Some observations on Pusyamitra and his Empire

Summary

This paper reassesses the reign of Pusyamitra Sunga, a general who overthrew the Mauryan dynasty in the second century BCE and founded the Sunga dynasty. Traditional Buddhist accounts accuse Pusyamitra of persecuting Buddhists and destroying monasteries, while Brahmanical sources praise him as a restorer of orthodox Vedic rites. The author examines inscriptional and literary evidence to determine the extent of religious persecution. The Ayodhya inscription and the Malavikaagnimitra play suggest that Pusyamitra performed Ashvamedha sacrifices and patronised Brahmins, but contemporaneous archaeological data show continued Buddhist activity at Bharhut and Sanchi. The article argues that while Pusyamitra likely favoured Brahmanical rituals and sought legitimacy through Vedic sacrifices, there is little concrete evidence for systematic anti‑Buddhist persecution. It also notes that the Sunga empire was smaller than the Mauryan realm and faced pressures from Indo‑Greek kingdoms. Overall, the paper paints a more nuanced picture of Pusyamitra as a regional ruler navigating complex political and religious landscapes.