Shishunaga
Encyclopedia
Shishunaga (c. 413 – 395 BCE) was the founder of the Shishunaga dynasty
of the Magadha Empire in the present day northern India
. Initially, he was an amatya (official) of the Magadha empire under the Haryanka dynasty
. He was placed on the throne by the people who revolted against the Haryanka dynasty rule. The Puranas tell us that he placed his son at Varanasi
and himself ruled from Girivraja (Rajagriha
). He was succeeded by his son Kakavarna Kalashoka
raja of Vaishali
. He was conceived by a nagara-shobhini and brought up an officer of state. At the time of the revolt, he was a viceroy at Varanasi
of king Nagadasaka
, the last ruler of the Haryanka dynasty.
was his second royal residence. Later he shifted his capital to Vaishali. His most significant achievement was the destruction of the 'glory' of the Pradyota dynasty
of the Avanti
kingdom. Most probably the king of Avanti whom Shishunaga humbled was Avantivardhana. The Magadhan victory must have been helped by the revolution that placed Aryaka on the thone of Ujjayini
.
By 405th BC he subdued the last of mahajanapadas. From period of 404th BC to 397th BC he annexed Sindh,Multan,Lahore,Kabul,Herat,Chagcharan,Anjuri,Kandahar,Karachi and Vellore. His Territories spread up to Kochi and Madurai in the South to Shardu and Danyor in the North,Murshidabad and Dakhinpara and Hamren in the East to Mand and Herat in the West in 395th BC.
Shishunaga dynasty
The Shishunaga dynasty was the third ruling dynasty of Magadha, a kingdom in ancient India. But according to the Puranas, this dynasty is the second ruling dynasty of Magadha, which succeeded the Barhadratha dynasty....
of the Magadha Empire in the present day northern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Initially, he was an amatya (official) of the Magadha empire under the Haryanka dynasty
Haryanka dynasty
The Haryanka dynasty was the second ruling dynasty of Magadha, an ancient kingdom in India, which succeeded the Barhadratha dynasty. According to the Puranas, the second ruling dynasty was the Shaishunga dynasty, but an earlier authority, Ashvagosha in his Buddhacharita refers to Bimbisara, who is...
. He was placed on the throne by the people who revolted against the Haryanka dynasty rule. The Puranas tell us that he placed his son at Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
and himself ruled from Girivraja (Rajagriha
Rajgir
Rajgir is a city and a notified area in Nalanda district in the Indian state of Bihar. The city of Rajgir was the first capital of the kingdom of Magadha, a state that would eventually evolve into the Mauryan Empire. Its date of origin is unknown, although ceramics dating to about 1000 BC have...
). He was succeeded by his son Kakavarna Kalashoka
Early life
According to the Mahavamsatika, Shishunaga was the son of a LicchaviLicchavi (clan)
The Licchavis were the most famous clan amongst the ruling confederate clans of the Vajji mahajanapada of ancient India. Vaishali, the capital of the Licchavis, was the capital of the Vajji mahajanapada also. It was later occupied by Ajatashatru, who annexed the Vajji territory into his...
raja of Vaishali
Vaishali (ancient city)
Vaiśālī was the capital city of the Licchavi, one of world's first republics, in the Vajjian Confederacy mahajanapada, around the 6th century BC. It was here in 599 BCE the 24th Jain Tirthankara, Bhagwan Mahavira was born and brought up in Kundalagrama in Vaiśālī republic, which make pious &...
. He was conceived by a nagara-shobhini and brought up an officer of state. At the time of the revolt, he was a viceroy at Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
of king Nagadasaka
Nāgadāsaka
Nāgadāsaka was king of Magadha from 437 to 413 BC and son of Munda. He slew his father and ruled for twenty four years. The people deposed him and made Susunāga king in his place....
, the last ruler of the Haryanka dynasty.
Reign
Initially, his capital was Rajagriha and VaishaliVaishali (ancient city)
Vaiśālī was the capital city of the Licchavi, one of world's first republics, in the Vajjian Confederacy mahajanapada, around the 6th century BC. It was here in 599 BCE the 24th Jain Tirthankara, Bhagwan Mahavira was born and brought up in Kundalagrama in Vaiśālī republic, which make pious &...
was his second royal residence. Later he shifted his capital to Vaishali. His most significant achievement was the destruction of the 'glory' of the Pradyota dynasty
Pradyota dynasty
Pradyota dynasty is an ancient Indian dynasty, which ruled over Avanti in the present-day Madhya Pradesh state, though most of the Puranas say that this dynasty succeeded the Barhadratha dynasty in Magadha. According to the Vayu Purana, Pradyotas ruled Magadha for 138 years from 799-684 BC...
of the Avanti
Avanti (India)
Avanti was an ancient Indian janapada , roughly corresponded to the present day Malwa region. According to the Buddhist text, the Anguttara Nikaya, Avanti was one of the solasa mahajanapadas of the 6th century BCE...
kingdom. Most probably the king of Avanti whom Shishunaga humbled was Avantivardhana. The Magadhan victory must have been helped by the revolution that placed Aryaka on the thone of Ujjayini
Ujjain
Ujjain , is an ancient city of Malwa region in central India, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River , today part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative centre of Ujjain District and Ujjain Division.In ancient times the city was called Ujjayini...
.
Expansion
During shishunag's rule practically whole India (present day India,Pakistan,Nepal, Bhutan,Afghanistan and Bangladesh)was under his rule.In 407th BC he annexed jaipur to his empire.By 405th BC he subdued the last of mahajanapadas. From period of 404th BC to 397th BC he annexed Sindh,Multan,Lahore,Kabul,Herat,Chagcharan,Anjuri,Kandahar,Karachi and Vellore. His Territories spread up to Kochi and Madurai in the South to Shardu and Danyor in the North,Murshidabad and Dakhinpara and Hamren in the East to Mand and Herat in the West in 395th BC.