Unit II: Historical Developments in India

·         A group of people from the central steppes of Asia migrated to India through the various passes of the mountain ranges that guarded the northern regions of the subcontinent between 1500 – 1000 BC.

·         These new people overcame the original inhabitants and formed settlements around the seven tributaries of the Indus. Thus the area came to be known later as the “Saptha Sindu”.

·         Yajur, Atharvan, Sama, Rig Vedas contain the origins of the gods and goddesses of the new arrivals.

·         Videha Mathawa, a ruler of the state Saraswati introduced “Agni Pooja”. He worshipped God Agni.

·         “Aitriya Brahman”, a Brahmin inscription, mentions settlements of the Post-Vedic Aryans (1000-600 BC):

1.     Apachchya Desha

2.    Madyama Desha

3.    Udichi Desha? Uththar Pradesh

4.    Prachya Desha

5.    Dakshina Desha

·         Panchala and Kuru Tribes populated Madyama Desha.

     Drutarastra, Duryodhana were two powerful Kuru kings who ruled from Hastinapura.

     Yuddishtra, Parikshita and Janamejaya were the kings of the Panchala tribe.

“Kuru Kshetra War” war was a war between the Kuru and Panchala tribes fought around the 9^th century BC. This war provides the background for many literary works such as the Mahabharath.

·         Magadha was a semi- Aryan state.

·         Wrathya and Nishada, two Aryan tribes established settlements to the north of Magdha

·         Andra, Pulinda, Muiniba and Sabara tribes lived in Dhakshina Desha.

·         The tribes Uttara Kuru and Uttara Madhu formed settlements in Uddeecha Desha.

·         Around the 6^th centaury BC the subcontinent was divided into 16 Janapada - Anguttara Nikaya

Name	Capital
Anga (northern Bihar)	Champaa	Centre of trade. The traders of Anga used “Thamraputra” port to trade with other S. Indian settlements and Burma.
*Magadha	Giriwraaja, Rajagaha, Paataliputra	Athar Veda was the first chronical to mention Magadha. A good place to experiment new religious ideologies.
Kasi	Baranaasi	Between the rivers Varuna and Asi. Joined Magdha.
*Kosala	Kusaawati-  South Kosala Saraswati- north Kosala	River Sarabhu divide Kosala into two parts. Joined Magadha.
Vajji(north Bihar)	Vesaali	Formed by 9 tribes.
Malla	Kusinaara, Paada	Practiced the “Ghana” system.
*Vatsya	Kausambi	Priyadarshani, Swapna- Wasawadatta and Ratnaawali dramas written with King Udena of Vatsa as the inspiration.
Cheta/ Chedi	Sotimati	Formed the “Cheta Empire” later in Kalinga. “Hastigumbha” is a source of information on the Cheta Dynasty.
Avanthi	Earlier –Maheesmathi  Later –Ujjaayani(Udeni)
Matsha	Virat/ Wairat
Surasena	Mathuraa	Ruler by the “Avanti Puthra” clan. Later became an important place of worship for the devotees of Vishnu.
Kuru	Indraprasaada (Delhi)	During the time of Lord Buddha a king named Kaurawa ruled this state.
Panchaala	Abhichatra and Kampilya
Gandaara (Kandhahar)	Takshala	A king named Pukkusaathi ruled during the time of Lord Buddha.
Kamboja
Asmatha	Pratistaan (Potali/Potana/Paitan)

*more powerful

·         “Ghana Rajya” system was a more democratic way of governance. According to ‘Dhiga Nikaya’ the following kingdoms practiced “Ghana Rajya” system during the time of Lord Buddha:

Kingdom	Dynasty
Kapilawastu	Sakya
Kusinara	Mallawa
Vaasali	Lichchavi -people selected rulers by voting
Mitilaa	Vedeha
Ramagraama	Koliya
Allakappa	Bulliya
Keshaputtha	Kalama
Pippili Jungle	Boria
Sansumaragiri	Bhagga

 Maurya Empire (321- 185 BC)

·         the foundation for the greatness of Magadha was laid by the Nanda Dynasty and kings such as Bimbisara, Ajasatta, Sisunaga.

·         Invasions of the Persians and Alexander the Great paved the way for the establishment of a Maurya Empire.

·         Chandraguptha Maurya (321- 300 BC) conquered the neighbouring states and expanded the kingdom into an empire with the help of his Chief Minister Kautilya (writer of Arthashasthra). Chandraguptha’s Magadha encompassed north India and some parts of the Deccan Plateau.

·         His son Bindusara (300-273 BC) ascended the throne after him.

·         Emperor Asoka, the Greatest of the Maurya Dynasty ascended the trone after the death of his father Bindusara. (273- 232 BC)

·         His battle with the Kalinga in 264BC changed his outlook of life. Emperor Asoka gave up conquest and sought solace in the Buddhist Philosophy.

·         3^rd Buddhist Council was organized by the emporer under the guidance of Ven. Moggaliputta Thero.

·         He also sponsored missions to spread Buddhism in areas such as:

Thambapanni (Sri Lanka)

Swarnabhumi (Myanmar)

Maheesha Mandala (Mysore)

Vanavasi Desha (North Kanara)

Apatanta Desha (areas around port Supparaka)

Maharastra

Yonaka Desha

Kashmir/Gandara

Nepal

·         His many stone inscriptions and pillars carry important historical information:

o   Mark the extent of the empire

o   Criticise the early kings for their lack of interest in the spiritual development of the subjects

o   Describe the Asoka Doctrine and advise his subjects to practise honesty, mercy, compassion, truthfulness and dedication. 

o   Requests religious tolerance

o   Records the religious services of the emperor such as the construction of 84,000 stupa.

·         Small independent kingdoms such as Chola, Pandya, Sathiyapura and Kerala existed towards the south of Maurya Empire.

·         The decline of the empire took place between 232-185 BC. Asoka’s non-violent policies contributed the decline of his empire.

·         In the end the empire was divided into three parts:

o   Shunga

o   Chetha

o   Sathavahana

·         A new empire called Kushan emerged in the north-western India.

Arts and architecture of the Maurya Empire

o   The ruins of the palaces of Chandraguptha Maurya and Asoka in Pataliputra.

o   Pillars at Alahabad, Loriyan Tangai, Rampur, Nigali Sagar and Saranath

o   Sanchi Stupa with the intricately carved entrance carrying stories from “Jataka”, etc. commissioned by Emperor Asoka

o   Construction of caves eg: “Karna Chopara”

Maurya Dynasty

 

Kushana Dynasty

Nagavakathaka Kingdom

 

Gupta Dynasty

Gupta Dynasty

• Maharaja Sri Gupta, Gotokacha and Chandragupta I laid the foundation of the Gupta Empire.

• Chandraguptha I (320-335 AD) is considered the founder of the Gupta Empire. He expanded the empire from the moth of Ganges up to Prayag. Paataliputra was the centre of the empire.

• Samudraguptha (335- 375 AD) ruled “Uttar Bharath” from Paataliputra. Many south Indian rulers and the states of Orissa, Bhutan, Nepal paid ransom to the emperor.

• Samudraguptha was a god-king. The coins minted by him depicted the emperor as God Yama, the god of death. The court poet Harisena compares his patron to God Varuna, god of the sea in his works.
• Alahabad Poems, the court poet Harisena describes the ways in which the emperor expanded his territory:
• Capture the kingdom and kill the ruler
• Capturing the kingdom with the intention of forcing the vanquished state to pay ransom
• Making the rulers to surrender on their own minimizing bloodshed
• Forming political alliances in order to take control of the land
• Chandraguptha II (375- 415 AD) minted coins with a dwarf carrying an umbrella. According to scholars this symbolizes his ambition to become the ruler of the entire subcontinent (Deepa Sakviti)

• Mahendraadithya Gupta ( 415- ?)was the son of Chandraguptha II.

• Skandha Gupta(? - 460)’s reign came to an end due to the invasions. Huna, Toramana and Mihiakula tribes attacked the empire causing its decline.

• Arts and architecture of the Gupta Empire.

• This period is considered the Golden Era of the Indian literature by most scholars.

• Sanskrit language became the medium of communication and writing. Hinduism was promoted as the state religion. Yet other religions were tolerated.

• The court of Chandraguptha II sponsored nine poets known as “Nawaratne”:

• Dhanwantari
• Shanku
• Vethalabhatta
• Varaha Mihira
• Amarasingha
• Ghatakarpara
• Kshanaka
• Vararuchi

• Kalidasa (Raghuwamsa, Kumara Smabhava, Uttara Megha, Ritu Sanhara, Abhignana Sakuntala were some of his works)
• Mankuvana statue, a huge statue of Buddha

• Buddha statue depicting “Dharma Chakra Mudra” displayed at the Saranath Museum at Benares.

Some of the cave paintings of the Ajantha and Ellora Cave