(IGP) GS Paper 1 – History of India & Indian National Movement – “Post Mauryan Period (200 B.C.-300 A.D. )”

Subject –  History of India &
Indian National Movement
Chapter : Post Mauryan Period (200 B.C.-300 A.D. )

Foreign Rulers: Indo-Greeks

• First contact – during the invasion of Alexander,
  326-27 BC

• Second contact – during the battle between Seleucas
  Nikator and Chandragupta Maurya 306 BC.
  Chandragupta defeated Seleucas and a matrimonial alliance was established
  First important Greek king was Demetrius.
  He issued bilingual coins.
  He was defeat by Pushyamitra Sunga.

• Greek king: Menander or Milinda.
  His coins bear the image of Dhammachkra.
  He accepted Buddhismi
  The book Milinda-Panho is a collection of his questions and answers given by
  His capital was Sakal and Sialkot
  He was also defeated by Pushyamitra Sunga

• Important king: Antaaliokus.
  His ambassador Heliodorus came to the court of a shunga king and created a
  garudadhwaj at Besnagar or Bhilsa and called himself a Parmbhagvat.

The Shakas

• His coins bear the image of Buddha and Shiva.
• His Junagarh / Girnar Inscription. 150 AD is the first inscription in
  Chaste Sanskrit.

The Pahalavas/Parthians

• The only important king was Gondophernes.
• St. Thomas reached India during his time.

The Kushavas

• They belonged to Yuechi tribe.
• Wima Kadiphises
• He adopted the title Devaputra which was inspired by the title
  Swargputra of the Chinese emperor.
• His capital was Purushpur (Peshawar).
• He introduced Saka era, 78 AD.
• His rule extended from Afghanistan to Mathura and Banaras.
• Being inspired by his teacher Parva he convened a Buddhist council at
  Kundalvana in Kashmir whose President was Vasumitra and Vice-President was
  Aswaghoasa. In the Council Mahavibhashsustra was compiled.
• He patronised Mathura Art and built a stupa at Purushpur. A headless
  statue of Kanishka has been discovered from village Mat in Mathura.
• His coins bear the images of Heracles, Sun, Moon, Shiva, Agni and
  Serapis.
• Nagarjuna, Charak and Mathur (a great diplomat) were associated with his
  court.

The Cheras

• Area – Kerala.
• Capital – Vanji/ Karur/ Karuvur at the month or on the river PERIYAR.
• Seaport – Musiri/Muziris, second important port was tondi.
• Titles – Vanavar, Villavar, Kudavar, Kuttuvar, Poraiyar, Malaiyar.

Tamil Works of Earliest Period

Tolkappiyam

• Written by Tolakapiyar, one of the 12 deciples of saint
  Agastya and who played dynamic role in Aryanisation of South India.

• Work on Tamil grammer.

THE SATAVAHANAS

IMPORTANT KINGS

• Simuka
  Founder of the Satavahana dynasty.

• Satakarni I
  Adopted the title of ‘Dakashinapathapati’

• Hala
  Wrote Gathasaptashati / Sagtsati / Satsal in Paisachi Prakrit.
  Gunadhya the writer of Brihat Katha in his court.

• Gautamiputra Satakarni
  Called himself destroyer of Shalvas (Scythians), Yavanas (Greek) and
  Pahalavas (Parthians)
  Called himself “Ekbrahmin”.

• Yajna shri Shatakarni
  His coins bear impression of ‘ship’, fish and shell.

THE PALLAVAS

Some Facts

• Capital was Kanchipuram

• Dynasty founded by Vishnugopa who was captured and then
  liberated by Samudragupta

• However definite history of the dynasty begins with the
  accession of Simhavishnu in second half of 6th century. Important Kings.

MAHENDRAVARMAN

• Himself a dramatist and poet, wrote a play Mattavilasa
  Prahasan (the Delight of the drunkard), A burlesque

• Adopted litter Vichitrachitta (Curious Minded)

• Finest rock cut temples were built during his reign (e.g.
  temples at Mahabalipuram)

• Known as Caitya-kari (Builder of Caityas & temples).

• Adopted the little Matta-Vilas.

NARSIMHAVARMAN

• In 642 AD defeated ulkeshin II with the help of the king
  of Ceylon and sacked Vatapi, took back the territories which were under
  Mahendraverman.

• Founded the city of Mamallapuram/ Mahabalipuram.

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Rajendra Chola I (1012 -1044 A.D.)

• Title – Uttam Chola, Panditya Gangaikond Chola.

• Chola expansionist policies continued

• Battle of Koppam(1052):- In this battle he
  defeated Chalukya ruler Someshwar-I and killed him.

• Adhi Rajendra:- He defeated Chalukya ruler
  Someshwar II in Kuval Sangamwar and killed him.

• Kulotunga I :- (1070-1120 A.D.) He given the
  Patronisation of Adyar Kakkunllar who has written hole our Shilpadikani.

• Administration of Chola:- Chola were famous for local
  self Government.Mandalam – State
  Balnadu – District Nadu – Sub-District
  Kurram – Group of Villages
  Gram – Village.

Bahmani Kingdom

• Established in 1347 A.D.

• Founder – Allaudin Hussain Bahamansah (Hasan Gangu).

• Capital – Gulbarga.

Firojsah Bahmani:- 

• He defeated Vijaynagar ruler. Devraja I and married with
  his daughter.

• According to Farista he knew Urdu, Kannada, Marathi and
  Persian.

• He has great interest in Astronomy and he built a
  Vedshala in Daulatabad.

Chandra Gupta I (319-335 A.D)

• First Indian ruler who has taken title of Maharajadhiraj.

• He issued Gupta Samvat. (319-20A.D).

• He was married with Kumaridevi Princess of Lichehavi
  ruler.

• On the coin of Chandragupta 1. One side had the picture
  of Kumaridevi and Chatidra Gupta I and on the otherside picture of Lakshmi
  and Lichawayah were written.

Samudra Gupta: (335-380 A.D)

• V. A. Smith called him Napolian of India.

• Title:- Kacha, Kaviraja, Kridant Parsu, Sarv-raja. Hero
  of 100. wars.

Chandragupta II chandragupta Bikramaditya. (389-412 A.D)

• TitIe- Sakari, Sahshank, Devraj, Rajrajarshi, Param
  Bhagwat.

• Chandragupta II was also called the lord of Ujjain and
  Patliputra. It seems that his another capital was Ujjain.

• His Wife was Druvadevi.

• Son Kumargupta.

• His daughter Prabhayati was married to Vakatak ruler
  Rudrasen II.

• During his tenure Fa4iien came India.

Nine gems of Chandragupta II court.

• Kalidasa

• Amar Singh

• Varahmihir

• Dhanvantari

• Betal Bhatta

• Sanku

• Ghatt-Karpar

• Var-ruchi

• Kshapanak

Skandhgupta (455-467 A.D)

• Titles:- Vikrarnaditya, Sakraditya, Lord of hundred
  ruler.

• Lord Vishnu and Laxmi were shown as wife husband on
  Skandh Gupta’s coin.

• His vaisya officer Prandutta reconstract the Sudarshana
  Lake.

• Bhitari inscription his victory over Hunas.

Administrative Setup

• State(Country)                     Bhukti

• District                                 Vishay

• Sub-District                         Vithi

• Group of village                    Pethak

• Village                                 Gram

Type of land

• Kshetra – Fertile land

• Khil – Unfertile land

• Aprabata – Forested land

• Vastu – Habitable land.

(a) Aryabhatt- Aryabhattium, Suryasiddhanta.

• He calculated the value of (n) which was 3.142.

• He calculated perimeter of earth. 40,232 km.

• He also discovered the location of status on the basis of
  Babilonians.

• He also finded out the causes of solar and Lunar eclipses
  and said sun is fixed at point and earth is revolving around the sun.

• He also said that earth is round.

(b) Varahmihir:- 

• Written Brihatjatak, Laghujatak and Panchsiddhantika.

(c) Brahmgupta:

• He discovered that due to natural reason all the goods
  falls, down from upper level to lower level.

• He Written Brahmasphutta.

• Khand — Khandayanka.

Pushyabhuti Dynasty

Harsha:-

• Harshvardhan had written three plays. Priyadarshika,
  Nagananda, Ratnavali.

• He had also written two Buddhist poems. (a) Suprabhat (b)
  Astamahasree Chaitya.

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