Ancient MP: Avanti, Ujjain and the Mauryas

Before he became the emperor who renounced war, the young Ashoka was sent by his father Bindusara to govern Avanti, with its capital at Ujjain. According to Buddhist tradition, it was in this region — at Vidisha — that he married Devi, a merchant's daughter, whose children Mahendra and Sanghamitra later carried Buddhism to Sri Lanka. The story places Madhya Pradesh at the heart of early Indian history. From the mahajanapadas to the rise of the Guptas, the land that is now MP was a crossroads of trade, religion and politics.

The mahajanapadas

Of the sixteen great realms listed in Buddhist texts, two lay largely in present-day Madhya Pradesh:

Avanti was strategically placed on trade routes linking the Ganga plain to the western ports, which made Ujjain a wealthy commercial and cultural centre.

The Mauryas

The Sungas and the Heliodorus pillar

After the Mauryas, the Sungas ruled much of central India. Their period left two famous monuments in MP:

• The Heliodorus pillar (Garuda pillar) at Besnagar, near Vidisha — erected around the late second century BCE by Heliodorus, a Greek ambassador from the Indo-Greek king Antialcidas to the court of a Sunga king. Heliodorus describes himself as a devotee of Vasudeva (Vishnu). It is one of the earliest inscriptional records of Vaishnavism — and a striking example of a Greek embracing an Indian faith.
• Bharhut stupa (Satna district) — its railings and gateways, carved in the Sunga period, depict Jataka tales and early Buddhist symbols. Many of its sculptures are now in the Indian Museum, Kolkata.

Satavahanas, Kshatrapas and Nagas

Ujjain: a centre of learning and faith

• Astronomy — Ujjain was regarded as the prime meridian of Indian astronomy; later, Sawai Jai Singh II built an observatory (Jantar Mantar) here.
• Literature — tradition associates the great poet Kalidasa with Ujjain; his Meghaduta describes the city.
• Religion — the Mahakaleshwar temple is one of the twelve jyotirlingas; the Simhastha Kumbh is held on the Shipra every twelve years.
• Trade — a major stop on routes between the Ganga plain, the Deccan and the western coast.

Why ancient MP matters

1. Political — Avanti and Ujjain were central to the rise of Magadha and the Mauryas.
2. Religious — early Buddhism (Sanchi, Bharhut) and early Vaishnavism (Heliodorus pillar).
3. Cultural — Ujjain as a centre of learning, astronomy and literature.
4. Economic — trade routes linking north and south India.

Practice

Prelims-style:

1. What were the capitals of Avanti?
2. Who erected the Garuda pillar at Vidisha, and for whom?
3. Which Ashokan edict in MP names the emperor as Ashoka?
4. Where is the Bharhut stupa?
5. Which city was regarded as the prime meridian of Indian astronomy?

Mains-style (short): What is the historical significance of the Heliodorus pillar?

Mains-style (long): Discuss the importance of Ujjain in ancient Indian history and culture.