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| Mauryan empire |
Chandragupta
Maurya History (322 – 297 BC):
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With the help of Chanakya, known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta, he overthrew the
Nandas & established the rule of the Maurya dynasty.
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Chandragupta is called Sandrocottus by the Greek scholars.
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Seleucus Necater was one of the generals of Alexander and after his death, had
succeeded in gaining control of most of the Asiatic provinces.
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Chandragupta defeated him in 305 BC and was compelled to yield parts of
Afghanistan to Chandragupta. There was also a marriage alliance between the two
families.
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Built a vast empire, which included not only good portions of Bihar and Bengal,
but also western and north western India and the Deccan.
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This account is given by Megasthenes (A Greek ambassador sent by Seleucus to
the court of Chandragupta Maurya) in his book Indica. We also get the details
from the Arthashastra of Kautilya.
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Chandragupta adopted Jainism and went to Sravanabelagola (near Mysore) with
Bhadrabahu, where he died by slow starvation.
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Vishakhadatta wrote a drama Mudrarakshasa (describing Chandragupta’s enemy)
& Debi Chandraguptam in sixth century AD.
History
of Bindusara (297 – 273 BC):
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Called Amitraghat by Greek writers.
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Chandragupta was succeeded by his son Bindusara in 297 BC. He is said to have
conquered ‘the land between the 2 seas’, i.e., the Arabian Sea & Bay of
Bengal. At the time of his death, almost the entire subcontinent came under the
Mauryan rule. Greek Ambassador, Deimachos visited his court.
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History of Ashoka (269 – 232 BC):
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Ashoka was appointed the Viceroy of Taxila and Ujjain by his father, Bindusara.
He was at Ujjain when Bindusara, died. His formal coronation was delayed for
four years, suggesting a disputed succession. A Buddhist literature says that
he came to throne after killing his 99 brothers.
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Regarded as one of the greatest kings of all times. He was the first ruler to
maintain direct contact with people through his inscription.
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In his inscriptions following languages have been used:
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Brahmi, Kharoshthi, Armaic and Greek. (James Princep first deciphered the
inscriptions).
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Ashoka became the Buddhist under Upagupta.
Extent
of Empire: His
Empire covered the whole territory from Hindukush to Bengal & extended over
Afghanistan, Baluchistan & whole of India with the exception of a small
area in the farthest south. Kashmir and Valleys of Nepal were also included,
first empire to do so.
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| Ashoka after Kalinga War |
Aspects
of Ashoka’s Reign:
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Ashok’s empire was divided into provinces with a viceroy in each province. He
established Dhramshalas, hospitals and Sarais throughout his kingdom.
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He appointed Dharma Mahapatras to propagate dharma among various social groups
including women.
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He organized a network of missionaries to preach the doctrine both in his
kingdom and beyond. He sent them to Ceylon, Burma (sent his son Mahindra &
daughter Sanghamitra to Ceylon) and other south-east Asian regions, notably
Thailand.
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Ashoka is called ‘Buddhashakya & Ashok’ in Maski edict and ‘Dharmasoka’ in
Sarnath inscription. He was also known as ‘Devanampiya’- beloved of the gods,
and ‘Piyadassi’- of pleasing appearance.
Significance
of Mauryan Rule:
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The emblem of the Indian Republic has been adopted from the 4 – lion capital of
the Ashokan pillar at Sarnath.
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Gurukuls & Buddhist monasteries developed with royal patronage.
Universities of Taxila & Banaras are the gifts of this era.
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Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Bhadrabahu’s Kalpa Sutra, Buddhist texts like the
Katha Vatthu & Jain texts such as Bhagwati Sutra, Acharanga Sutra and
Dasavakalik comprise some of the important literature of this era.
Causes
of the fall of Mauryan Empire:
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Ashoka’s patronage of Buddhism and his anti-sacrificial attitude is said to
have affected the income of the Brahmins. So they developed antipathy against
Ashoka.
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Revenue from agrarian areas was not sufficient to maintain such a vast empire
as booty from war was negligible.
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Successors of Ashoka were too weak to keep together such a large centralized
empire.
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The last Mauryan king Brihadratha was killed by Pushyamitra Shunga (Commander
in Chief) in 185 BC, who started the Shunga dynasty in Magadha.
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