25. Who were the Sungas ? 
By MAHAMAHOPADHYAYA Haraprasap Sastri, C.1.E. 
e dynasty which overthrew the Maurya Empire in 
Northera India went the name of Sunga. But who were 
they? Ina paper ee by me on the ‘‘ Dismemberment 
of the Maurya Empire ’’ I advanced a theory that they were of 
Persian origin nag the fact that the names of the kings of this 
dynasty ended with the word ‘‘ Mitra,’’ a favourite deity of 
the Persians. I have now got some facts for the identification 
of the family. In page 312 of the Latyayana Srauta Sitra 
there is a stra in which the opinion of the Sungas are cited 
were Acaryyas or teachers of the Sama Veda. In No. 25 of 
the Bibliotheca Sanskritica we have a series of works on the 
Gotras and Pravaras of Brahmanas with a very able introduc- 
tion by the editor Mr. P. Chentsal Rao. In Leaf VII of that 
introduction we have Y following :— 
‘* Pravaras Nos. 4 and 5 are pronounced by sien who 
were born of Sunga, a eau of Bharadvaja, by a woman 
married in the family of Kata, a descendant of Visiehnites. 
So the Rsis of the families of both Bharadvaja and Visvamitra 
appear in the Pravara, and those who pronounced this Pravara 
cannot intermarry either with Bharadvaja or Vi8vamitra.’ 
The editor follows Apastamba in p. 309. 
ungas are enumerated in the Gana of Bharadvaja 
Bharadvaja and Visvamitra blood running in their veins. It is 
these Sungas that destroyed the Maurya Empire. This identi-. 
fication explains many facts npg unaccountable in the 
history of Northern India at the time. Thefact of the perform- 
ance of ASvamedha ceremony by ae fais of the family 
at the capital of Asoka, who prohibited all animal sacrifices 
throughout his dominions, is only explicable if the Sungas were 
Brahmanas and followers of Sima Veda which has most to do 
with animal sacrifices. This fact also explains the grant of a 
large sum of money for the encouragement of Brahmanic edu- 
cation. It also explains the fact of severe persecution of the 
Buddhists which has made the name of Puspa Mitra, the founder 
of the family, an execration in the Buddhist world. 
With the facts before us there cannot be much doubt that 
the Sungas were Brahmanas, and that they ushered in a Brah- 
