya emperor

• In Eastern India, Central India and Deccan, the Mauryas were ruled by many native rulers such as the Sunga, Kanva, Satavahana. In Northwest India, they were ruled by the rulers of the dynasty ruling from Central Asia.

Sunga Dynasty

• Pushyamitra established this dynasty by killing the last peacock king Brihadratha.
• He performed two Ashwamedha sacrifices.
• The fifth king was Bhagabhadra, whose court was visited by Heliodorus, a Greek ambassador.
• Agnimitra, a Sunga king, was the hero of Malavikagnimitram of Kalidasa.
• He was originally a Brahmin. This period saw the revival of Bhagwatism. The scripture of Patanjali was written at this time.

Kanva Dynasty

• The founder of this ephemeral dynasty was Vasudeva. Who killed the last Sunga king, Devabhuti.
• They were abolished by the Satavahanas of the Deccan.

Kalinga's Chedis

• Hathigumpha (near Bhubaneswar, Odisha) of Kharvel gives information about Chedis, the third ruler of the dynasty.
• He was a follower of Jainism and was also a great patron.

Satavahana or Andhra

• He was the successor of the Mauryans of Deccan and Central India.
• Simuka is considered as the founder of this dynasty. The most important king was Gautami Satakami (106-130 AD) which enhanced the power and prestige of Satavahanas to the highest heights. He established his capital at Paithan on Godavari in Aurangabad district.

Important facts of Satavahana

• Most glass coins were issued (other than copper and brass).
• The Satavahana rulers called themselves Brahmins. Worshiped Krishna, Vasudeva and other deities and performed Vedic rituals. However, they also promoted Buddhism by giving land to monks.
• Two common religious constructions were Buddhist temples called ‘Chautya’ and monasteries called ‘Vihara’. The most famous Chautya is that of Karle in Maharashtra.
• An attempt was made to give tax-free villages to Brahmin and Buddhist monks.
• The official language was Prakrit and in Ashoka's time the script was Brahmi. A Prakrit text called Gathasattasai is dedicated to a Satavahana king named Hala.

Foreign invasions and Central Asian contacts

A. Indo-Greek

• There were a lot of invasions around 200 BCE. Yanani was the first to invade India (as he ruled Bactria). Who were called Indo-Greek or Bactrian Unana Bha. It is said that these extended further to Ayodhya and Pataliputra.
• The most famous Indo-Greek ruler was Menander (165–145 BCE), also known as Milinda. Sakla in Punjab (modern
• Sialkot) had its capital.
• He was converted to Buddhism by Nagasena. The conversation between the two is in the Pali text, Milinda Panho or 'Milinda's Question'
• Has been described.
• The Greeks were the first to issue coins that could certainly be dedicated to the king and were also the first to issue gold coins in India.
• Greek rule introduced features of Hellenistic art in the northwest frontier of India. Gandhara art was the best example of this.

B. Shaka or Scythians (90 BC)

The Greeks were followed by Saka, who controlled a large part of India as did the Greeks. Shakha had 5 branches in different parts of India and Afghanistan with their seats of power.

• A king of Ujjain, who called himself Vikramaditya defeated Shaka. An era called Vikram Samvat is counted by the event of his victory over Shaka in 57 BCE. (From this time forward, Vikramaditya became an iconic title).
• The most famous Saka ruler in India was Rudradaman (AD 130–150). His achievements are published in the Junagadh inscription. The inscription repairs the description of the inscription as Sudarshana lake in Kathiwar is the first major inscription written in Sanskrit.

C. Parthi

Originally living in Iran, they invaded at the beginning of the Christian era, whence they came to India. In comparison to the Greeks and Saka, in the first century they occupied only a small part in the northwest of India.

• The most famous Parthian king was Gondopharnes (AD 19–45) during whose reign St Thomas was asked to come to India to preach Christianity.

D. Kushan (45 AD)

Came from North Central Asia near China. His empire includes a large part of Central Asia, part of Iran, a part of Afghanistan, Pakistan and almost the whole of North India.

• Kanishka was his (AD 78–144) most famous king. It had two capital - first at Purushapur, near modern Peshawar and second at Mathura.
• He gave protection to the following persons:

1. Ashwaghosha (A biography and sutrakala of the Buddha written by Budhasharajata)
2. Nagarjuna (wrote 'Secondary Sutras')
3. Vasumitra (President of Fourth Buddhist Council)
4. Charaka (a physician, wrote 'Charaka Samhita')

• Kanishka, controlled the Mashhar silk route in Central Asia, which was introduced from China and his empire in Central Asia,Passed through Iran and West Asia through Afghanistan and formed a part of the Roman Empire.
• Kanishka is known in history for two reasons:

1. He started 78 AD, an era now known as Shaka Yuga and used by the government.
2. He (organized the Fourth Buddhist Council in Kashmir) extended his wholehearted patronage to Buddhism.

• Gandhara Kala Vidyalaya received royal patronage of Kushan.

Effects of Central Asian contacts

Started using horseback on a large scale. Saka and Kushan introduced turban, tunic, pajamé and heavy long coat. Also brought hats, helmets and shoes which are used by warriors.

• In the religious field, Heliodorus, the Greek ambassador, established a pillar near Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh in honor of Vasudeva.
• The Kushan Empire gave rise to several schools of art - Central Asian, Gandhara and Mathura.
• Mathura has produced a beautiful portrait of Buddha, but is also famous for its headless statue of Kanishka.
• Vatsyayan wrote the Kamasutra.