Shunga Dynasty History

The founder of Shunga dynasty was Pushyamitra Shunga. He was the commander-in-chief of the Mauryan empire and established Shunga empire by assassinating the last Mauryan ruler, Brihadratha Maurya. The Shunga dynasty capital was initially located at Pataliputra and later moved to Besnagar (modern Vidisha).

Shunga Dynasty Rulers

• Pushyamitra Shunga was a Brahmin by caste. About 10 rulers of Shunga dynasty ruled Shunga kingdom. The time period of Shunga dynasty is from 184 BC to 75 BC.
  
  
• Pushyamitra Shunga defeated Yavanas twice and performed two Asvamedha Yagas. Divyavadana picturized Pushyamitra Shunga as a cruel king who destroyed 84,000 Buddhist stupas built by Ashoka.
  
  But other accounts state that he built many Buddhist monuments.
  
  
• Agnimitra, who is the son of Pushyamitra Shunga, ascended the throne after him. He is the hero of the drama "Malavikagnimitram" written by Kalidasa. After the death of Agnimitra, the empire got disintegrated rapidly.
  
  
• Mahabhasya and Yoga Sutras were composed by Patanjali during Shunga period. Stupas at Bharhut and Sanchi were rebuilt in this period.
  
  
• Bhagabhadra, the sixth king, had an Indo-Greek ambassador in his court, named Heliodorus. In Besnagar, a pillar inscription is written in the name of Heliodorus.
  
  In this Besnagar inscription, Bhagabhadra is mentioned as "Kasiputra Bhagabhadra, the saviour".
  
  
• The last ruler of Sunga dynasty, Devabhuti was assassinated by his own minister named Vasudeva Kanva and Kanva dynasty was established after Shunga dynasty.