Mod 1: The Rise of Shishunaga — From Minister to King (412 BCE), Origins, Sources and Chronology
Concept
7.1 From amatya to king
🏫 School level · NCERT Class 6–12 History (the base for UPSC, BPSC, BSSC and other PSC exams)
412 BCE and the founder of a new dynasty
In about 412 BCE the people of Magadha, tired of the “parricide” Haryankas, deposed King Nagadasaka and placed his minister (amatya) Shishunaga on the throne. The new dynasty ruled for about 70 years and completed what the Haryankas had begun — the conquest of Magadha’s great rival, Avanti.
- A high officer (amatya) of the last Haryanka king; the Puranas suggest he had been governor at Varanasi (Kashi).
- The Mahavamsa commentary says he was the son of a Lichchhavi chief of Vaishali and a courtesan; as a baby he was guarded by a naga (serpent) — hence “Shishu-naga”.
- He was chosen by the citizens — a rare case of popular approval in the making of a dynasty.
- 412 BCE: people depose Nagadasaka; minister Shishunaga becomes king.
- Kings: Shishunaga (412–394), Kalashoka/Kakavarna (394–366), ten sons/Nandivardhana–Mahanandin (366–344).
- Legend: son of a Lichchhavi chief; guarded by a naga.
- Question: Who founded the Shishunaga dynasty? Answer: Shishunaga, a minister chosen by the people.
- Question: When? Answer: About 412 BCE.
MCQs
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[School] The founder of the Shishunaga dynasty was:
[BPSC level] Before becoming king, Shishunaga was:
[BPSC level] Shishunaga came to the throne in about:
[UPSC level] The Mahavamsa commentary links Shishunaga’s birth with:
[BSSC pattern] The Shishunaga dynasty came between:
[UPSC level] The Puranas suggest that before becoming king Shishunaga had served at:
[BPSC level] Roughly how long did the Shishunaga dynasty rule?
One-liners
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Who founded the Shishunaga dynasty?
Shishunaga, a minister chosen by the people.When?
About 412 BCE.Concept
7.2 Sources and chronology
🏫 School level · NCERT Class 6–12 History (the base for UPSC, BPSC, BSSC and other PSC exams)
Buddhist, Puranic, Bana and the Greeks
| Source | Information |
|---|---|
| Mahavamsa, Dipavamsa | Shishunaga after Nagadasaka; Kalashoka; Second Council in Kalashoka’s 10th year |
| Mahabodhivamsa | Ten sons of Kalashoka ruled together (Bhadrasena and others) |
| Puranas | Place Shishunaga before Bimbisara; name Kakavarna, Kshemadharman … Nandivardhana, Mahanandin |
| Bana’s Harshacharita (7th c. CE) | “Kakavarna Shaishunagi” killed by a dagger thrust into his throat near his city |
| Greek writers (Curtius, Diodorus) | A barber who became the queen’s lover killed the king — read as the end of the Shishunagas and rise of the Nandas |
The Puranas make Shishunaga the founder of a line that includes Bimbisara and Ajatashatru. The Buddhist order (Haryanka → Shishunaga) is preferred because Shishunaga conquered Avanti, which was still independent under Pradyota in the times of Bimbisara and Ajatashatru. The Puranic “Kakavarna” is identified with the Buddhist Kalashoka.
Two large stone statues found in Patna (now in the Indian Museum, Kolkata) were read by K. P. Jayaswal (1919) as portraits of Shaishunaga kings (“Aja-Udayin” and “Varta-Nandin”). Later scholars rejected these readings; the figures are now regarded as yakshas of the Mauryan or post-Mauryan period.
- Sources: Mahavamsa, Mahabodhivamsa, Puranas, Harshacharita, Greek writers.
- Kakavarna = Kalashoka; Buddhist order preferred.
- “Shaishunaga statues” of Patna are now seen as yakshas.
- Question: Which text gives Kalashoka’s death by a dagger? Answer: Bana’s Harshacharita.
MCQs
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[UPSC level] The Puranic name “Kakavarna” refers to which king of the Buddhist texts?
[BPSC level] Which text says Kalashoka’s ten sons ruled together after him?
[UPSC level] Historians prefer the Buddhist order (Haryanka before Shishunaga) mainly because:
[BPSC level] Bana’s Harshacharita refers to Kalashoka as:
[UPSC level] K. P. Jayaswal identified two Patna statues as portraits of Shaishunaga kings. Today they are regarded as:
[BSSC pattern] The Greek story of a barber who killed the king is linked to the end of which dynasty?
[BPSC level] The Mahavamsa dates the Second Buddhist Council to which year of Kalashoka?
One-liners
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Which text gives Kalashoka’s death by a dagger?
Bana’s Harshacharita.Concept
🎯 UPSC · BPSC · BSSC · State PSC level: PYQs, traps and mains
| Exam | What it asks from this module |
|---|---|
| UPSC | Order of dynasties; Puranic vs Buddhist accounts |
| BPSC | Founder Shishunaga; year 412 BCE; his earlier office |
| BSSC | Dynasty between Haryanka and Nanda |
Which dynasty ruled Magadha between the Haryankas and the Nandas? (a) Maurya (b) Shishunaga (c) Shunga (d) Kanva
- Haryanka (544–412) → Shishunaga (412–344) → Nanda (344–322/321) → Maurya.
- Shishunaga was a minister chosen by the people, not a conqueror.
- The Puranas put Shishunaga before Bimbisara — but exams follow the Buddhist order.
- Kakavarna (Puranas, Bana) = Kalashoka (Buddhist texts).
Model question: “The rise of Shishunaga shows that legitimacy in ancient Magadha could come from the people.” Discuss. Points: revolt against the Haryankas; popular choice of an amatya; continuity of administration; Lichchhavi connection; later violent end of the dynasty; Nanda usurpation.
- Haryanka → Shishunaga → Nanda → Maurya.
- Question: When did the Shishunaga dynasty end? Answer: About 344 BCE.
MCQs
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[BSSC pattern] Which dynasty ruled Magadha between the Haryankas and the Nandas?
[UPSC level] Which statement about Shishunaga’s accession is correct?
[BPSC level] The name “Shishunaga” is explained by the legend that as a baby he was:
[UPSC level] Which pair of source and information is correct?
[BSSC pattern] The Shishunaga dynasty ended in about:
[BPSC level] Which pair of a dynasty and its starting year is correct?
One-liners
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When did the Shishunaga dynasty end?
About 344 BCE.