Explore the Kanva Dynasty, its political administration, economic impact, and the cultural developments that shaped post-Sunga India.

The rise of Kanva Dynasty

The Kanva dynasty (Kanvavamsha) was a ruling dynasty of Magadha, established after Vasudeva Kanva overthrew the preceding Shunga dynasty. The Kanvas ruled from 73 BCE to 28 BCE.

Capital and Territories

• According to Puranic literature, the Kanvas ruled from Pataliputra, the former capital of the Shungas in Magadha (Eastern India).
• However, their coins have primarily been found in and around Vidisha (Central India), which was also the capital of later Shunga rulers.

Establishment of the Kanva Dynasty

• Vasudeva Kanva established the Kanva dynasty in 73 BCE.
• He was initially a minister of the Shunga Emperor Devabhuti, whom he later assassinated and usurped the throne.
• The Kanva rulers allowed the Shunga dynasty kings to continue ruling in obscurity in a small corner of their former dominions.
• There were four Kanva rulers, and their dynasty was eventually brought to an end by the Satavahanas in 28 BCE.

Origin of the Kanva Kings

• The Kanva kings were Brahmins.
• They were believed to be descendants of the sage Saubhari.
• Vasudeva Kanva killed Devabhuti of the Shunga dynasty and established his own rule.

Rulers of the Kanva Dynasty

The first ruler of the Kanva dynasty was Vasudeva, after whose Gotra the dynasty was named.

• Vasudeva Kanva was succeeded by his son Bhumimitra.
• Bhumimitra ruled for fourteen years and was later succeeded by his son Narayana.
• Narayana ruled for twelve years before being succeeded by his son Susharman, who was the last king of the Kanva dynasty.

Evidence of Kanva Rule

• Coins bearing the legend Bhumimitra have been discovered in the Panchala realm.
• Copper coins with the legend "Kanvasya" have been found in Vidisha and Kaushambi (Vatsa realm).

List of Kanva Dynasty Rulers

Emperor	Reign	Duration (years)
Vasudeva Kanva	73–64 BCE	9
Bhumimitra	64–50 BCE	14
Narayana	50–38 BCE	12
Susharman	38–28 BCE	10

Succession and the Fall of the Kanva Dynasty

• After their defeat by the Satavahanas, the Magadha Empire came to an end.
• The fall of the Kanva dynasty to the Satavahanas was a localized event in Central India.
• Numismatic and epigraphic evidence suggests that Magadha later came under the hegemony of the Mitra dynasty of Kaushambi from the 1st century BCE until the 2nd century CE.

Conflicting Accounts of the Kanva Dynasty’s End

• The Puranas suggest that the last Kanva king was killed by Balipuccha, who founded the Andhra dynasty.
• However, there is a lack of numismatic and archaeological evidence to support this claim.