As an explorer tourist one day I asked myself that which remnants to visit which fall under category of BC era and how to co-relate their timeline with our past glorious kingdoms in that era. This article addresses and emphasizes from the same point of view. I have not covered the history in this but just the lineage of ancient habitats, their evolution and links between kingdoms. There are lot to see in India of AD era but very few are there in BC era. You also can appreciate the frescoes, sculptures kept in museum as well the caves, fort remnants etc.
And first hereby bow to forefathers of India with all respect and be thrilled to stand once at few of these places. Listing few places which the one can still see and appreciate. A few visited by me are marked. Rest I have plan to visit in future after Corona.
Circuit 1 (MP state, Gujarat, Rajasthan) – Bhimbhetaka, Heliodorus pillar, Sanchi, Udaigiri (in MP), Bhavnagar
Dholavira, Lothal, Bet Dwarka, Kalibangan, Balathal, Banawali, Bairat temple-12 days.
Circuit 2 (Orissa state)- Bharut, Udaygiri, Kailash and Kotumsar. – 3 days
Circuit 3 (Assam state) – Mawsmaii, Barapani. – 2 days
Circuit 4 (Bihar state) – Vaishali, Rampurva excavation, Kumhrar, Barabar caves, Nagarjuni caves, Rajgir.- 3 days
Circuit 5 (UP state) – Sarnath, Kaushambi, Piprawa, Panchal city – 3 days
Circuit 6 (Maharastra state) – Karla caves, Kanheri caves, Lenyadri caves, Ajanta, Ellora. – 5 days
Circuit 7 (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka) – Arikamedu, Keezhadi, Kodumanal, Borra caves, Shravn Belagola. Adichanallura. – 6 days
1.Thousands years ago
The most ancient of the places seen by me is Bhimbetka (UNESCO World Heritage) one of the spots where life started and before this it was anthropology. This place is 45 KM from Bhopal.
We find here painting composition of bulls, tiger, buffallo, peacock, preying, drum, dance, human figures, capsules on rock by humans.
It is important to note that our Archaeologist R.S. Bist who was in charge of the excavation of Dholavira site has divided Indus valley civilization stages in 7 stages from 2650 BC to 1450 BC. This civilization was very advanced in early stages but with lot of floods and other natural calamities the civilization faded and was abandoned in 1450 BC.
While going from Almora, Uttarakhand towards Jageshwar route we can find human made signs and figures. This place is Lakhudiyar. These walls depict the life and the surroundings of the early man of 10,000-40,000 years. These figures are black, red and white colours, and engravings of trishul (trident) and Swastika.
Dholavira is special in the sense that it is one of grandest cities of Indus valley in Indian territory today and seen all 7 stages. Comapred to it Lothal was advanced in pre-Harrapan period but saw the same fate as Dholavira. Compared to Mesopotamia and Egyptian Pharao, Persian and Babylonia, Harappan Valley civilization did not face the brunt of attacks but the flood and scarcity of water to have ended gradually. To reach here take bus from Ahmedabad to Rapar (5 hours) and another mini bus from Rapar to Dholavira (2 hours) or by train get down at Samkhayali then take bus to Rapar and then mini bus to Dholavira. Beautiful and grand resorts are there to stay.
Below is the covered drainage system. The wall of city was very thick wall of about 30 feet made of uniform and exact dimension of bricks. The wall remnents, well, recreation ground, city can still be seen.
Another pre-Harappan site is Lothal which is 75 KM from Ahmedabad and can be reached by car easily as roads are good. Buses do not ply to Lothal. There is a very rich museum, ancient dockyard which was connected to river Indus, a bead factory, burial ground, some remnents of city of which only foundation is remaining. Lothal was famous for its bead manufacturing kiln.
This was a small industrial platform near the city. This area was meant for burning bricks, manufacturing weapons, pots and beads.
I also visited a few museums of which rich museums are Thanjavur, Ujjain, Patna and Purana Quila in Delhi
2. Small Polities created
Late Vedic texts depict that in early first millennium BC there were frequent warfare between rival tribal territories. In this process the society of Northern India became more stratified and which resulted in different hereditary monarchs or republics in 1000- 600 BC. These small realms or polity ruled by tribes and societies were called janapadas. Vedas specially Atharva Veda, Brahman scriptures specially Aitreya Brahmana, Panini, Kautilya, Greek and Roman historians historians confirm the existence of janpadas.
Panini, a scholar of 3rd Century BC mentions a few Janapadas – Vrak, Damini, Yaudheya, Parshwa, Janki, Brahmgupta, Kaushitki, Dandki, Maharaja, Bharg, Andhra, Vrishni, Madra etc. Meghasthenese, a Greek historian also mentions Warrior tribe Kattha, Adreshtai, Sophytes, Kshudrak, Malav, Agraseni, Sambashti. Other tribes which find place in scriptures and jatakas are Yonas, Kannauj, Kamboj, Gandhar, Rastruk, Aprant, Nabhak, Bhij, Parda, Vrachchh, Lichchhvi, Vijji, Shakyas. I am not discussing here their life and traditions as those can be found elsewhere.
Janpadas such as Madra, Katth were famous for education, Kuru for wealth, Vrachchh, Adhak, Puru, Kattha for politics and nationalism, Vajji (Lichchhivi) for power and Shakya for knowledge, equality and philosophy.
3. Mahajanapadas created out of Janapadas
Many janapadas were merged to make mahajanapadas (greater polity) either by power or by nuptial relations. Still some janapadas maintained their independence. Even when Alexander invaded India already Mahajanpadas existed. But Meghanesthese mentions some more names which still were janapada. Below are the locations of Mahajanapadas
These 16 Mahajanapadas are all from North and Central India. In South there were some independent kingdoms like Chola, Pandya, Keralaputra (Cheras) and Assaka. There are scarce information about early South kingdoms except that few Ashoka pillars in South named them and expressed his friendly relations with them. Recently there are excavations going on or finished in South India such as Kheezadi – Near Madurai 2nd century BC to the 8th century AD,
Arikamedu – Near Pondicherry 2nd century BC to the 8th century AD.
Adichanallur -Village of early Pandyan 190 KM from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala 1000 BC and 600 BC
Kodumanal – Village located in the Erode district. 5th century BC to 1st century AD.
Vrijji is the janapada which later was known as Vaishali. Its neighbors were Magadha, Malla, Kashi, Anga. It’s known history dates back to 6th century BC. It was ruled by Lichhivi kings at that time. It was a city of wealthy merchants and whole area was full of thousands of lotus ponds. The city had walls on three sides and one side was big forest which spread up to Himalayas. There was no kingship but elections were conducted to elect state representative. I had an opportunity to visit Vaishali to attend a marriage. This place is about 35 KM from Patna. This stupa called Stupa of Kolhua was originally erected in 4th century BC by Mauryans and later enlarged by Kushana kingdom.
Place Vaishali is glory for all the people living from Afghanistan, Pakistan and entire India. This is the place of their ancestors as once Ashoka the Great ruled in entire region.
VAISHALI in BIHAR is an extraordinary heritage to the world in form of first democracy. Though Athens was also almost contemporary but there only elite and powerful classes had right to vote.
“Vaishali, capital city of the Vajjian Confederacy of (Vrijji mahajanapada), India was also considered one of the first examples of a republic around the 6th century BCE”. – Wikipedia
- This the place from where Ashoka the Great took 9/10th of Buddha relics and installed it in many Stupas including Sanchi.
- First democracy of the world
- Inclusion of courtsen Amrapali as nun in Buddhism
- Buddha relics stupa
- Buddha last sermon in Vaishali\Kushinagar
- Stupa of Kolhua – 4th century BC,
4. Evolution of Mahajanapadas to greater Kingdom
During 5th century BC the number of mahajanapadas diminished to four– Vajji, Kosala, Kasi and Magadha. After centuries of wars Magadha culminated into big empire with capital as Patliputra. This empire was the seed of first empire of entire India region.
Magadha mahajanapada became a powerful kingdom and eventually from this kingdom evolved the great conquerors like Mauryan, Shunga, Satvahanas and Gupta empires. Therefore among mahajanapadas it in important to understand the history of Magadha. Apart from Puranans, Jain and Buddha scriptures, Atharvaveda also mentions about Magadha kingdoms.
In 6th century beginning during Pradyot dynasty the life in Magadha was difficult due to crimes, robbery etc. And public elected the first ruler of Hiranyaka clan. Bimbisar is said to be founder of Hiranayak dynasty. He succeeded Pradyot dynasty who were rulers of Avanti and had won Magadha region and ruled.
Below is the place visited by Buddha every time he visited Rajgir during Bimbisar and Ajatshatru period.
What was happening in South India in this time? From 600 BC we see Chola, Pandya and Cheras (Keralaputra) dynasties existed in South. We do not find much details of these rulers in history during this period. The inscriptions of Ashoka mention the name of Chola, Cheras and Pandya and he had good relations with them. Greek historians also mention their names as they had trade of beads and spices with them. We do not find more historical evidences of these small dynasties anywhere. Magadha empire is the history of India as from this dynasty only Maurya, Shunga, and Gupta dynasty founded and established their suzerainty from Afghanistan to almost entire India.
The below tree is in Gaya main Mahabodhi temple and as per guide this is not the original tree.
By beginning of 5th century BC the Magadha empire (Hiranyaka dynasty) lost the popularity among public as the assassination of father for throne became tradition. Public revolted and taking advantage Governor of Kashi of Magadha Empire took the throne and founded Sishunaga dynasty.
The last king of Shishunaga dynasty was killed by conspiracy of his queen who had developed affair with handsome Maha Padmananda. This founded the Nanda dynasty which was from “barbar clan”.
5. First Greater India Evolved- Mauryan Empire
As per historians the Nanda kings were unpopular among his subjects and was overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya with help of his learned guru Chanakya. Chandragupta Maurya was the first ruler to unite India. He was “First Samrat Of India”.
I visited Kumhrar, Patna in state of Bihar. Historians found the traces and some parts of the palace of Mauryan kings. There are no traces of this big meeting hall in Kumhrar now. There are just now model of it displayed in Museum and a broken Ashoka pillar. In palace wood was massively used, and palace was 3 floor structure. walls had massive carvings and sculptures. Pottery was northern black polished wares.
Bindusara, son of Chandragupta Maurya was peace loving. He just maintained the boundaries of his kingdom with help of his son Ashoka. Ashoka was a great conqueror of all the time in Indian history. His empire was vast winning all of current Pakistan, Balochistan, Afghanistan. After war with Kalinga he abandoned wars and became Buddha follower and workd only for humanity.
There are very few structures of Ashoka period remaining now. Lot of information about Mauryan time we get from Ashoka rock edicts at Sopara, Dhauli, Yerragudi, Kalsi, Manshera, and Delhi. Minor rock edicts at Bairat, Allahabad, Sahasaram, Barabar, Rupnath, Brahmagiri, Maski, Jatinga Rameshwar and Girnar. Pillar at Sarnath, Rampurva (3 edicts) and Sanchi. These are scattered all over places till South. These are all mostly religious.
Pillar 10 and 26 at Sanchi were erected by Ashoka. All Ashoka pillars are religious and same design and their fine polish shows Iranian influence. The below pillar 25 was built in Shunga time.
Ghoshitaram monastery in Kosambi dating back to 4th century BC is another ancient monument. Bodh Acharya Vasubandhu and Asanga resided here for sometime. This monument was built by a merchant named Ghoshitaram.
6. Fall of Mauryan Empire
Mauryan Empire weakened as they followed non violence and hence it gave way for other powerful generals to overthrow them. Pushyamitra Shunga, a Brahmin by caste, a general of Kashi assassinated last king Brahadartha of Mauryan dynasty to found Shunga dynasty.
7. Indian Kingdom Shunga, Kanva formed
Shunga king Pushyamitra Shunga claimed Maurya throne by assassinating their last king Brihdartha. Shunga were native Indian Brahmins and they revived orthodox Hinduism as Budhism was more in promotion those days. His son Agnimitra was hero of drama Malvika Agnimtra by poet Kalidasa during Gupta period. The contribution of Shunga dynasty is gateways of Sanchi Stupas, and Barhut stupa remains in Barhut near Satna Madhya Pradesh.
Kanva dynasty was founded by Vasudeva Kanva by overthrowing of Shunga dynasty. It was for a very short period from 75 BC to 40 BC. Satvahana dynasty (Andhra dynasty) ruler Simuka seized Kanva and founded Satvahana dynasty. The greatest ruler of Satvahanas was Gautamiputra Satkarni. He is character of some Telugu movies.
Map 8 below depicts Shunga empire territories.
8. Foreign Invasion – Indo Greeks
Alexander invaded India in 323 BC and before leaving India he left Seleucus to look after his conquered regions. After death of Seleucus (305 – 281BC) the Greek Satraps revolted against grandson of Seleucus and divided in two countries/polity – Parthian and Bactrian Empires. In 2nd Century BC Scynthian tribes forced exit from south China and Central Europe marched towards the Bactria and Parthian regions (current Iran) and later mixed with them and even held high ranks in their army. After defeating the Parthian king, they moved towards India.
9. Indian Kingdom Satvahanas formed
There was great contribution of Satvahanas in building heritage of India in form of creation of temples, caves and Viharas. There was much promotion on Amravati School of Arts during their time when sculptures and carvings were done using white marble. Satvahanas architecture- The Karle chaitya (in Lonavala) is the most famous in western Deccan. The three viharas at Nasik carry inscriptions of Nahapana and Gautamiputra. The most important stupas of this period are Amravathi and Nagarjunakonda. These both are in present Andhra Pradesh state.
Also we can see cave 9 in Ajanta in Maharastra built during Satvahana time. Paintings in Ajanta caves during Satvahana period and after.
10. Foreign Invasion – Sakas
These Scythian nomad tribes who migrated to India are known as Indo-Scythians (Saka). Maues (1st Century BC) was first Indo Saka king in 20 BC. Sakas were a group of nomadic Iranian peoples who historically inhabited the northern and eastern Eurasian Steppe Basin. Closely related to Scythians with regard to culture and language. They setup independent Saka kingdoms like Kapisa Sakas (Afghanistan region), Taxila Sakas, Ujaain Sakas, Bharukachha Sakas, Mathura Sakas and Nask Sakas etc. They had fully adopted Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and culture and indianised their names as well.
After by this time Sunga were already major powers in India region to thwart Sakas. If Sunga were not there the history of India might be different. The Saka power was declined by Shungas and eventually almost wiped out by the South Emperor Gautamiputra Satakarni of the Satavahana dynasty. In western India Saka rule still prevailed and came to an end in the 4th century AD when the last Western Satrap Saka ruler Rudrasimha III was defeated by Chandragupta II of the Gupta dynasty.
11. Foreign Invasion – Kushanas
Another nomad tribe from Central India, Kushanas intruded into India in beginning of AD era. I am not including them in this article as they started migrating around 0 BC.
Epilogue
Here we look into the rise and fall of Empires in BC Era, the few remnants left in BC era in India from Harappan civilization. When we visit India and spend our precious time is visiting precious museums, spend money and time to reach to the shattered remnants, read or hear their stories we should be able to corelate the time and names of the kings or characters associated with. This article I wrote for my knowledge to read before I visit any ancient places. India evolved from Mahajapada to a huge Mauryan Empire from Kabul to South India.
‘‘खंडहर! खड़े हो तुम आज भी?
अदभुत अज्ञात उस पुरातन के मलिन साज।
विस्मृति की नींद से जगाते हो क्यों हमें
करुणकर, करुणामय गीत सद गाते हुए।”
– कवि निराला
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