Shunga Dynasty

Dynasty Level 2

c. 185–73 BCE

Founded by Pushyamitra Shunga after the last Maurya.

🗺 See on map in 129 BCE

Capital: Pataliputra / Vidisha
Region: Gangetic Plain
Duration: 112 years
Main period: Post-Mauryan Powers

Approximate extent.

Rulers

Pushyamitra Shunga King
c. 185–149 BCE
Agnimitra King
Hero of Kalidasa's Malavikagnimitram.
c. 149–141 BCE
Devabhuti King
Last Shunga.
c. 83–73 BCE

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	Bharhut

Personalities

Patanjali

active c. 150 BCE

Grammarian who wrote the Mahabhashya on Panini

📚 Recommended reading on the Shunga Dynasty

Textbook

Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)

NCERT · NCERT

The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.

NCERT basics UPSC Prelims SSC State PSC

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Textbook

Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)

NCERT · NCERT

Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.

NCERT basics UPSC Prelims UPSC Mains SSC State PSC

Amazon ↗Flipkart ↗

Textbook

An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (Class 11)

NCERT · NCERT

The standard base for art and architecture questions — stupas, temples and sculpture.

NCERT basics UPSC Prelims State PSC

Amazon ↗Flipkart ↗

Textbook

India's Ancient Past

R. S. Sharma · Oxford University Press

The expanded version of the classic old-NCERT ancient India text; clear and exam-friendly.

UPSC Prelims UPSC Mains SSC State PSC

Amazon ↗Flipkart ↗

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Contemporaries

Powers that coexisted with the Shunga Dynasty for a significant part of its history.

Anuradhapura Kingdom ★

Sri Lanka · c. 437 BCE – c. 1017

Satavahana Empire ★

Deccan · c. 200 BCE – c. 225 CE

Early Pandyas (Sangam era)

South · c. 400 BCE – c. 300 CE

Early Cholas (Sangam era)

South · c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE

Early Cheras (Sangam era)

South · c. 300 BCE – c. 300 CE

Greco-Bactrian Kingdom

Northwest · c. 256–125 BCE

Mahameghavahana (Chedi) of Kalinga

East · c. 200 BCE – c. 50 CE

Indo-Greek Kingdoms

Northwest · c. 200 BCE – c. 10 CE

Indo-Scythian (Saka) Kingdoms

Northwest · c. 110 BCE – c. 80 CE