India Culture, Business, Sports and Food. Get all the buzz in India now

The breakup of Mauryan Empire was marked by political instability and confusion in India. The north western India and the Punjab were invaded by many ruling dynasties of Central Asia. The Indo Greeks, the Sakas, the Kushanas etc found it easy to establish their rule in India. This period is notable for widespread contacts between Central Asia and India. After the decline of the Mauryan Empire, the provinces of Afghanistan and the Punjab were overrun and occupied by the Greeks of Bactria now called as Balkh. Their first important ruler was Demetrios who established his authority not only on the greater part of the Punjab but also on Sing and Saurashtra. He retained his hold on his Indian possessions and hence he is known as the King of Indians. But during his long absence from Bactria, another adventurer Eucratides seized the throne of Bactria in 175 BC. But Eucratides was soon murdered by his son. Demetrios, could not re establish his authority in Bactria and his power remained confined within the Indus Valley. He was the first Greek ruler to issue Bilingual coins having legends in Greek as well as in an Indian Language in Kharosthi script. He made ancient city of Sagala now Sialkot the capital of his Indian provinces.

Of all the indo Greek kings who reigned the most remarkable was Menander who belongs to the family of Demetrios. Strabo says that he conquered more nations than Alexander. He claim to some extent is confirmed by the widespread distribution of his coins over an extensive part of northern India even to the south of Jamuna. According to the Buddhist traditions, Menander was converted to Buddhism and worked hard for the propagation of this religion. A Pali book, Milandapanho (questions of Milinda) contains many puzzling questions about religion which Menander asked a Buddhist monk Nawgasena. Some of Menander’s coins bear the Buddhist symbol Dharma Chakra and the epithet Dharmika which also show his faith in Buddhism.

The Milandapanho also gives a fascinating description of Menander’s capital Sagala. It records that there is in the country of Yonakas a great center of trade, a city that is called Sagala, situated in a delightful country well watered and hilly, abounding in parks, garden, grooves, and lakes and tanks, a paradise of rivers, mountains and woods. It was a flourishing city of well laid and beautiful buildings and strong defenses. It had shops for the sale of Benares muslin, jewels and other costly articles which indicated the wealth and general prosperity of the kingdom.

After the death of Menander in about 140 BC, Indo Greek power in the Punjab broke down rapidly. The invasion of Sakas, Pallavas and Kushanas began on India as a result of which the rule of Bactrian Greeks completely ended from India by 40 BC. Petty Greek princes independent or dependent upon some Saka Satraps continued to rule in the nooks and corners until the death of Hermeus the contemporary of Kunshan King Kadphsis I. Taking the advantage of the weakness of successors of Seleucus, the province of Parthia from the territory of Khurasan became independent of the Kingdome of Syria in 250 BC under Arsakes of the Arsakidan dynasty.