Shunga/Sunga Empire (185-73 BCE) and Coins

 

The Shunga or Sunga Empire was an ancient Indian Brahmin dynasty from Magadha that controlled areas of the central and eastern Indian subcontinent from around 184 to 75 BCE, about 50 years after Ashoka's death. 

                                           

                          Shunga coin 150 BCE
 

Emperor Brihadratha Maurya, the last ruler of the Maurya Empire, was assassinated by his commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Shunga. Pushyamitra, then ascended the throne and became the ruler of Magdha and neighbouring territories. Its capital was Pataliputra, but later emperors such as Bhagabhadra also held court at Besnagar (modern Vidisha) in eastern Malwa. 

                                               

              Man on a Relif, Bharhut, Shunga

 

The Shunga controlled Ayodhya, as is inscribed on the ''Dhanadeva-Ayodhya inscription''. Dhanadeva, is claimed to be the sixth descendant of Pushyamitra Shunga. The empire extended upto present day Sialkot in Punjab and upto the Narmada River in the south.

                                             

             Map of The Sunga Empire, 180 BCE

     

 Pushyamitra ruled for 36 years and was succeeded by his son Agnimitra.

Among the 10 Shunga Emperors that ruled from 185 to 73 BCE, a few like Pushyamitra are known to have revived the supremacy of the Brahmanical religion and reestablished Yajnas that had been prohibited by Ashoka and the Mauryan Empire.  He is frequently linked with the persecution of Buddhists and a resurgence of Brahmanism.

                                              

                      Shunga horseman, Bharhut

He may also have been the reason for the original Sanchi stupa that was vandalized sometimes in the 2nd century BCE. Though majority if the Shunga emperors were seen as amenable to Buddhism, as they have contributed to the building of the Stupa at Bharhut and improving the Sanchi Stupa, by covering the brick with stone. Further support for Buddhism by kings Brahamamitra and Indragnimitra is recorded at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya. 

                                                

Shunga period Stupa at Sanchi, Stupa No 2, entirely Shunga work, 2nd century BCE.

                                           

Stupa No3, Stupa and balustrades only are Shunga.

War and conflict characterized the Shunga period. They are known to have been in battle with the Kalingas, Satavahanas, the Indo-Greeks and possibly the Panchalas.

                                           

                  Extent of the Shunga Empire

Mathura, however, was under control of the Indo-Greeks during the 1st century BCE, as inscribed on the ''Yavanarajya inscription'' also called the '' Maghera inscription'', discovered in Mathura.

                                              

The Yavanarajya inscription, dated to ''year 116 of Yavana hegemony'', probably 70 or 69 BCE, was discovered in Mathura Museum

Art, education, philosophy and other learning flowered during this period. Most notably, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and Mahabhashya were rejuvenated during this period, and devotion that anyone could practice.

 The richness of India's spiritual tradition, from which the whole world has gained insight, owes much to this period. 

Artistry on the subcontinent progressed with the rise of the Mathura school, which was considered the indigenous counterpart to the Hellenistic Gandhara school (Greco-Buddhist art).

                                            

Shunga woman with child, 2nd - 1st century BCE.

The script used by the Shunga was a variant of the Brahmi and was used to write the Sanskrit language. The script is thought to be an intermediary between the Maurya and the Kalinga Brahmi scripts.

After the death of Agnimitra, the second king of the dynasty, the empire began to disintegrate. Inscriptions and coins indicate that much of northern and central India consisted of small kingdoms and city-states that were independent of any Shunga hegemony. The last king of Sungas, Devabhuti was assassinated by his minister Vasudeva Kanva, who the established Kanva dynasty

Coins of Shunga dynasty

                                               

Half Karshapana, Sunga dynasty, 185-73 BC, copper, weight 2.75 g, Obverse: Elephant to left Reverse: Chaitya, three arched hills with crescent above.

                                           

Quarter Karshapana, Sunga kingdom, 150 BCE-75 AD, copper, weight 2.50 g, Obverse: Three arched Chaitya/ stupa surmounted with a crescent on top, Hollow cross, Taurine, Tree in railing, Reverse: Elephant, Swastika, Taurine, Indra- Dhwaj

  

                                              

Quarter Karshapana, Sunga dynasty, 200 BCE-100 BCE, copper, weight 1.5 g, Obverse: Elephant with rider, Reverse: Chaitya, three arched hills with crescent above

                                               

Quarter Karshapana, Sunga dynasty, 200-100 BCE, weight 1.18 g, Obverse: Lion standing left, miscellaneous symbols around, Reverse: 5 arched hills with tree on top, flanked by inverted taurines

                                                  

Quarter Karshapana, Sunga dynasty, 185-73 BCE, copper, weight 2.2 g, Obverse: Elephant to left, mounted by a Sunga king, Reverse: Chaitya, Three arched hill with crescent above.

                                                

Quarter Karshapana, Sunga kingdom, 150 BCE-75 AD, copper, weight 2.35 g, Obverse: Three arched Chaitya/ stupa surmounted with a crescent on top, Hollow cross, Taurine, Tree in railing, Reverse: Elephant, Swastika, Taurine, Indra- Dhwaj        

                                             

Karshapana, Sunga kingdom, 200-100 BCE, copper, weight 3.9 g, Obverse: Hollow cross with an arrow shooting out of each arm, Reverse: Tree in railing.

   

                                              

Karshapana, Shunga kingdom, 185-75 BCE, copper, weight 3.02 g, Obverse: Tree inrailing, Reverse; Chaitya, Three arched hill with crescent on top

                                                 

Karshapana, Shunga kingdom, 150 BCE-75 AD, copper, weight 3.60 g, Obverse: Three arched Chaitya/ stupa surmounted with a crescent on top, Hollow cross, Taurine, Tree in railing, Reverse: Elephant, Swastika, Taurine, Indra- Dhwaj        

Shunga Dynasty

Shunga Dynasty coins