Mauryan Rulers
The Mauryan dynasty were a dynasty consisting of three important rulers i.e., Chandragupta Maurya, his sons Bindusara and Ashoka.
Chandragupta Maurya (322-298 BC)
• Chandragupta, at the young age of 25, dethroned the last Nanda ruler Dhanananda and occupied Pataliputra in 321 BC with the help of Kautilya, also known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta (this fact finds mention in Mudrarakshasa of Vishakhadatta).
In 305 BC. Chandragupta again moved North-West for a campaign against Nikator, which ended with the Treaty of in favour of the Mauryans
Chandragupta gave 500 elephants to Sele and in return. Seleucus gave him Eastern Afghanistan Baluchistan and the area the Indus.
• The Girnar record refers that Chandragupta ordered Viceroy or Governor, Pushya gupta (brother in law of Chandragupta), to construct the famous Sudarsana lake. His title was Simant Raja.
• Chandragupta Maurya married Helena (la renamed as Durdhara) daughter of Seleucus Nicator
• The Sohagura Copper Plate Inscription (Gorakhpur district) and Mahasthan Insert (Bogra district) deal with the relief measures adopted during a famine, these inscriptions probably issued during the reign of Chandr Maurya
Greek accounts mention him as Sandrokottos Chandragupta led a policy of expansion and brought under one control almost the whole present India barring a few places like Kalle and the extreme South His reign lasted from BC to 297 BC
• According to Jaina sources, Chandragupta embraced Jainism towards the end of his life abdicated the throne in favour of his son.
Chandragupta went to South India with Bhadrabahu. (the Jaina saint)
• At Sravanabelagola, he spent rest of his life died in the orthodox Jain way by slow star (Sallekhana)
Bindusara (298-273 BC)
Chandragupta Maurya was succeeded by his son Bindusara The Greeks called him as Amitrochates In Chinese text, he is mentis as Bindu pala
• According to Taranatha the Tibetan Budo monk who visited India in the 16th centuryBindusara conquered 16 states, comprising the land between the two seas (presumably the Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal).
• Bindusara appointed his eldest son Sumanaor Susimaas Viceroy of Taxila and Ashokaat Ujjain. The Divyavadana/Ashokavadana tells the story of a revolt in Taxila, during the time of Susima. Bindusara deputed Ashoka to restore order.
• Bindusara had contacts with Antiochus I, the Seleucid king of Syria whose ambassador, Deimachus was said to have been at his court.
⚫16 states were brought under the empire by him, thereby conquering the Indian peninsula.
• Other than the Southern states, the only kingdom which was not under the control of Bindusara was Kalinga
• The Buddhist texts Samantapasadikaand Mahavamsasuggest that Bindusara followed Brahmanism, calling him a Brahmana Bhatto (monk of the Brahmanas).
However, a fragmentary inscription at Sanchi, during the third century BC, suggested that Temple 40 was built by Bindusara, which belongs to the Buddhist order.
Some Buddhist texts mention that Bindusara was a follower of Ajivikas due to presence of an Ajivika astrologer at Bindusara's court, named pingalavasta.
Ashoka (273-232 BC)
• He succeeded his father Bindusara, but seems to have fought a battle of succession.
• According to Divyavadaną Ashoka was sent to quell rebellion at Taxila Samantapasadikaby Buddhaghoshamentioned that Ashoka won the Avanti Mahajanapada and merged it with Magadha.
• He was initiated into Buddhist fold by Nigrodh a 7 years old monk.
• Ashoka reduced the land revenue of Lumbini village to first eighth of produce.
• Three different phases of life of Ashoka were Kamasoką, Chandasoka and Dhammasoka.
Ashoka's Dhamma
• Ashoka became Buddhistafter Kalinga war. He provided immense donations to Buddhists and promoted Dhamma Yatra
• Ashoka's Dhamma Policywas not only religiously motivated, but he consciously tried to use as his state policy as well.
• Ashoka wanted conquest through Dhamma instead of war i.e., replacement of Bherighosa (sound of war drums) by Dhammaghosa(sound of peace).
• For the propagation of Dhamma, Ashoka had taken several measures through the Dhamma Mahamatą undertaking Dhamma by regulation.
• After he had embraced Buddhism Ashoka embarked on pilgrimages to sites sacred to Buddha and began to disseminate his thoughts on Dhamma.
• In the course of pilgrimage, Emperor Ashoka follows the route of Gaya, Kushinagar, Lumbini, Kapilavastu, Sarnath and Shravasti.
• Propagators of Buddhism sent by Ashoka are as follows:
* Majjantik(Kashmir/Kandhar)
* Majjim(Himalayan region)
*:Rakshit(Northern Border Zone)
* Mahendra and Sanghamitra(Sri Lanka)
* Sone and Uttara Suvarnabhumi (South India)
* Moha Dharma Rakshit(Maharashtra)
* Mahadeo(Maharashtra)
* Dharma Rakshit(Western India)
* Moha Rakshit(Greek City-States)
Ashoka's Inscriptions
He was the first ruler to issueroyal edicts Ashoka's Dhamma did not favour any particular religious doctrine.
• Hisrock edicts depicts that he wanted to promote tolerance and respect for all religious sects including Brahmanas and the Sramanas as well.
Maximum number of inscriptions have been discovered fromMysuru First Ashokan Edict was discovered by Padre Tieffenthaler, which was deciphered by James Prinsep in AD 1837 (Delhi-Meerut Pillar).
• Most of the inscriptions are composed inBrahmi script (left to right) and Prakrit language Maski, Gurjara, Nittur and Degolan inscriptions mention full name of Ashoka i.e., Devanampiya Ashoka Piyadassi.
Devanam Piyadassi
Devanampiya, also known as Devanampriya (Beloved of the Gods) was a Pali honorific epithet used by the Indian emperor Ashoka for himself in his inscriptions
• In a first, James Prinsep in his study while deciphering the edicts of Ashoka had originally identified Devanampriya as the King of Ceylon Devanampiya Tissa of Anuradhapura. In 1837,George Turnour discovered through Sri Lankan manuscripts Dipavamsa that Piyadassi was actually originally associated with Ashoka.
• In Kanganahalli relief sculpture inscription Ranyo Ashoka mentioned alongwith the stone portrait of Ashoka
Ashokan Edicts
Ashoka was the first Indian ruler to issue edicts. Ashokan edicts were inscribed either on the pillars of stone or on rocks. They consists of major and minor and major group's.
Central Administration
• The state, according to Kautilya, is constituted of the Saptanga or the seven elements viz Svamin (King), Amatya (Minister or High Officials), Janapada (Territory or Population), Durga (Fort), Kosa (Treasury), Bala (Army) and Mitra (Friend), or Ally).
Provincial and Local Administration
• The empire was mainly divided into 4 provinces and their capitals were Ujjain, Taxila, Kalinga and Suvarnagiri
• Each of these provinces was kept under the prince, who was scion of the Mauryan dynasty
• These provinces were again divided into smaller units and administered.
• The districts were maintained by Rajukas who were assisted by Yuktas Grahmini was responsible for village administration and Gopa had control over ten to fifteen villages.
• Nagarika was the city superintendent. He maintained the law and order.
• Mauryan state also had local and municipal administration on which Vish or Ahara (districts) were the units of a province.
• Megasthenese's account mentions six committees of five members each for administering the municipalities.
Mauryan Economy
• Chief source of Mauryan economy was land tax It was the total produce and it was collected by the revenue officers.
• Foreign trade by means of the land and sea was prevalent and regulated by passports kind of documents.
Indigo cotton and silk were most traded commodities. The trade routes were called Vanikatha.
• Punch-marked coins mainly of silver and copper. Pana was the silver coin, gold coins were absent.
• Money was used not only for trade although the government paid its officers in cash. Hired labourers were called Karmakaras.
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