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The Mauryan Empire & Its Founders

1. Establishment & Significance

• Founder: Chandragupta Maurya.
• Significance: Established the First Indian Empire, politically uniting many small kingdoms.
• Dynastic Age: Founded in 321 B.C. and ended in 184 B.C.
• Capital: Pataliputra (modern-day Patna). Chandragupta’s palace was mainly made of wood.
• Archaeological Sites: Remains of ancient Pataliputra have been found at Kumrahar (palace) and Bulandibagh (city wall).

2. Extent of the Empire

• Under Chandragupta:
  • Stretched as far west as modern-day Iran.
  • First king to conquer Malwa, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
  • Included Bengal, Assam, Afghanistan, Kashmir, and Nepal.
  • Evidence of sway over Western India is provided by the Junagarh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman.
• Under Bindusara: Conquered the Deccan region up to Mysore.
• Under Ashoka: The empire was vast, including Afghanistan, Bihar, and Kalinga. It did not include Sri Lanka (an independent “edge state”).

Key Figures of the Mauryan Dynasty

1. Chandragupta Maurya (c. 321 – 297 BCE)

• Greek Names: Known to the Greeks as Sandrokottos (or Androcottus). This identification was first made by scholar William Jones.
• Rise to Power: The Sanskrit play Mudrarakshasa by Vishakhadatta provides details, referring to him as “Vrishal” and “Kulheen”.
• Foreign Relations:
  • Greek writer Justin mentions a meeting between Sandrocottus (Chandragupta) and Alexander the Great. (Note: This information is debatable)
  • Defeated Seleucus Nicator in 305 BC.
• Public Works: Built a dam on Sudarshan Lake in the Girnar region.

2. Chanakya (Kautilya / Vishnugupta)

• Role: Prime Minister, advisor, and chief priest to Chandragupta Maurya.
• Work: Authored the Arthashastra, a treatise on principles of government and political statecraft (compared to Machiavelli’s “The Prince”).
• Saptang Theory: The seven essential elements (Angas) of a state from the Arthashastra are:
  1. Swamin (The King)
  2. Amatya (The Minister)
  3. Janapada (The Land and its People)
  4. Durga (The Fortified Capital)
  5. Kosha (The Treasury)
  6. Danda (The Army)
  7. Mitra (The Ally)

(Trick to Remember: SAJDa Karo DM (danda master) ka)

3. Bindusara (c. 297 – 273 BCE)

• Title: The Greeks called him “Amitraghata” (Slayer of Enemies).
• Conquests: Conquered 16 states in the Deccan, extending the empire.
• Foreign Diplomacy: The Syrian ambassador Deimachus was sent to his court by King Antiochus.
• Administration: His son Ashoka conquered the Avanti Mahajanapada during his reign (recorded in Samant Pasadika by Buddha Ghosh).

4. Ashoka the Great (c. 268 – 232 BCE)

• Titles & Identification:
  • Referred to as “Priyadassi” (Piyadasi) and “Devanampriya” (Beloved of the Gods) in his inscriptions.
  • His personal name “Ashoka” appears in minor rock edicts at Maski, Gujjara (Datia district, MP), Nettur, and Udgolam.
  • Killed his 99 brothers (leaving only Tishya).
  • The Bhabru pillar inscription calls him “Piyadasi Raja Magadha” (King of Magadha).
  • A stone portrait inscribed ‘Ranyo Ashoka’ was found at the Kanganahalli stupa in Karnataka.
  • The Puranas refer to him as “Ashok Vardhan”.
• Conquest & Transformation:
  • Annexed Kalinga for political and economic reasons (to control trade routes).
  • The Kalinga War is described in Rock Edict XIII, which expresses his profound regret and change of heart.
• Dhamma (Rajdharma):
  • Established ‘Dhamma Niti’ based on forbearance, liberty, and compassion.
  • Rock Edict XII is entirely devoted to religious tolerance.
  • Despite being Buddhist, he used the Hindu epithet “Devanampriya”.
• Contributions & Welfare:
  • Built India’s first hospitals (including veterinary hospitals) and herbal gardens.
  • Dug wells, planted trees, and created a ministry for welfare.
  • Erected the Rummindei (Lumbini) Pillar to mark Buddha’s birthplace and exempted the area from taxes.
• Buddhist Council: Convened the Third Buddhist Council in 250 BCE at Pataliputra, presided over by Moggaliputta Tissa (mentioned in Sinhalese chronicles Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa).
• Pilgrimage: After conversion, his pilgrimage route (per V.A. Smith) was: Lumbini → Kapilavastu → Bodhgaya → Sarnath → Kushinagar → Shravasti.

Mauryan Administration & Economy

1. Administrative Structure

• Provinces: The empire was divided into provinces (e.g., Uttarapath, Avantiratha, Kalinga).
• Key Officials:
  • Rajjuka: Provincial officers with judicial and land assessment duties.
  • Pradeshika: Highest officials of a division (Commissioner-level).
  • Yukta: Junior officials for revenue collection.
  • Sitadhyaksha: In charge of agriculture and land revenue. (Sita means land)
  • Samaharta: Officer associated with revenue collection in the council of ministers.
  • Pautavadhyaksha: In charge of weights and measures. (pautava पौतव primarily refers to a specific type of measure used for weighing solids)
  • Antapala: Responsible for border control. (Anta अंत means End or Border, which is the end point of kingdom)
  • Pradeshtha: District-level officer.
  • Agronomoi: District officers for tax collection, irrigation, and law enforcement.
• Judicial System: Two main courts—Dharmasthiya (civil) and Kantakshodhana (criminal).

2. Revenue & Taxation

• Tax Evasion was punishable by death.
• A sales tax of 10% was levied on earnings.
• Key revenue sources were ‘Bhaga’ (share of land produce) and ‘Bali’.
• Revenue from Crown land was known as ‘Sita’.

3. Urban Administration (Pataliputra)

• Administered by a council of 30 members divided into 6 committees (Astynomi).
• One committee was tasked specifically with tax collection.
• The city was surrounded by the Ganges river (north) and the Sone river (west).
• The administration registered births and deaths.
• A penalty (‘Pankodakasannirodhe’ ‘पंकोदकसन्निरोधे’) was charged for dirtying roads or causing waterlogging.

4. Economy & Trade

• Panyadhyaksha was the officer who supervised trade.
• A convoy of merchants was known as “Sarthwah”.
• The Sohgaura Copper-plate is the earliest known royal order for famine relief (preserving grains).
• Land Grants: Mauryan kings did not bestow land grants on a religious basis (this began with the Satavahanas). No evidence of peasant revolts.

Ashoka’s Inscriptions & Scripts

• Language: Prakrit (the earliest language used for stone inscriptions in this context).
• Scripts:
  • Brahmi: The most common script, deciphered by James Prinsep. Pre-Ashokan evidence found at Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka), Piparaha, Sohgoura, and Mahasthan.
  • Kharosthi: Used in the northwest (Shahbazgarhi, Mansehra); written right to left.
  • Other: Bilingual (Greek-Aramaic) inscription in Kandahar; Aramaic script in Laghman.
• Major Edicts:
  • Rock Edict I: Bans animal slaughter and sacrifices.
  • Rock Edict XIII: Describes the Kalinga War and lists contemporary Hellenistic rulers (Antiochus II, Ptolemy II, etc.).
  • Pillar Edict V: Bans animal sacrifice and slaughter of specific animals during festivals.
  • Second Major Rock Edict: Mentions South Indian kingdoms: Cholas, Pandyas, Sattiyaputta, and Keralaputta. The Satavahanas are not mentioned.
• Pillars: Monolithic, highly polished, with a tapering shaft. They were free-standing monuments. The Sarnath Pillar’s lion capital is the National Emblem of India.

Art, Architecture, and Society

1. Monuments & Sites

• Stupas: Sanchi Stupa (best in architecture), Bharhut Stupa, Amaravati Stupa, Dhamek Stupa (Sarnath, Gupta period), Ranabhar Stupa (Kushinagar).
• Other Sites:
  • Ghositarama Monastery at Kaushambi.
  • Shravasti ruins are at Sahet-Mahet.
  • Kalsi (Dehradun) is a famous site for Ashokan rock edicts.
• Sculpture: Famous Yaksha idol from Parkham (near Mathura) inscribed with the name Manibhadra.

2. Society & Learning

• Education: Taxila was the most famous center of learning.
• Social Customs:
  • Arthashastra permitted divorce under specific conditions.
  • Manusmriti prohibited widow remarriage.
  • Foreign invaders (Shakas, Kushans) were assigned the status of ‘Fallen Kshatriyas’.
  • The profession of memorizing chronicles was associated with the Maagadha.
• Foreign Account (Megasthenes):
  • Greek ambassador to Chandragupta’s court; wrote ‘Indica’.
  • Divided Indian society into 7 categories (Philosophers, Farmers, Herdsmen, Artisans, Soldiers, Overseers/Spies, Assessors).
  • Did not mention the existence of slavery in India.

Post-Mauryan Context & Other Dynasties

1. End of the Mauryan Dynasty

• The last Mauryan emperor was Brihadratha, assassinated by his commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Shunga, who founded the Shunga dynasty.
• The last Shunga king Devabhuti, was assassinated by his minister Vasudeva Kanva, who founded the Kanva dynasty.
• The last Kanva king Susharman was eventually deposed by the Simuka, founder of Satavahanas (Andhras).

2. Other Contemporary Dynasties

• Karddamaka Kshatrapas (Western Kshatrapa): A notable ruler was Rudradaman I. They issued rare copper coins (common currency was silver).
• Satavahanas: Nurturers of the Prakrit language. They significantly encouraged public art, particularly Buddhist sculpture and architecture.

3. Gupta Period (For Context)

• Inscriptions:
  • Allahabad Pillar Inscription (Prayag Prashasti): By Harisena, detailing Samudragupta’s campaigns. Lists kings like Dhananjaya (Kushalpura), Nilaraja (Avamukta), Ugrasena (Palaka), Vishnugopa (Kanchi).
  • Mandsaur Inscription: From Kumaragupta I’s time, records work of a silk weavers’ guild.
  • Eran Inscription: Mentions Samudragupta. Also, mentioned Sati pratha.
  • Poona copper plate: Associated with Prabhavatigupta (daughter of Chandragupta II).
• Literature: Vishakhadatta (also known as Vishakha Deva) composed ‘Devichandraguptam’.

Miscellaneous Historical Facts

• Pre-Mauryan: In the 6th century BCE, Varanasi was the capital of Kashi Mahajanapada. Later, King Shishunag of Haryanka made it his second capital.
• Coinage: The introduction of gold coins in India is attributed to the Indo-Greek kings, not the Mauryans.
• Village System: The autonomous village panchayat system was evolved by the Cholas (Dravids), not the Mauryans.
• Foreign Travelers (Chronological Order):
  1. Megasthenes (Chandragupta Maurya)
  2. Fa-Hien (399-414 AD, Chandragupta II)
  3. Hyeon-Tsang (629-645 AD, Harshavardhana)
  4. I-Tsing (671-695 AD), a Chinese traveller, arrived at Tamralipti, a port city of Bengal, stayed and learned Sanskrit. Also, stayed at Nalanda for 10 years.
  5. Al-Masudi (957 AD, Arab traveler)
• Important Sites:
  • Lothal: Ancient dockyard.
  • Nalanda: Great seat of Buddhist learning (became prominent post-Maurya).
  • Rajgir: First capital of Magadha; not the site of the Ashokan Lion Capital.
  • Ashokan Lion Capital (250 BCE) to commemorate the Buddha’s first sermon at Sarnath.

• Takshila Inscription: The Takshila (Taxila) inscription mentions Patika, the son of Satrap Liaka Kusuluka. (This relates to the Indo-Greek or Indo-Scythian period shortly after the Mauryans).

Know More about Mauryan:

• Maurya Empire One Liner Questions & Answers
• Maurya Empire – Old Year Questions and Answers