The Mauryan Empire

• The Mauryan Empire ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military empire in ancient India.
• The Maurya period constitutes a landmark in the system of taxation in ancient India

Origin of the Mauryans

•  In the sixth century BC, conflicts arose among Avanti, Kosala, and Magadha Mahajanapadas as they vied for territorial expansion. Magadha eventually emerged victorious.
•  Following the Nanda rule, the powerful Mauryan dynasty ascended to the throne of Magadha, solidifying its status as one of the most prominent dynasties in ancient Indian history.
• Chandragupta, with the assistance of Chanakya, played a pivotal role in founding the Mauryan empire by overthrowing the Nanda dynasty. Chanakya subsequently became a significant minister in Chandragupta's court.

Different views on the Origin of the Mauryans

Archaeological Sources:

• Ashokan Edicts: Rock Edicts, Pillar Edicts, and Cave Inscriptions attributed to Ashoka are discovered at different locations across the Indian subcontinent.
• Decipherment: James Prinsep successfully deciphered these edicts in AD 1837.
• Content: The majority of these edicts convey Ashoka's proclamations to the public, while a few detail his acceptance of Buddhism.
• Material Remains: Artifacts like Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW), silver, and copper punch-marked coins provide insights into the material culture of the Mauryan period.

Literary Sources:

• Abundant Literary Records: Numerous literary sources contribute to a clearer understanding of the history of the Mauryan period.
• Jataka Tales: The Jataka, containing stories of the Buddha's previous lives, offers insights into the social and economic structures prevalent during the Mauryan empire.
• The Ashokavadana and Divyavadana offer insights into Bindusara's reign, Ashoka's expeditions to quell a Taxila rebellion, and his conversion to Buddhism. The Jaina work Sthaviravali Charita, or Parisishtaparvan by Hemachandra, delves into Chandragupta Maurya's life, covering his early years, Magadha conquest, Magadha famine, and adoption of Jainism.
• The Mahavamsatika, a commentary on Mahavamsa from the 10th century AD, provides details on the Mauryans' origin.
• Sri Lankan chronicles, Dipavamsa (compiled between the 3rd century BC and 4th century AD) and Mahavamsa (written in the 5th century AD), extensively describe Ashoka's role in propagating Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
• Mudrarakshasa by Vishakhadatta (4th century AD), a Sanskrit drama, depicts prevailing socio-economic conditions and mentions Chandragupta Sabha (Council).
•  Additional sources like Rajatarangini by Kalhana, Kathasaritasagar by Somadeva, and Brihatkathamanjari by Kshemendra contribute further insights into Mauryan history.
• Arthashastra of Kautilya: The Sanskrit work Arthashastra, attributed to Kautilya, serves as a comprehensive treatise on statecraft and public administration. Kautilya, the Prime Minister of Chandragupta, covers diverse topics, including kingship, government, state affairs, war and peace, diplomacy, revenue systems, espionage, army organization, and marriage laws.
• The work is structured into 15 Adhikaranas or books, comprising 180 Prakarnas (chapters) and a total of 6000 verses.

Megasthenes:

• Megasthenes, an ambassador sent by Seleucus, compiled his observations on Mauryan India in the book "Indica." 
• Key insights from Megasthenes include:
  • King was the central figure in the administrative structure.
  • Megasthenes portrays the king as a diligent individual.
  • Severe criminal laws, including mutilation and death penalties.
  • High praise for the honesty of the Indian people, with theft being a rare occurrence.
  • The assertion that famine was non-existent in India, and there was never a general scarcity of nourishing food.

Mauryan Rulers:

• The Mauryan dynasty, comprising Chandragupta Maurya, his sons Bindusara, and Ashoka, played a significant role in ancient India.

Chandragupta Maurya (322-298 BC):

• At the age of 25, Chandragupta overthrew the last Nanda ruler, Dhanananda, and captured Pataliputra in 321 BC with the assistance of Kautilya, also known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta (as mentioned in Mudrarakshasa by Vishakhadatta).
• In 305 BC, Chandragupta initiated a North-West campaign against Seleucus Nikator, culminating in the Treaty of 303 BC, favoring the Mauryans. As part of the treaty, Chandragupta provided 500 elephants to Seleucus, who, in return, ceded Eastern Afghanistan, Baluchistan, and the region west of the Indus to the Mauryan Empire.
• The Girnar record recounts Chandragupta instructing his Viceroy, Pushyagupta (also his brother-in-law), to construct the renowned Sudarsana lake. Pushyagupta held the title of Simant Raja. Chandragupta's marriage to Helena, later named Durdhara, the daughter of Seleucus Nicator, is documented.
• The Sohagura Copper Plate Inscription (Gorakhpur district) and Mahasthan Inscription (Bogra district) outline relief measures for famine, likely issued during Chandragupta Maurya's reign. Greek accounts refer to him as Sandrokottos. Chandragupta's expansionist policies centralized control over much of present-day India, excluding areas like Kalinga and the far South, during his rule from 321 BC to 297 BC.
• Jaina sources report that Chandragupta embraced Jainism towards life's end, eventually abdicating the throne in favor of his son. Accompanied by the Jaina saint Bhadrabahu, he journeyed to South India and spent his remaining years at Sravanabelagola, where he adhered to the orthodox Jain practice of slow starvation, known as Sallekhana.

Bindusara (298-273 BC) 

• Bindusara (298-273 BC) succeeded Chandragupta. Known as Amitrochates to the Greeks and Bindupala in Chinese texts, Bindusara's reign is documented by Taranatha, a Tibetan Buddhist monk who visited India in the 16th century.
• Bindusara expanded his empire by conquering 16 states, spanning the region between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
• Susima, Bindusara's eldest son, served as Viceroy of Taxila, while Ashoka held a similar position in Ujjain. A revolt in Taxila led Bindusara to send Ashoka to restore order.
• Bindusara had diplomatic ties with Antiochus I, the Seleucid king of Syria, and received an ambassador named Deimachus. Ptolemy Philadelphus of Egypt also sent Dionysius as an ambassador to Bindusara.
• The Mauryan Empire, under Bindusara, reached as far south as the Indian peninsula, with 16 states falling under its dominion. Kalinga was the only notable exception.
• While some Buddhist texts describe Bindusara as a Brahmana Bhatto (monk of the Brahmanas), an inscription at Sanchi suggested his involvement in building a Buddhist temple, Temple 40.
• Bindusara's religious affiliations remain debated, with some texts suggesting Brahmanism and others mentioning Ajivikas due to the presence of an Ajivika astrologer named Pingalavatsa in his court.

Ashoka (273-232 BC)

• Following his father Bindusara, Ashoka succeeded the throne, likely after a battle of succession. According to Divyavadana, he quelled a rebellion in Taxila and merged the Avanti Mahajanapada with Magadha.
• Initiated into Buddhism by a 7-year-old monk named Nigrodh, Ashoka reduced the land revenue of Lumbini village to the first eighth of its produce.
• Three phases of Ashoka's life were identified as Kamasoka, Chandasoka, and Dhammasoka.

Kalinga War

•  Ashoka waged only one major war, the Kalinga War, resulting in significant casualties. The aftermath deeply moved Ashoka, prompting a shift from physical occupation to cultural conquest.
•  Bhabru Inscription indicates that two years after the war, Ashoka embraced Buddhism ardently.

Ashoka's Dhamma

•  After converting to Buddhism, Ashoka generously supported Buddhists and initiated the Dhamma Yatra.
• Ashoka's Dhamma Policy aimed not only at religious promotion but also at becoming a state policy. He advocated conquest through Dhamma, replacing war drums (Bherighosa) with the sound of peace (Dhammaghosa).
• For Dhamma propagation, Ashoka implemented various measures through Dhamma Mahamata and regulation.
• Embarking on pilgrimages to sacred Buddhist sites, Ashoka visited Gaya, Kushinagar, Lumbini, Kapilavastu, Sarnath, and Shravasti.
• Propagators of Buddhism sent by Ashoka included Majjantik (Kashmir/Kandhar), Majjim (Himalayan region), Rakshit (Northern Border Zone), Mahendra, Sanghamitra (Sri Lanka), Sone, Uttara Suvarnabhumi (South India), Moha Dharma Rakshit, Mahadeo (Maharashtra), Dharma Rakshit (Western India), and Moha Rakshit (Greek City-States).

Ashoka's Inscriptions

• Ashoka holds the distinction of being the first ruler to issu