Textbook
Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.
Shunga Dynasty
Dynasty
Level 2
c. 185–73 BCE
Founded by Pushyamitra Shunga after the last Maurya.
- Capital
- Pataliputra / Vidisha
- Region
- Gangetic Plain
- Duration
- 112 years
- Main period
- Post-Mauryan Powers
Approximate extent.
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- Pushyamitra Shunga Kingc. 185–149 BCE
- Agnimitra Kingc. 149–141 BCEHero of Kalidasa's Malavikagnimitram.
- Devabhuti Kingc. 83–73 BCELast Shunga.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| c. 185 BCE | Pushyamitra Shunga assassinates Brihadratha End of the Mauryan dynasty. The Mauryan dynasty ended and the Shunga dynasty began. |
Pataliputra |
| c. 150 BCE | Bharhut stupa railings carved The Bharhut stupa was probably built in Ashoka’s time, but the Shungas added beautifully carved railings and reliefs from the Buddha’s life — some of the earliest Buddhist art. |
Bharhut |
Personalities
📚 Recommended reading on the Shunga Dynasty
Textbook
Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
Textbook
An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (Class 11)
The standard base for art and architecture questions — stupas, temples and sculpture.
Textbook
India's Ancient Past
The expanded version of the classic old-NCERT ancient India text; clear and exam-friendly.
We may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. See all recommended books →
📄 Research papers
Paper🏛 Library access
🇮🇳 Indian scholarship
The Image of the Barbarian in Early India
How early Indian texts described outsiders — the mleccha — and what that reveals about society.
Paper🏛 Library access
🇮🇳 Indian scholarship
Cults and shrines in early historical Mathura (c. 200 BC–AD 200)
Buddhist, Jaina, Brahmanical and local cults side by side at Mathura, from sculpture and inscriptions.
Paper🏛 Library access
🇮🇳 Indian scholarship
The Yavana Presence in Ancient India
Greeks and other westerners ('Yavanas') in ancient India: traders, donors and settlers.
🕸 Connections 15 links
Explore connections full screen ↗Everything on YugMap linked to this page — and why. Hover a dot in the graph, or pick from the list.
🗂 Era 1
- Ancient IndiaPart of this era
⏳ Periods 1
- Post-Mauryan PowersBelongs to this period
🏛 Kingdoms & empires 2
- Anuradhapura Kingdom 437 BCE – 1017Existed at the same time (112 years)
- Satavahana Empire 200 BCE – 225 CEExisted at the same time (112 years)
👑 Rulers 3
- Pushyamitra Shunga 185–149 BCERuled it
- Agnimitra 149–141 BCERuled it
- Devabhuti 83–73 BCERuled it
👤 People 1
- Patanjali active c. 150 BCELived under it
⚔ Events 2
- Pushyamitra Shunga assassinates Brihadratha c. 185 BCEHappened in it
- Bharhut stupa railings carved c. 150 BCEHappened in it
📄 Research 3
- The Image of the Barbarian in Early India Romila Thapar · 1971Research on this topic
- Cults and shrines in early historical Mathura (c. 200 BC–AD 200) Upinder Singh · 2004Research on this topic
- The Yavana Presence in Ancient India Himanshu Prabha Ray · 1988Research on this topic
📚 Books 2
- Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8) NCERTRecommended reading
- Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12) NCERTRecommended reading
Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Shunga Dynasty for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Anuradhapura Kingdom ★
Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017
Overlap: 112 years
Satavahana Empire ★
Deccan · c. 200 BCE – c. 225 CE
Overlap: 112 years
Early Pandyas (Sangam era)
South · c. 400 BCE – c. 300 CE
Overlap: 112 years
Early Cholas (Sangam era)
South · c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE
Overlap: 112 years
Early Cheras (Sangam era)
South · c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE
Overlap: 112 years
Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
Northwest · c. 256–125 BCE
Overlap: 60 years
Mahameghavahana (Chedi) of Kalinga
East · c. 200 BCE – c. 50 CE
Overlap: 112 years
Indo-Greek Kingdoms
Northwest · c. 200 BCE – c. 10 CE
Overlap: 112 years
Indo-Scythian (Saka) Kingdoms
Northwest · c. 110 BCE – c. 80 CE
Overlap: 37 years