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Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
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Shishunaga Dynasty
Dynasty
Level 3
Dynastic phase
c. 413–345 BCE
Conquered Avanti; Kalashoka's reign saw the Second Buddhist Council.
- Capital
- Pataliputra / Vaishali
- Region
- East
- Duration
- 68 years
- Main period
- Mahajanapadas
- Part of
- Magadha
Rulers
- Shishunaga Kingc. 413–395 BCEConquered Avanti.
- Kalashoka Kingc. 395–367 BCESecond Buddhist Council at Vaishali.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| c. 413 BCE | Shishunaga dynasty replaces the Haryankas Shishunaga later annexed Avanti. |
Magadha |
| c. 383 BCE | Second Buddhist Council at Vaishali | Vaishali |
📚 Recommended reading on the Shishunaga 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.
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Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Shishunaga Dynasty for a significant part of its history.
Magadha ★
East · c. 700–321 BCE
Anuradhapura Kingdom ★
Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017
Kuru
North · c. 1,200–350 BCE
Panchala
Gangetic Plain · c. 1,100–350 BCE
Matsya
West · c. 1,100–350 BCE
Chedi
Central · c. 1,000–300 BCE
Avanti
Central · c. 1,000–345 BCE
Surasena
North · c. 800–350 BCE
Kamboja
Northwest · c. 800–330 BCE
Assaka / Asmaka
Deccan · c. 700–350 BCE
Kalinga
East · c. 700–261 BCE
Achaemenid Gandhara & Hindush
Northwest · c. 518–330 BCE
Early Pandyas (Sangam era)
South · c. 400 BCE – c. 300 CE