The founder of the Sunga dynasty was Pushyamitra Sunga, who was
the commander-in-chief under the Mauryas.
He assassinated the last Mauryan ruler and usurped the throne.
The most important challenge to the Sunga rule was to protect north
India against the invasions of the Bactrian Greeks from the
northwest.
The Greeks advanced up to Pataliputra and occupied it for sometime.
However, Pushyamitra succeeded in regaining the lost territory.
He also fought a campaign against Kharavela of Kalinga who
invaded north India.
Pushyamitra was a staunch follower of Brahmanism.
He performed two asvamedha sacrifices.
Buddhist sources refer him as a persecutor of Buddhism.
But there is enough evidence to show that Pushyamitra patronised
Buddhist art.
During his reign the Buddhist monuments at Bharhut and Sanchi
were renovated and further improved.
After the death of Pushyamitra, his son Agnimitra became the ruler.
The last Sunga ruler was Devabhuti, who was murdered by his
minister Vasudeva Kanva, the founder of the Kanva dynasty.
The Kanva dynasty ruled for 45 years.
After the fall of the Kanvas, the history of Magatha was a blank until
the establishment of the Gupta dynasty.
The rule of the Sungas was important because they defended the
Gangetic valley from foreign invasions.
In the cultural sphere, the Sungas revived Brahmanism and horse
sacrifice.
They also promoted the growth of Vaishnavism and the Sanskrit
language.
Source: History (Tamil Nadu State XI standard Book)
the commander-in-chief under the Mauryas.
He assassinated the last Mauryan ruler and usurped the throne.
The most important challenge to the Sunga rule was to protect north
India against the invasions of the Bactrian Greeks from the
northwest.
The Greeks advanced up to Pataliputra and occupied it for sometime.
However, Pushyamitra succeeded in regaining the lost territory.
He also fought a campaign against Kharavela of Kalinga who
invaded north India.
Pushyamitra was a staunch follower of Brahmanism.
He performed two asvamedha sacrifices.
Buddhist sources refer him as a persecutor of Buddhism.
But there is enough evidence to show that Pushyamitra patronised
Buddhist art.
During his reign the Buddhist monuments at Bharhut and Sanchi
were renovated and further improved.
After the death of Pushyamitra, his son Agnimitra became the ruler.
The last Sunga ruler was Devabhuti, who was murdered by his
minister Vasudeva Kanva, the founder of the Kanva dynasty.
The Kanva dynasty ruled for 45 years.
After the fall of the Kanvas, the history of Magatha was a blank until
the establishment of the Gupta dynasty.
The rule of the Sungas was important because they defended the
Gangetic valley from foreign invasions.
In the cultural sphere, the Sungas revived Brahmanism and horse
sacrifice.
They also promoted the growth of Vaishnavism and the Sanskrit
language.
Source: History (Tamil Nadu State XI standard Book)