Sunga Dynasty Overthrows Mauryas

The assassination of King Brihadratha by his own commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Shunga, during a military parade marked the violent end of the Mauryan dynasty. Pushyamitra subsequently founded the Shunga Empire, which ruled central and eastern India for nearly a century. This coup reflected growing dissatisfaction with the later Mauryan administration's focus on Buddhism and perceived neglect of Brahmanical traditions. The new dynasty actively patronized Hinduism, leading to a cultural renaissance that included the construction of major stupas like Sanchi, though it also faced constant conflict with the Indo-Greeks in the northwest.