Shunga Dynasty A Bit Of Indian History.

Hi guys,... Here's my latest acquisition and a little bit of Indian history...

This is a 1/4 Karshapana 185-73 BC from the Shunga dynasty.

Obv - Elephant without rider.

Rev - Chaitya..Three arched hill with crescent above....A chaitya is a Buddhist shrine or prayer hall with a stupa at one end.

Country: India.

Composition: Copper.

Weight: 1.70 gr.

Size: 13.85 mm

Mitchiner ACW-4366-4370





The Shunga (sunga)) dynasty was a brahmin dynasty established in 185 BC about 50 years after Ashoka's death, when the emperor Brihadratha Maurya, the last ruler of the Maurya Empire, was assassinated by his commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Shunga, while he was reviewing the Guard of Honour of his forces. Pushyamitra Shunga then ascended to the throne.It controlled vast areas of the Indian subcontinent from around 187 to 78 BC.
Its capital was Pataliputra, but later emperors such as Bhagabhadra also held court at Besnagar (modern Vidisha) in eastern Malwa.Pushyamitra Shunga ruled for 36 years and was succeeded by his son Agnimitra. There were ten Shunga rulers(4 of note see below). The empire is noted for its numerous wars with both foreign and indigenous powers. They fought the Kalinga, the Satavahana dynasty, the Indo-Greek Kingdom and possibly the Panchalas and Mathuras.Art, education, philosophy, and other forms of learning flowered during this period including small terracotta images, larger stone sculptures, and architectural monuments such as the stupa at Bharhut, and the renowned Great Stupa at Sanchi. Shunga rulers helped to establish the tradition of royal sponsorship of learning and art. The script used by the empire was a variant of Brahmi script and was used to write Sanskrit.The Shunga Empire played an imperative role in patronizing culture at a time when some of the most important developments in Hindu thought were taking place. Artistry also progressed with the rise of the Mathura art style.The Kanva dynasty succeeded the Shungas.






Pushyamitra Sunga (185 BC TO 151 BC) Pushyamitra Shunga the founder and hero of the Shunga dynasty. He was viceroy of the Mauryas at Ujjain and was a real war hero. He was not happy with his king Brihadratha, who failed in containing the Yavanas and attacks from the western sides. Pushyamitra Shunga was also credited to repulse the two attacks of Greeks and also conquest over Vidarbha. The first of these attacks from Greeks, which were repulsed by Pushyamitra Shunga, was under Demetrius and another was under Meander. Pushyamitra is also known to have repelled the Kalinga's king Kharvela conquest. He is also known to have performed an Ashvamedha Yagna. The Ayodhya Inscription of Dhandeva mentions that he performed two Ashwamedha Yagyas (Horse Sacrifices). As per the Puranas, Pushyamitra Shunga reigned for 36 years. Some evidences say that Pushyamitra Shunga destroyed many stupas of Asoka. But there is also evidence that Barhut Stupa was built during the Shunga Empire only. Pushyamitra was succeeded by his son Agnimitra.

Agnimitra : (149 BC -141 BC) Agnimitra, the second king of Shunga dynasty, succeeded his father Pushyamitra Shunga and reigned for a short period of 8 years. He is the hero of Malvikagnimitram of Kalidasa in which he has been referred to as Raja. By the times of Agnimitra, Vidarbha had become independent of the Maurays. Agnimitra was succeeded by Vasumitra around 131 BC. Who succeeded Vasumitra , not much details are available. Different accounts mention the name of different kings such as Andhraka, Pulindaka, Ghosha or Vajramitra. The last rulers of Shunga dynasty were Bhagabhadra and Devabhuti, about whom we have some details.

Bhagabhadra (114 BC -83 BC)[/b] We know about the king Bhagabhadra by a Heliodorus pillar, which has been found in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh near modern Besnagar. Heliodorus was a Greek ambassador and he dedicated this pillar to God Vasudeva (Vishnu). The Heliodorus pillar has a surmounted figure of a Garuda.

Devabhuti (87-73 BC)[/b]Devabhuti was the last Shunga Ruler who was killed by his own minister Vasudeva Kanva in around 73 BC and is said to have been overfond of the company of women. Vasudeva Kanva thus assassinated the last ruler of Shunga Dynasty and founded the Kanva Dynasty.

The coins are cast and minted in serial...see photo below..So most have a fusion rest...on my coin you can see this at the right of the elephants tail and the base of the chaiyta.
There are 2 types of this coin ,the one I have without rider and the other with rider..my next buy..




Hope you like it,,,any info much appreciated ..

Saludos Paul