-
Chandragupta II
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chandragupta II The Great (Vikramaditya)
Gupta Emperor
Coin of the Gupta king Chandragupta II
Reign 375415 CE
Predecessor Ramagupta
Successor Kumara Gupta I
Consort Dhruvuswamini
Royal House Gupta dynasty
Father Samudragupta
Mother Datta Devi
Religious beliefs Hinduism
-
Chandragupta II The Great (Sanskrit: ; chandragupta vikramditya)
was one of the most powerful emperors
of the Gupta empire in northern India. His rule spanned c.
380413/415 CE, during which the Gupta Empire achieved its zenith,
art,
architecture, and sculpture flourished, and the cultural
development of ancient Indiareached its climax.[1]
The period of prominence
of the Gupta dynasty is very often referred to as the Golden Age
of India. Chandragupta II was the son of the previous
ruler,Samudragupta the Great. He attained success by pursuing
both a favorable marital alliance and an aggressive
expansionist
policy in this which his father and grandfather (Chandragupta I)
set the precedent. Samudragupta set the stage for the emergence
of
classical art, which occurred under the rule of Chandragupta II.
Chandragupta II gave great support to the arts. Artists were so
highly valued under his rule that they were paid for their work
a rare phenomenon in ancient civilizations.[2]
From 388 to 409 he subjugated Gujarat, the region north of
Mumbai, Saurashtra, in western India, and Malwa, with its capital
at
Ujjain.[3]
Culturally, the reign of Chandragupta II marked a Golden Age.
This is evidenced by later reports of the presence of a circle
of poets known as the Nine Gems in his court. The greatest among
them was Kalidasa, who authored numerous immortal pieces of
literature including Abhijnakuntalam. The others included
Sanskrit grammarian Amara Sinha and the astronomer-
mathematicianVarahamihira.[citation needed]
Contents
[hide]
1 Mentions in literature
2 Biography
o 2.1 Early life and coronation
o 2.2 Vakataka-Gupta Age
o 2.3 Visit of Fa-hein
o 2.4 Campaigns against foreign tribes
o 2.5 End of Chandragupta II
3 Religion
4 Coinage
5 Iron pillar of Delhi
6 Vikram-Samvat Calendar
7 Notes
8 References
9 External links
10 See also
[edit]Mentions in literature
-
Not much is known about the personal details of Chandragupta II.
The most widely accepted details have been built upon the plot
of
the play Devi-chandraguptam by Vishakadatta. The play is now
lost, but fragments have been preserved in other works (such as
Abhinava-bharati, Sringara-prakasha, Natya-darpana,
Nataka-lakshana Ratna-kosha). There even exists an Arabic work,
written
in Persia near the Indian subcontinent, Mojmal al-tawarikh (12th
century CE) which tells a similar tale of a king whose name
appears to be a corruption of 'Vikramaditya'. The name
'Vikramaditya' holds a semi-mythical status in India. India has
many
interesting stories about King Vikramaditya, his guru
Manva-Patwa and his queens. It is widely believed that the great
poet
in Sanskrit, Kalidasa was one of the jewels of Vikramaditya's
royal court.
[edit]Biography
[edit]Early life and coronation
Coin of Vikramadytia Chandragupta II with the name of the king
in Brahmi script, 380415 CE.
Chandragupta II's mother, Datta Devi, was the chief queen of
Samudragupta the Great. After Samudragupta's death his elder
son, Ramagupta, took over the throne and married Chandragupta
II's fiance Dhruvaswamini by force. The fragment
from Vishakadatta's "Natya-darpana" mentions the king Ramagupta,
the elder brother of Chandragupta II, deciding to surrender his
queen Dhruvaswamini to the Saka ruler of the Western
KshatrapasRudrasimha III (r. 388 - 395 CE), after a defeat at the
Saka ruler's
hands. To avoid the ignominy the Guptas decide to send
Madhavasena, a courtesan and a beloved of Chandragupta II,
disguised as
the queen Dhruvaswamini. Chandragupta II changes the plan and
himself goes to Rudrasimha III disguised as the queen. He then
assassinates Rudrasimha III and later his brother Ramagupta.
Dhruvaswamini is then married to Chandragupta II.
Historians still don't know what liberties the author
Vishakadatta took with the incidents, but Dhruvadevi was indeed
Chandragupta
II's Chief Queen as seen in the Vaisali Terracotta Seal that
calls her "Mahadevi" (Chief Queen) Dhruvasvamini. The Bilsad
Pillar
Inscription of their son Kumaragupta I (r. 414455 CE) also
refers to her as "Mahadevi Dhruvadevi". Certain "Ramagupta" too
is
mentioned in inscriptions on Jain figures in the District
Archaeological Museum, Vidisha and some copper coins found at
Vidisha.
The fact that Chandragupta II and Dhruvadevi are the
protagonists of Vishakadatta's play indicates that marrying his
widowed
sister-in-law was not given any significance by the playwright.
Later Hindus did not view such a marriage with favour and some
-
censure of the act is found in the Sanjan Copper Plate
Inscription of Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha I (r. 814-878 CE) and
in the
Sangali and Cambay Plates of the Govinda IV (r. 930-936 CE).
[edit]Vakataka-Gupta Age
The Allahabad Pillar Inscription mentions the marriage of
Chandragupta II with a Naga princess Kuberanaga. A pillar
from Mathurareferring to Chandragupta II has recently been dated
to 388 CE.[4]
Chandragupta II's daughter, Prabhavatigupta, by his Naga queen
Kuberanaga was married to the powerful Vakataka dynasty ruler
Rudrasena II (r.380-385 CE).
Gold coins of Chandragupta II the Great. The one on the left is
the obverse of a so-called "Chhatra" type of Chandragupta II, while
the one on the
right is the obverse of a so-called "Archer" type of
Chandragupta II.
His greatest victory was his victory over the Shaka-Kshatrapa
dynasty and annexation of their kingdom in Gujarat, by
defeating
their last rulerRudrasimha III.
Chandragupta II's son-in-law, the Vakataka ruler Rudrasena II,
died fortuitously after a very short reign in 385 CE, following
which
Queen Prabhavati Gupta (r. 385-405) ruled the Vakataka kingdom
as a regent on behalf of her two sons. During this twenty-year
period the Vakataka realm was practically a part of the Gupta
empire. The geographical location of the Vakataka kingdom
allowed
Chandragupta II to take the opportunity to defeat the Western
Kshatrapas once for all. Many historians refer to this period as
the
Vakataka-Gupta Age.
Chandragupta II controlled a vast empire, from the mouth of the
Gangesto the mouth of the Indus River and from what is now
North Pakistandown to the mouth of the Narmada. Pataliputra
continued to be the capital of his huge empire but Ujjain too
became
a sort of second capital. The large number of beautiful gold
coins issued by the Gupta dynasty are a testament to the
imperial
grandeur of that age. Chandragupta II also started producing
silver coins in the Saka tradition.
[edit]Visit of Fa-hein
Fa-hein (337 c. 422 CE) was the first of three great Chinese
pilgrims who visited India from the fifth to the seventh centuries
CE,
in search of knowledge, manuscripts and relics. Faxian arrived
during the reign of Chandragupta II and gave a general description
of
North India at that time. Among the other things, he reported
about the absence of capital punishment, the lack of a poll-tax
and
land tax. Most citizens did not consume onions, garlic, meat,
and wine.[citation needed]
-
[edit]Campaigns against foreign tribes
Vikramaditya goes forth to war
4th century CE Sanskrit poet Kalidasa, credits Chandragupta
Vikramaditya with having conquered about twenty one kingdoms,
both in and outside India. After finishing his campaign in the
East and West India, Vikramaditya (Chandra Gupta II) proceeded
northwards, subjugated the Parasikas (Persians), then the
Hunasand the Kambojas tribes located in the west and east Oxus
valleys
respectively. Thereafter, the king proceeds across the Himalaya
and reduced the Kinnaras,Kiratas etc. and lands into India
proper.[5]
The Brihatkathamanjari of the Kashmiriwriter Kshmendra states,
king Vikramaditya (Chandra Gupta II) had "unburdened
the sacred earth of the Barbarians like the Sakas, Mlecchas,
Kambojas, Yavanas,Tusharas, Parasikas, Hunas, etc. by
annihilating
these sinful Mlecchascompletely".[6][7][8]
[edit]End of Chandragupta II
Chandragupta II was succeeded by his second son Kumaragupta I,
born of Mahadevi Dhruvasvamini.[9]
[edit]Religion
From Chandragupta II kings of Gupta dynasty are known as Parama
Bhagavatas or Bhagavata Vaishnavas.
The Bhagavata Purana entails the fully developed tenets and
philosophy of the Bhagavata tradition wherein Krishna gets
fused
withVasudeva and transcends Vedic Vishnu and cosmic Hari to be
turned into the ultimate object of bhakti.[10]
[edit]Coinage
-
Silver coin of Chandragupta II the Great, minted in his Western
territories, in the style of the Western Satraps.
Obv:Bust of king, with corrupted Greek legend
"OOIHU".[11][12]
Rev: Legend in Brahmi, "Chandragupta Vikramaditya, King of
Kings, and a devotee of Vishnu", around Garuda, the mythic eagle
and dynastic
symbol of the Guptas.
15mm, 2.1 grams. Mitchiner 4821-4823.
Chandragupta continued issuing most of the gold coin types
introduced by his father Samudragupta, such as the Sceptre type
(rare
for Chandragupta II), the Archer type, and the Tiger-Slayer
type. However, Chandragupta II also introduced several new types,
such
as the Horseman type and the Lion-slayer type, both of which
were used by his son Kumaragupta I.
In addition, Chandragupta II was the first Gupta king to issue
silver coins, such as the one illustrated at right. These coins
were
intended to replace the silver coinage of the Western Kshatrapas
after Chandragupta II defeated them, and were modeled on the
Kshatrapa coinage. The main difference was to replace the
dynastic symbol of the Kshatrapas (the three-arched hill) by the
dynastic
symbol of the Guptas (the mythic eagleGaruda). Further,
Chandragupta also issued lead coins based on Kshatrapa prototypes
and
rare copper coins probably inspired by the coins of another
tribe he defeated, the Nagas.
Gold Dinar 7.75g Archer Type
Gold Dinar 7.59g Horseman Type
Gold Dinar 7.8g Chattra (Parasol or Royal Umbrella) Type
[edit]Iron pillar of Delhi
Main article: Iron pillar of Delhi
-
The iron pillar of Delhi, erected by Chandragupta II the
Great
Close to the Qutub Minar is one of Delhi's most curious
structures, an iron pillar, dating back to 4th century CE. The
pillar bears an
inscription which states that it was erected as a flagstaff in
honour of the Hindu god Vishnu, and in the memory of Chandragupta
II
(A derivation of "Natya-darpana" by Vishakadata states that the
pillar had been put up by Chandragupta II himself after
defeating
Vahilakas. And after this great feat, he put up this pillar as a
memory of the victory). The pillar also highlights ancient
India's
achievements in metallurgy. The pillar is made of 98% wrought
iron and has stood more than 1,600 years without rusting or
decomposing. This iron pillar is similar to the pillars of
ashoka.
[edit]Vikram-Samvat Calendar
Main article: Vikram Samvat
The next day after the Hindu festival Diwali is called Padwa or
Varshapratipada, which marks the coronation of King
Vikramaditya.
He was a Hindu king who ruled in first century BCE. The title
'Vikramaditya' was later used by Gupta king Chandragupta II and
16th century Hindu king Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya as well.
Vikram-Samvat calendar starts from 57 BCE.
The Hindu Vikram-Samvat calendar is celebrated as New Year's Day
in Nepal where Vikram Sambat is the official calendar.
[edit]Notes
1. ^ .
2. ^ AUTHOR ushistory.org TITLE OF PAGE The Gupta Period of
India TITLE OF
PROGRAM Ancient Civilizations Online Textbook URL OF
PAGE http://www.ushistory.org/civ/8e.asp DATE OF ACCESS
Thursday, November 10,
2011 COPYRIGHT 2011
-
3. ^ .
4. ^ Falk, Harry. (2004) "The Kanika era in Gupta Records." Silk
Road Art and
Archaeology 10. Kamakura: The Institute of Silk Road Studies,
pp. 167-176.
5. ^ Raghu Vamsa v 4.6075
6. ^ ata shrivikramadityo helya nirjitakhilah Mlechchana
Kamboja. Yavanan neechan Hunan
Sabarbran Tushara. Parsikaanshcha tayakatacharan vishrankhalan
hatya
bhrubhangamatreyanah bhuvo bharamavarayate (Brahata Katha,
10/1/285-86, Kshmendra).
7. ^ Kathasritsagara 18.1.7678
8. ^ Cf:"In the story contained in Kathasarit-sagara, king
Vikarmaditya is said to have
destroyed all the barbarous tribes such as the Kambojas,
Yavanas, Hunas, Tokharas and the
Persians "(See: Ref: Reappraising the Gupta History, 1992, p
169, B. C. Chhabra, Sri Ram;
Cf also: Vikrama Volume, 1948, p xxv, Vikramditya akri; cf:
Anatomii a i fiziologii a
selskokhozi a stvennykh zhivotnykh, 1946, p 264, Arthur John
Arberry, Louis Renou, B. K.
Hindse, A. V. Leontovich, National Council of Teachers of
English Committee on
Recreational Reading Sanskrit language.
9. ^ Agarwal, Ashvini (1989). Rise and Fall of the Imperial
Guptas, Delhi:Motilal
Banarsidass, ISBN 81-208-0592-5, pp.191200
10. ^ Kalyan Kumar Ganguli: (1988). Sraddh njali, Studies in
Ancient Indian History: D.C.
Sircar Commemoration: Puranic tradition of Krishna. Sundeep
Prakashan. ISBN 81-85067-
10-4.p.36
11. ^ "The conquest is indicated by the issue of the new Gupta
silver coinage modelled on the
previous Saka coinage showing on observe the King's head, Greek
script, and dates as on
Saka coins" in Early history of Jammu region: pre-historic to
6th century A.D. by Raj
Kumar p.511
12. ^ "Evidence of the conquest of Saurastra during the reign of
Chandragupta II is to be seen in
his rare silver coins which are more directly imitated from
those of the Western Satraps...
they retain some traces of the old inscriptions in Greek
characters, while on the reverse, they
substitute the Gupta type (a peacock) for the chaitya with
crescent and star." in Rapson "A
catalogue of Indian coins in the British Museum. The Andhras
etc...", p.cli. Most people
now realize that Rapson was mistaken in identifying the central
bird as a peacock; rather, it
is the mythic eagle Garuda, the dynastic symbol of the Guptas.
For example, A.S. Altekar
says: "... the three-arched hill in the cntre is replaced by
Garuda, which was the imperial
insignia of the Guptas. The view of earlier writers ... that the
bird is a peacock is clearly
untenable." in Altekar: The Coinage of the Gupta
Empire,Varanasi: Banaras Hindu
University, 1957, p. 151.
-
[edit]References
R. K. Mookerji, The Gupta Empire, 4th edition. Motilal
Banarsidass, 1959.
R. C. Majumdar, Ancient India, 6th revised edition. Motilal
Banarsidass, 1971.
Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund, A History of India, 2nd
edition. Rupa and Co,
1991.
[edit]External links
Coins of Chandragupta II
[edit]See also
Vikramditya
List of people known as The Great
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Samudragupta the Great
Gupta Emperor 375414
Succeeded by
Kumara Gupta I
Categories:
410s deaths
Gupta Empire
Indian monarchs
History of Malwa
4th-century monarchs in Asia
5th-century monarchs in Asia
Navigation menu
Create account
Log in
Article Talk Read Edit View history
Main page
Contents
Featured content
Current events
-
Random article
Donate to Wikipedia Interaction
Help
About Wikipedia
Community portal
Recent changes
Contact Wikipedia Toolbox
Print/export
Languages
Alemannisch
esky
Deutsch
Espaol
Franais
Bahasa Indonesia
Italiano
Polski
Portugus
Srpskohrvatski /
Svenska
Ting Vit
Edit links
This page was last modified on 12 March 2013 at 21:59.
Text is available under the Creative Commons
Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms
may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation,
Inc., a non-profit organization.
Ashoka
-
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Asoka
Maurya Samrat
A "Chakravartin" ruler, 1st century BCE/CE. Andhra Pradesh,
Amaravati.
Preserved at Musee Guimet
Reign 268232 BCE
Coronation 268 BCE
Born 304 BCE
Birthplace Pataliputra, Patna
Died 232 BCE (aged 72)
Place of
death
Pataliputra, Patna
Buried Ashes immersed in the GangesRiver, possibly
-
at Varanasi,Cremated 232 BCE, less than 24 hours after
death
Predecessor Bindusara
Successor Dasaratha
Wives Kaurwaki
Devi
Padmavati
Tishyaraksha
Royal House Mauryan dynasty
Father Bindusara
Mother Maharani Dharma or Shubhadrangi
Children Mahendra, Sanghamitra, Tivala,Kunala,
Jaluka, Charumati
Religious
beliefs
Buddhism
Ashoka Maurya (304232 BCE) commonly known as Ashoka and also as
Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor
of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian
subcontinent from ca. 269 BCE to 232 BCE.[1]
One of India's
greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India
after a number of military conquests. His empire
stretched from the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan to
present-day Bangladesh and the Indian state of Assam in
the east, and as far south as northern Kerala and Andhra
Pradesh.The empire had Taxila, Ujjain and Pataliputra as its
capital. In about 260 BCE Ashoka waged a bitterly destructive
war against the states of Kalinga (modern Odisha).[2]
He
conquered Kalinga, which none of his ancestors starting from
Chandragupta Mauryahad conquered. His reign was
headquartered in Magadha (present-day Bihar). He embraced
Buddhism after witnessing the mass deaths of
the Kalinga War, which he himself had waged out of a desire for
conquest. "Ashoka reflected on the war in Kalinga,
which reportedly had resulted in more than 100,000 deaths and
150,000 deportations."[3]
Ashoka converted gradually to
Buddhism beginning about 263 BCE at the latest.[2]
He was later dedicated to the propagation of Buddhism across
Asia
-
and established monuments marking several significant sites in
the life of Gautama Buddha. "Ashoka regarded
Buddhism as a doctrine that could serve as a cultural foundation
for political unity."[4]
Ashoka is often remembered in
history as a philanthropic administrator. In the Kalinga edicts,
he addresses his people as his "children" and mentions
that as a father he desires their good.
In the history of India, Ashoka is referred to as Samraat
Chakravartin Ashoka the "Emperor of Emperors Ashoka." His
name "aoka" means "painless, without sorrow" inSanskrit (the a
privativum and oka "pain, distress"). In his edicts, he
is referred to asDevnmpriya (Pali Devnapiya or "The Beloved of
the Gods"), and Priyadarin (PaliPiyadas or "He
who regards everyone with affection"). His fondness for his
name's connection to the Saraca asoca tree, or the "Asoka
tree" is also referenced in theAshokavadana.
H.G. Wells wrote of Ashoka in A Short History of the World (H.
G. Wells):
In the history of the world there have been thousands of kings
and emperors who called themselves "Their
Highnesses," "Their Majesties," "Their Exalted Majesties," and
so on. They shone for a brief moment, and as quickly
disappeared. But Ashoka shines and shines brightly like a bright
star, even unto this day.
Along with the Edicts of Ashoka, his legend is related in the
later 2nd-centuryAshokavadana ("Narrative of Asoka," a
part of Divyavadana), and in the Sri Lankan textMahavamsa
("Great Chronicle").
Ashoka played a critical role in helping make Buddhism a world
religion.[5]
The emblem of the modern Republic of India
is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka.
Contents
[hide]
1 Biography
o 1.1 Early life
o 1.2 Rise to power
o 1.3 Early life as Emperor
2 Conquest of Kalinga
o 2.1 Buddhist conversion
o 2.2 Death and legacy
2.2.1 Buddhist kingship
3 Historical sources
4 Perceptions
o 4.1 Foci of Debate
5 Contributions
o 5.1 Global spread of Buddhism
-
o 5.2 As administrator
o 5.3 Ashoka Chakra
o 5.4 Pillars of Ashoka (Ashokstambha)
o 5.5 Lion Capital of Asoka (Ashokmudra)
o 5.6 Constructions credited to Ashoka
6 In art, film and literature
7 See also
8 References
9 Works cited
10 External links
[edit]Biography
[edit]Early life
Ashoka was born to the Mauryan emperor Bindusara and a
relatively lower ranked wife of his, Dharm [or Dhamm].
He was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, founder of Mauryan
dynasty. The Avadana texts mention that his
mother was queen Subhadrang. According to Ashokavadana, she was
the daughter of a Brahmin from the city of
Champa.[6]:205
Empress Subhadrang was a Brahmin of the Ajivika sect,[7] and was
found to be a suitable match for
Emperor Bindusara. Though a palace intrigue kept her away from
the emperor, this eventually ended, and she bore a
son. It is from her exclamation "I am now without sorrow," that
Ashoka got his name. The Divyvadna tells a similar
story, but gives the name of the queen as
Janapadakalyn.[8][9]
Ashoka had several elder siblings, all of whom were his
half-brothers from other wives of Bindusara. He had been given
the royal military training knowledge which was greatly apparent
as he was known as a fearsome hunter, and according
to a legend, killed a lion with just a wooden rod. He was very
adventurous and a trained fighter, who was known for his
skills with the sword. Because of his reputation as a
frightening warrior and a heartless general, he was sent to curb
the
riots in the Avanti province of the Mauryan empire.[10]
[edit]Rise to power
-
Maurya Empire at the age of Ashoka. The empire stretched from
Afghanistan to Bangladesh/Assam and from Central Asia
(Afghanistan) to Tamil Nadu/South India.
The Buddhist text Divyavadana describes Ashoka putting down a
revolt due to activities of wicked ministers. This may
have been an incident in Bindusara's times. Taranatha's account
states that Chanakya, one of Bindusara's great lords,
destroyed the nobles and kings of 16 towns and made himself the
master of all territory between the eastern and the
western seas. Some historians consider this as an indication of
Bindusara's conquest of the Deccan while others
consider it as suppression of a revolt. Following this, Ashoka
was stationed at Ujjayini as governor.[9]
Bindusara's death in 273 BCE led to a war over succession.
According to Divyavandana, Bindusara wanted his son
Sushim to succeed him but Ashoka was supported by his father's
ministers, who found Sushim to be arrogant and
disrespectful towards them.[11]
A minister named Radhagupta seems to have played an important
role in Ashoka's rise
to the throne. The Ashokavadana recounts Radhagupta's offering
of an old royal elephant to Ashoka for him to ride to
the Garden of the Gold Pavilion where King Bindasura would
determine his successor. Ashoka later got rid of the
legitimate heir to the throne by tricking him into entering a
pit filled with live coals. Radhagupta, according to the
Ashokavadana, would later be appointed prime minister by Ashoka
once he had gained the throne.
The Dipavansa and Mahavansa refer to Ashoka's killing 99 of his
brothers, sparing only one, named Tissa,[9]
although
there is no clear proof about this incident (many such accounts
are saturated with mythological elements).
The coronation happened in 269 BCE, four years after his
succession to the throne.
[edit]Early life as Emperor
An imaginary painting of Asoka's Queen by Abanindranath Tagore
(18711951)
Buddhist legends state that Ashoka was of a wicked nature and
bad temper. He submitted his ministers to a test of
loyalty and had 500 of them killed. He also kept a harem of
around 500 women. When a few of these women insulted
-
him for his "rough skin" after he fondly compared himself with
the beauty of the Asoka tree (which according to the
Ashokavadana, the women defiled by plucking off all of the
flowers), he had the whole lot of them burnt to death. He
also built an elaborate torture chamber, deemed the "Paradisal
Hell" because of its beautiful exterior contrasted with the
acts carried out inside by his appointed executioner
Girikaa,[12]
which earned him the name of "ana Ashoka" or
"Chandaashoka," meaning "Ashoka the Fierce" in Sanskrit.
Professor Charles Drekmeier cautions that the Buddhist
legends intend to dramatise the change resulting from the
Buddhist change, and therefore, exaggerate Ashoka's past
wickedness and his piousness after the conversion.[13]
Ascending the throne, Ashoka expanded his empire over the next
eight years, from the present-day boundaries and
regions of BurmaBangladesh and the state of Assam in India in
the east to the territory of present-day Iran / Persia
and Afghanistan in the west; from the Pamir Knots in the north
almost to the peninsular of southern India (i.e. Tamil
Nadu / Andhra Pradesh).[9]
[edit]Conquest of Kalinga
While the early part of Ashoka's reign was apparently quite
bloodthirsty, he became a follower of the Buddha's
teachings after his conquest of Kalinga on the east coast of
India in the present-day states of Odisha and North
Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Kalinga was a state that prided itself
on its sovereignty and democracy. With its monarchical
parliamentary democracy it was quite an exception in ancient
Bharata where there existed the concept of Rajdharma.
Rajdharma means the duty of the rulers, which was intrinsically
entwined with the concept of bravery and dharma. The
Kalinga War happened eight years after his coronation. From his
13th inscription, we come to know that the battle was
a massive one and caused the deaths of more than 100,000
soldiers and many civilians who rose up in defence; over
150,000 were deported.[14]
When he was walking through the grounds of Kalinga after his
conquest, rejoicing in his
victory, he was moved by the number of bodies strewn there and
the wails of the kith and kin of the dead.
[edit]Buddhist conversion
-
A similar four "Indian lion" Lion Capital of Ashoka atop an
intact Ashoka Pillar at Wat U Mong near Chiang Mai, Thailand
showing
another larger Dharma Chakra / Ashoka Chakra atop the four lions
thought to be missing in the Lion Capital of Ashoka atSarnath
Museum which has been adopted as the National Emblem of
India.
Edict 13 on the Edicts of Ashoka Rock Inscriptions reflect the
great remorse the king felt after observing the destruction
of Kalinga:
His Majesty feels remorse on account of the conquest of the
Kalingaa because, during the subjugation of a previously
unconquered country, slaughter, death, and taking away captive
of the people necesarrily occur, wherest His Majesty
feels profound sorrow and regret.
The Edict goes on to address the even greater degree of sorrow
and regret garnered by Ashoka's understanding that
the lives of the friends and families of deceased would cause
great living suffering as well, as Ashoka perceived the
overarching misery that resulted from mass slaughter of the
Kalinga people.[15]
Legend says that one day after the war was over, Ashoka ventured
out to roam the city and all he could see were burnt
houses and scattered corpses. This sight made him sick and he
cried the famous monologue:[16][dubious discuss]
What have I done? If this is a victory, what's a defeat then? Is
this a victory or a defeat? Is this justice or injustice? Is it
gallantry or a rout? Is it valor to kill innocent children and
women? Did I do it to widen the empire and for prosperity or to
destroy the other's kingdom and splendor? One has lost her
husband, someone else a father, someone a child,
someone an unborn infant.... What's this debris of the corpses?
Are these marks of victory or defeat? Are these
vultures, crows, eagles the messengers of death or evil?
The brutality of the conquest led him to adopt Buddhism and
place great emphasis on pietyin his Edicts, and he used
his position to propagate the relatively new religion to new
heights. He made Buddhism his state religion around 260
BCE, propagating and preaching it within his domain and
worldwide from about 250 BCE.[17]
He can be thus credited
with the first serious attempt to develop a Buddhist policy.
Prominent in this cause were his son Mahinda (Mahendra)
and daughter Sanghamitra (whose name means "friend of the
Sangha"), who established Buddhism in Ceylon (now Sri
Lanka).
-
Ashokan Pillar at Vaishali
[edit]Death and legacy
Ashoka's Major Rock Edict at Junagadhcontains inscriptions by
Ashoka (fourteen of the Edicts of Ashoka), Rudradamanna
I andSkandagupta.
Ashoka ruled for an estimated forty years. After his death, the
Mauryan dynasty lasted just fifty more years. Ashoka had
many wives and children, but many of their names are lost to
time. Mahindra and Sanghamitra were twins born by his
first wife, Devi, in the city of Ujjain. He had entrusted to
them the job of making his state religion, Buddhism, more
popular across the known and the unknown world. Mahindra and
Sanghamitra went into Sri Lanka and converted the
King, the Queen and their people to Buddhism.
In his old age, he seems to have come under the spell of his
youngest wife Tishyaraksha. It is said that she had got
Ashoka's son Kunala, the regent in Takshashila and the heir
presumptive to the throne, blinded by a wily stratagem.
The official executioners spared Kunala and he became a
wandering singer accompanied by his favourite
wife Kanchanmala. In Pataliputra, Ashoka hears Kunala's song,
and realises that Kunala's misfortune may have been a
punishment for some past sin of the emperor himself and condemns
Tishyaraksha to death, restoring Kunala to the
-
court. In the Ashokavadana, Kunala is portrayed as forgiving
Tishyaraksha, having obtained enlightenment through
Buddhist practice. While he urges Ashoka to forgive her as well,
Ashoka does not respond with the same
forgiveness.[12]
Kunala was succeeded by his son, Samprati, but his rule did not
last long after Ashoka's death.
The reign of Ashoka Mauryan could easily have disappeared into
history as the ages passed by, would he not have left
behind a record of his trials. The testimony of this wise king
was discovered in the form of magnificently sculpted pillars
and boulders with a variety of actions and teachings he wished
to be published etched into the stone. What Ashoka left
behind was the first written language in India since the ancient
city of Harappa. The language used for inscription was
the then current spoken form called Prakrit.
In the year 185 BCE, about fifty years after Ashoka's death, the
last Maurya ruler,Brhadratha, was assassinated by the
commander-in-chief of the Mauryan armed forces,Pusyamitra Sunga,
while he was taking the Guard of Honor of his
forces. Pusyamitra Sunga founded the Sunga dynasty (185 BCE-78
BCE) and ruled just a fragmented part of the
Mauryan Empire. Many of the northwestern territories of the
Mauryan Empire (modern-day Afghanistan and Northern
Pakistan) became the Indo-Greek Kingdom.
In 1992, Ashoka was ranked No. 53 on Michael H. Hart's list of
the most influential figures in history. In 2001, a semi-
fictionalized portrayal of Ashoka's life was produced as a
motion picture under the title Asoka. King Ashoka, the third
monarch of the Indian Mauryan dynasty, has come to be regarded
as one of the most exemplary rulers in world history.
[edit]Buddhist kingship
Main articles: History of Buddhism and History of Buddhism in
India
Further information: Buddhism in Sri Lanka and Buddhism in
Burma
One of the more enduring legacies of Ashoka Maurya was the model
that he provided for the relationship between
Buddhism and the state. Throughout Theravada Southeastern Asia,
the model of rulership embodied by Ashoka
replaced the notion of divine kingship that had previously
dominated (in the Angkor kingdom, for instance). Under this
model of 'Buddhist kingship', the king sought to legitimise his
rule not through descent from a divine source, but by
supporting and earning the approval of the Buddhist sangha.
Following Ashoka's example, kings established
monasteries, funded the construction of stupas, and supported
the ordination of monks in their kingdom. Many rulers
also took an active role in resolving disputes over the status
and regulation of the sangha, as Ashoka had in calling a
conclave to settle a number of contentious issues during his
reign. This development ultimately lead to a close
association in many Southeast Asian countries between the
monarchy and the religious hierarchy, an association that
can still be seen today in the state-supported Buddhism of
Thailand and the traditional role of the Thai king as both a
religious and secular leader. Ashoka also said that all his
courtiers always governed the people in a moral manner.
Asoka was not non-violent after adopting Buddhism, as evident by
a couple of incidents mentioned in the 2nd-century
CE textAshokavadana. In one instance, a non-Buddhist in
Pundravardhana drew a picture showing the Buddha bowing
at the feet of Nirgrantha Jnatiputra (identified with Mahavira,
the founder of Jainism). On complaint from a Buddhist
-
devotee, Asoka issued an order to arrest him, and subsequently,
another order to kill all the Ajivikas in Pundravardhana.
Around 18,000 followers of the Ajivika sect were executed as a
result of this order.[6][18]
Sometime later, another
Nirgrantha follower in Pataliputra drew a similar picture. Asoka
burnt him and his entire family alive in their house.[18]
He
also announced an award of one dinara (silver coin) to anyone
who brought him the head of a Nirgrantha heretic.
According to Ashokavadana, as a result of this order, his own
brother was mistaken for a heretic and killed by a
cowherd.[6]
[edit]Historical sources
Main articles: Edicts of Ashoka, Ashokavadana, Mahavamsa, and
Dipavamsa
Ashoka was almost forgotten by the historians of the early
British India, but James Prinsep contributed in the revelation
of historical sources. Another important historian was British
archaeologist John Hubert Marshall, who was director-
General of the Archaeological Survey of India. His main
interests
were Sanchi and Sarnath besides Harappa and Mohenjodaro. Sir
Alexander Cunningham, a British archaeologist and
army engineer and often known as the father of the
Archaeological Survey of India, unveiled heritage sites like
theBharhut Stupa, Sarnath, Sanchi, and the Mahabodhi Temple;
thus, his contribution is recognisable in realms of
historical sources.Mortimer Wheeler, a British archaeologist,
also exposed Ashokan historical sources, especially
the Taxila.
Bilingual inscription (in Greek andAramaic) by King Ashoka,
discovered atKandahar (National Museum of Afghanistan).
Information about the life and reign of Ashoka primarily comes
from a relatively small number of Buddhist sources. In
particular, the Sanskrit Ashokavadana ('Story of Ashoka'),
written in the 2nd century, and the two Pli chronicles of Sri
Lanka (the Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa) provide most of the
currently known information about Ashoka. Additional
information is contributed by the Edicts of Asoka, whose
authorship was finally attributed to the Ashoka of Buddhist
legend after the discovery of dynastic lists that gave the name
used in the edicts (Priyadarsi 'He who regards
everyone with affection') as a title or additional name of
Ashoka Mauriya. Architectural remains of his period have been
found at Kumhrar, Patna, which include an 80-pillar hypostyle
hall.
-
Edicts of Ashoka -The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33
inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders
and cave walls, made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan
dynasty during his reign from 272 to 231 BCE. These
inscriptions are dispersed throughout the areas of modern-day
Pakistan and India, and represent the first tangible
evidence of Buddhism. The edicts describe in detail the first
wide expansion of Buddhism through the sponsorship of
one of the most powerful kings of Indian history, offering more
information about Ashoka's proselytism, Moral precepts,
Religious precepts, Social and animal welfare.[19]
Ashokavadana The Ashokavadana is a 2nd-century CE text related
to the legend of the Maurya Emperor Ashoka.
The legend was translated into Chinese by Fa Hien in 300 CE. It
is essentially a Hinayana text and its world is that of
Mathura and North-west India. The emphasis of this little known
text is on exploring the relationship between the king
and the community of monks (the Sangha) and setting up an ideal
of religious life for the laity (the common man) by
telling appealing stories about religious exploits. The most
startling feature is that Ashokas conversion has nothing to
do with the Kalinga war, which is not even mentioned, nor is
there a word about his belonging to the Maurya dynasty.
Equally surprising is the record of his use of state power to
spread Buddhism in an uncompromising fashion. The
legend of Veetashoka provides insights into Ashokas character
that are not available in the widely known Pali
records.[12]
Mahavamsa -The Mahavamsa ("Great Chronicle") is a historical
poem written in the Pali language, of the kings of Sri
Lanka. It covers the period from the coming of King Vijaya of
Kalinga (ancient Odisha) in 543 BCE to the reign of King
Mahasena (334361). As it often refers to the royal dynasties of
India, the Mahavamsa is also valuable for historians
who wish to date and relate contemporary royal dynasties in the
Indian subcontinent. It is very important in dating the
consecration of the Maurya emperor Ashoka.
Dipavamsa -The Dipavamsa, or "Deepavamsa", (i.e., Chronicle of
the Island, in Pali) is the oldest historical record of Sri
Lanka. The chronicle is believe to be compiled from Atthakatha
and other sources around the 3rd or 4th century; King
Dhatusena (4th century CE) had ordered that the Dipavamsa be
recited at the Mahinda (son to Ashoka) festival held
annually in Anuradhapura.
[edit]Perceptions
The use of Buddhist sources in reconstructing the life of Ashoka
has had a strong influence on perceptions of Ashoka,
as well as the interpretations of his Edicts. Building on
traditional accounts, early scholars regarded Ashoka as a
primarily Buddhist monarch who underwent a conversion to
Buddhism and was actively engaged in sponsoring and
supporting the Buddhist monastic institution. Some scholars have
tended to question this assessment. The only source
of information not attributable to Buddhist sources are the
Ashokan Edicts, and these do not explicitly state that Ashoka
was a Buddhist. In his edicts, Ashoka expresses support for all
the major religions of his
time: Buddhism, Brahmanism, Jainism, and Ajivikaism, and his
edicts addressed to the population at large (there are
some addressed specifically to Buddhists; this is not the case
for the other religions) generally focus on moral themes
members of all the religions would accept.
-
However, there is strong evidence in the edicts alone that he
was a Buddhist. In one edict he belittles rituals, and he
banned Vedic animal sacrifices; these strongly suggest that he
at least did not look to the Vedic tradition for guidance.
Furthermore, there are many edicts expressed to Buddhists alone;
in one, Ashoka declares himself to be an "upasaka",
and in another he demonstrates a close familiarity with Buddhist
texts. He erected rock pillars at Buddhist holy sites, but
did not do so for the sites of other religions. He also used the
word "dhamma" to refer to qualities of the heart that
underlie moral action; this was an exclusively Buddhist use of
the word. Finally, the ideals he promotes correspond to
the first three steps of the Buddha's graduated
discourse.[20]
Interestingly, the Ashokavadana presents an alternate view of
the faimilar Ashoka; one in which his conversion does not
have anything to do with the Kalinga war or about his descent
from the Maurya dynasty. Instead, Ashoka's reason for
adopting non-violence appears much more personal. The
Ashokavadana shows that the main source of Ashoka's
conversion and the acts of welfare that followed are rooted
instead in intense personal anguish at its core, from a
wellspring inside himself (not so much necessarily spurned by a
specific event). It thereby illuminates Ashoka as more
humanly ambitious and passionate, with both greatness and flaws.
ThisAshoka is very different from the "shadowy do-
gooder" of later Pali chronicles.[12]
Much of the knowledge about Ashoka comes from the several
inscriptions that he had carved on pillars and rocks
throughout the empire. All his inscriptions present him as
compassionate loving. In the Kalinga rock edits, he addresses
his people as his "children" and mentions that as a father he
desires their good.[21]
These inscriptions promoted
Buddhist morality and encouraged nonviolence and adherence to
dharma (duty or proper behaviour), and they talk of
his fame and conquered lands as well as the neighbouring
kingdoms holding up his might. One also gets some primary
information about the Kalinga War and Ashoka's allies plus some
useful knowledge on the civil administration. The
Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath is the most notable of the relics left
by Ashoka. Made of sandstone, this pillar records the visit
of the emperor to Sarnath, in the 3rd century BCE. It has a
four-lion capital (four lions standing back to back) which was
adopted as the emblem of the modern Indian republic. The lion
symbolises both Ashoka's imperial rule and the kingship
of theBuddha. In translating these monuments, historians learn
the bulk of what is assumed to have been true fact of
the Mauryan Empire. It is difficult to determine whether or not
some actual events ever happened, but the stone
etchings clearly depict how Ashoka wanted to be thought of and
remembered.
[edit]Foci of Debate
Recently scholarly analysis has determined that the three major
foci of debate regarding Ashoka involve the nature of
the Maurya empire; the extent and impact of Ashoka's pacifism,
and what is referred to in the Inscriptions
as dhamma or dharma, which connotes goodness, virtue, and
charity. Some historians[who?]
have argued that Ashoka's
pacifism undermined the "military backbone" of the Maurya
empire, while others have suggested that the extent and
impact of his pacifism have been "grossly exaggerated. The
dhammaof the Edicts has been understood as concurrently
a Buddhist lay ethic, a set of politico-moral ideas, a "sort of
universal religion," or as an Ashokan innovation. On the
other hand, it has also been interpreted as an essentially
political ideology that sought to knit together a vast and
-
diverse empire. Scholars are still attempting to analyse and
both the expressed and implied political ideas of the Edicts
(particularly in regard to imperial vision), and make inferences
pertaining to how that vision was grappling with problems
and political realities of a "virtually subcontinental, and
culturally and economically highly variegated, 3rd century BCE
Indian empire. Nonetheless, it remains clear that Ashoka's
Inscriptions represent the earliest corpus of royal
inscriptions
in the Indian subcontinent, and therefore prove to be a very
important innovation in royal practices.[19]
[edit]Contributions
[edit]Global spread of Buddhism
Stupa of Sanchi.
As a Buddhist emperor, Ashoka believed that Buddhism is
beneficial for all human beings as well as animals and
plants, so he built a number of stupas, Sangharama, viharas,
chaitya, and residences for Buddhist monks all over South
Asia and Central Asia. He gave donations to viharas and mathas.
He sent his only daughter Sanghamitra and
son Mahindra to spread Buddhism in Sri Lanka (then known as
Tamraparni). Ashoka also sent many prominent
Buddhist monks (bhikshus) Sthaviras like Madhyamik Sthavira to
modern Kashmir and Afghanistan; Maharaskshit
Sthavira to Syria, Persia / Iran, Egypt, Greece, Italy and
Turkey; Massim Sthavira to Nepal, Bhutan, China and
Mongolia; Sohn Uttar Sthavira to modern Cambodia, Laos, Burma
(old name Suvarnabhumi for Burma and Thailand),
Thailand and Vietnam; Mahadhhamarakhhita stahvira to Maharashtra
(old name Maharatthha); Maharakhhit Sthavira
and Yavandhammarakhhita Sthavira to South India.
Ashoka also invited Buddhists and non-Buddhists for religious
conferences. He inspired the Buddhist monks to
compose the sacred religious texts, and also gave all types of
help to that end. Ashoka also helped to develop viharas
(intellectual hubs) such as Nalandaand Taxila. Ashoka helped to
construct Sanchi and Mahabodhi Temple. Ashoka also
gave donations to non-Buddhists. As his reign continued his
even-handedness was replaced with special inclination
towards Buddhism.[22]
Ashoka helped and respected both Sramans (Buddhists monks) and
Brahmins (Vedic monks).
Ashoka also helped to organise the Third Buddhist council (c.
250 BCE) at Pataliputra (today's Patna). It was conducted
by the monk Moggaliputta-Tissa who was the spiritual teacher of
the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka.
It is well-known that Ashoka sent dtas or emissaries to convey
messages or letters, written or oral (rather both), to
various people. The VIth Rock Edict about "oral orders" reveals
this. It was later confirmed that it was not unusual to
-
add oral messages to written ones, and the content of Ashoka's
messages can be inferred likewise from the XIIIth Rock
Edict: They were meant to spread hisdhammavijaya, which he
considered the highest victory and which he wished to
propagate everywhere (including far beyond India). There is
obvious and undeniable trace of cultural contact through
the adoption of the Kharosthi script, and the idea of installing
inscriptions might have travelled with this script,
as Achaemenid influence is seem in some of the formulations used
by Ashoka in his inscriptions. This indicates to us
that Ashoka was indeed in contact with other cultures, and was
an active part in mingling and spreading new cultural
ideas beyond his own immediate walls.[23]
In his edicts, Ashoka mentions some of the people living in
Hellenic countries as converts to Buddhism, although no
Hellenic historical record of this event remain:
Now it is conquest by Dhamma that Beloved-of-the-Gods considers
to be the best conquest. And it (conquest by
Dhamma) has been won here, on the borders, even six hundred
yojanas away, where the Greek king Antiochos rules,
beyond there where the four kings named Ptolemy, Antigonos,
Magas and Alexander rule, likewise in the south among
the Cholas, the Pandyas, and as far as Tamraparni. Here in the
king's domain among the Greeks, the Kambojas, the
Nabhakas, the Nabhapamkits, the Bhojas, the Pitinikas, the
Andhras and the Palidas, everywhere people are following
Beloved-of-the-Gods' instructions in Dhamma. Even where
Beloved-of-the-Gods' envoys have not been, these people
too, having heard of the practice of Dhamma and the ordinances
and instructions in Dhamma given by Beloved-of-the-
Gods, are following it and will continue to do so.
Edicts of Ashoka, Rock Edict (S. Dhammika)[24]
It is not too farfetched to imagine, however, that Ashoka
received letters from Greek rulers and was acquainted with the
Hellenistic royal orders in the same way as he perhaps knew of
the inscriptions of the Achaemenid kings, given the
presence of ambassadors of Hellenistic kings in India (as well
as the dtas sent by Ashoka himself).[23]
The Greeks in India even seem to have played an active role in
the propagation of Buddhism, as some of the
emissaries of Ashoka, such as Dharmaraksita, are described in
Pali sources as leading Greek (Yona) Buddhist monks,
active in spreading Buddhism (theMahavamsa, XII[25]
).
[edit]As administrator
Mauryan ringstone, with standing goddess. Northwest Pakistan.
3rd century BCE. British Museum.
-
Ashoka's military power was strong, but after his conversion to
Buddhism, he maintained friendly relations with
kingdoms in the South like Cholas, Pandya, Keralaputra, the post
Alexandrian empire, Tamraparni, and Suvarnabhumi.
His edicts state that he made provisions for medical treatment
of humans and animals in his own kingdom as well as in
these neighbouring states. He also had wells dug and trees
planted along the roads for the benefit of the common
people.[21]
Ashoka banned the slaughter and eating of the common cattle, and
also imposed restrictions on fishing and fish-
eating.[26]
He also abolished the royal hunting of animals and restricted
the slaying of animals for food in the royal
residence.[27]
Because he banned hunting, created many veterinary clinics and
eliminated meat eating on many
holidays, the Mauryan Empire under Ashoka has been described as
"one of the very few instances in world history of a
government treating its animals as citizens who are as deserving
of its protection as the human residents."[28]
[edit]Ashoka Chakra
Main article: Ashoka Chakra
The Ashoka Chakra, "the wheel of Righteousness" (Dharma in
Sanskrit or Dhamma in Pali)"
The Ashoka Chakra (the wheel of Ashoka) is a depiction of the
Dharmachakra (seeDharmacakra) or Dhammachakka
in Pali, the Wheel of Dharma (Sanskrit: Chakra means wheel). The
wheel has 24 spokes which represent the 12 Laws
of Dependent Origination and the 12 Laws of Dependent
Termination. The Ashoka Chakra has been widely inscribed
on many relics of the Mauryan Emperor, most prominent among
which is the Lion Capital ofSarnath and The Ashoka
Pillar. The most visible use of the Ashoka Chakra today is at
the centre of the National flag of the Republic of India
(adopted on 22 July 1947), where it is rendered in a Navy-blue
color on a White background, by replacing the symbol of
Charkha (Spinning wheel) of the pre-independence versions of the
flag. The Ashoka Chakra can also been seen on the
base of Lion Capital of Ashoka which has been adopted as the
National Emblem of India.
The Ashoka Chakra was built by Ashoka during his reign. Chakra
is a Sanskrit word which also means "cycle" or "self-
repeating process." The process it signifies is the cycle of
time- as in how the world changes with time.
-
A few days before India became independent on August 1947, the
specially formedConstituent Assembly decided that
the flag of India must be acceptable to all parties and
communities.[29]
A flag with three colours, Saffron, White and
Green with the Ashoka Chakra was selected.
[edit]Pillars of Ashoka (Ashokstambha)
Main article: Pillars of Ashoka
The pillars of Ashoka are a series of columns dispersed
throughout the northern Indian subcontinent, and erected by
Ashoka during his reign in the 3rd century BCE. Originally,
there must have been many pillars of Ashoka although only
ten with inscriptions still survive. Averaging between forty and
fifty feet in height, and weighing up to fifty tons each, all
the pillars were quarried at Chunar, just south of Varanasi and
dragged, sometimes hundreds of miles, to where they
were erected. The first Pillar of Ashoka was found in the 16th
century by Thomas Coryat in the ruins of ancient Delhi.
The wheel represents the sun time and Buddhist law, while the
swastika stands for the cosmic dance around a fixed
center and guards against evil. There is no evidence of a
swastika, or manji, on the pillars.
The Asokan pillar at Lumbini, Nepal
[edit]Lion Capital of Asoka (Ashokmudra)
Main article: Lion Capital of Asoka
The Lion capital of Ashoka is a sculpture of four "Indian lions"
standing back to back. It was originally placed atop the
Aoka pillar at Sarnath, now in the state of Uttar Pradesh,
India. The pillar, sometimes called the Aoka Column is still
in its original location, but the Lion Capital is now in the
Sarnath Museum. This Lion Capital of Ashoka from Sarnath has
been adopted as the National Emblem of India and the wheel
"Ashoka Chakra" from its base was placed onto the
center of the National Flag of India.
-
The capital contains four lions (Indian / Asiatic Lions),
standing back to back, mounted on an abacus, with a frieze
carrying sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping
horse, a bull, and a lion, separated by intervening spoked
chariot-wheels over a bell-shaped lotus. Carved out of a single
block of polished sandstone, the capital was believed to
be crowned by a 'Wheel of Dharma' (Dharmachakra popularly known
in India as the "Ashoka Chakra").
The Ashoka Lion capital or the Sarnath lion capital is also
known as the national symbol of India. The Sarnath pillar
bears one of the Edicts of Ashoka, an inscription against
division within the Buddhist community, which reads, "No one
shall cause division in the order of monks." The Sarnath pillar
is a column surmounted by a capital, which consists of a
canopy representing an inverted bell-shaped lotus flower, a
short cylindrical abacus with four 24-spoked Dharma
wheels with four animals (an elephant, a bull, a horse, a
lion).
The four animals in the Sarnath capital are believed to
symbolise different steps of Lord Buddha's life.
The Elephant represents the Buddha's idea in reference to the
dream of Queen
Maya of a white elephant entering her womb.
The Bull represents desire during the life of the Buddha as a
prince.
The Horse represents Buddha's departure from palatial life.
The Lion represents the accomplishment of Buddha.
Besides the religious interpretations, there are some
non-religious interpretations also about the symbolism of the
Ashoka capital pillar at Sarnath. According to them, the four
lions symbolise Ashoka's rule over the four directions, the
wheels as symbols of his enlightened rule (Chakravartin) and the
four animals as symbols of four adjoining territories of
India.
[edit]Constructions credited to Ashoka
-
Mahabodhi Temple, constructed by Ashoka the Great, approximately
250 BCE;restoration by the British and India post independence
The British restoration was done by under guidance from
Ven.Weligama Sri Sumangala[citation needed]
Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, India
Dhamek Stupa, Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh, India
Mahabodhi Temple, Bihar, India
Barabar Caves, Bihar, India
Nalanda University (Vishwaviddyalaya), (some portions like
Sariputta Stupa), Bihar,
India
Taxila University (Vishwaviddyalaya), (some portions like
Dharmarajika Stupa and
Kunala Stupa), Taxila, Pakistan
Bhir Mound, (reconstructed), Taxila, Pakistan
Bharhut stupa, Madhya Pradesh, India
Deorkothar Stupa, Madhya Pradesh, India
Butkara Stupa, Swat, Pakistan
Sannati Stupa, Karnataka, India: The only known sculptural
depiction of Ashoka
[edit]In art, film and literature
One of the most famous figures in modern Hindi literature,
Jaishankar Prasad,
composedAshoka ki chinta (in English: Anxiety of Ashoka), a
famous Hindi verse.
The poem portrays Ashokas heart during the war of Kalinga.
Uttar-Priyadarshi (The Final Beatitude) a verse-play written by
poet Agyeya,
depicting his redemption, was adapted to stage in 1996 by
theatre director, Ratan
Thiyam and has since been performed in many parts of the
world.[30][31]
In Piers Anthonys series of space opera novels, the main
character mentions
Asoka as a model for administrators to strive for.
Asoka is a 2001 epic Bollywood historical drama. It is a largely
fictional version of
the life of the Indian emperor Ashoka. The film was directed by
Santosh Sivan and
stars Shahrukh Khan as Ashoka and Kareena Kapoor as Kaurwaki, a
princess of
Kalinga. The film ends with Asoka renouncing the sword and
embracing Buddhism.
The final narrative describes how Asoka not only built a large
empire, but spread
Buddhism and the winds of peace through it.
The Legend of Kunal is an upcoming film based on the life of
Kunal, the son of the
Indian emperor Ashoka. The movie will be directed by
Chandraprakash Dwivedi.
In 1973, Amar Chitra Katha released a graphic novel based on the
life of Ashoka.
-
In 2002, Mason Jennings released the song "Emperor Ashoka" on
his Living in the
Moment EP. It is based on the life of Ashoka.
[edit]See also
Arthashastra
Ashoka's Major Rock Edict
Ashokavadana
Edicts of Ashoka
Kalinga War
Lion Capital of Ashoka
Magadha
Maurya Empire
Sisupalgarh
Buddhism
[edit]References
1. ^ Thapur (1973), p. 51.
2. ^ a b Jerry Bentley, Old World Encounters: Cross-Cultural
Contacts and Exchanges
in Pre-Modern Times (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993),
44.
3. ^ Jerry Bentley, Old World Encounters: Cross-Cultural
Contacts and Exchanges in
Pre-Modern Times (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993),
45.
4. ^ Jerry Bentley, Old World Encounters: Cross-Cultural
Contacts and Exchanges in
Pre-Modern Times (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993),
46.
5. ^ Bruce Rich. To Uphold The World Author Discussion
6. ^ a b c John S. Strong (1989). The Legend of King Aoka: A
Study and Translation
of the Aokvadna. Motilal Banarsidass Publ.. pp. 232. ISBN
978-81-208-0616-0.
Retrieved 30 October 2012.
7. ^ History And Doctrines of the Ajivikas A Vanished Indian
Religion By A. L. Basham
8. ^ K. T. S. Sarao (2007). A text book of the history of
Theravda Buddhism (2 ed.).
Department of Buddhist Studies, University of Delhi. p. 89. ISBN
978-81-86700-66-
2.
9. ^ a b c d Upinder Singh (2008). A History of Ancient and
Early Medieval India: From
the Stone Age to the 12th century. Pearson Education. ISBN
978-81-317-1677-9.
10. ^ Prachin bharoter itihas by Sunil Chatterjee
-
11. ^ Gyan Swarup Gupta (1 January 1999). India: From Indus
Valley Civlization to
Mauryas. Concept Publishing Company. pp. 268. ISBN
978-81-7022-763-2.
Retrieved 30 October 2012.
12. ^ a b c d Pradip Bhattacharya (2002). "The Unknown Ashoka".
Boloji.com. Retrieved
30 November 2012.
13. ^ Charles Drekmeier (1962). Kingship and Community in Early
India. Stanford
University Press. pp. 173. ISBN 978-0-8047-0114-3. Retrieved 30
October 2012.
14. ^ prachin bharater itihas by sunil chattopadhyay
15. ^ Smith, Vincent A. (1901). Rulers of India: Asoka: The
Buddhist Emperor of India.
Oxford at the Clarendon Press. pp. 130.
16. ^ Kamath, Prabhakar. "How Ashoka the Great Gave Brahmins A
Song With Which
They Conquered India". Nirmukta.
17. ^ Buckley, Edmund. Universal Religion. The University
Association.
18. ^ a b Beni Madhab Barua (5 May 2010). The Ajivikas. General
Books. pp. 68
69. ISBN 978-1-152-74433-2. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
19. ^ a b Upinder Singh (2012). "Governing the State and the
Self: Political Philosophy
and Practice in the Edicts of Asoka". South Asian Studies
(Routledge) (28.2).
20. ^ Richard Robinson, Willard Johnson, and Thanissaro
Bhikkhu,Buddhist Religions,
fifth ed., Wadsworth 2005, page 59.
21. ^ a b The Edicts of King Ashoka, English translation (1993)
by Ven. S.
Dhammika. ISBN 955-24-0104-6. Retrieved on: 2009-02-21
22. ^ N.V. Isaeva, Shankara and Indian philosophy. SUNY Press,
1993, page 24.
23. ^ a b Oskar von Hinber (2010). "Did Hellenistic Kings Send
Letters to
Asoka?". Journal of the American Oriental Society(Freiburg)
(130.2): 262265.
24. ^ The Edicts of King Asoka: an English rendering by Ven. S.
Dhammika. Access to
Insight: Readings in Theravda Buddhism. Last accessed 01 Sep
2011.
25. ^ Full text of the Mahavamsa Click chapter XII
26. ^ Frederick J. Simoons (15 December 1994). Eat Not This
Flesh, 2Nd Edition: Food
Avoidances From Prehistory To The Present. Univ of Wisconsin
Press. pp. 108 and
288.ISBN 978-0-299-14254-4. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
27. ^ Gerald Irving A. Dare Draper; Michael A. Meyer; H.
McCoubrey
(1998). Reflections on Law and Armed Conflicts: The Selected
Works on the Laws
of War by the Late Professor Colonel G.I.A.D. Draper, Obe.
Martinus Nijhoff
Publishers. p. 44.ISBN 978-90-411-0557-8. Retrieved 30 October
2012.
-
28. ^ Phelps, Norm (2007). The Longest Struggle: Animal Advocacy
from Pythagoras
to Peta. Lantern Books.ISBN 1590561066.
29. ^ Heimer, eljko (2 July 2006). "India". Flags of the
World.Archived from the
original on 18 October 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-11.
30. ^ Margo Jefferson (27 October 2000). "Next Wave Festival
Review; In Stirring
Ritual Steps, Past and Present Unfold".New York Times.
31. ^ Review: Uttarpriyadarshi by Renee Renouf, ballet magazine,
December 2000,
[edit]Works cited
Ahir, D. C. (1995). Asoka the Great. Delhi: B. R.
Publishing.
Bhandarkar, D.R. (1969). Aoka (4th ed.). Calcutta: Calcutta
University Press.
Bongard-Levin, G. M. Mauryan India (Stosius Inc/Advent Books
Division May
1986) ISBN 0-86590-826-5
Chauhan, Gian Chand (2004). Origin and Growth of Feudalism in
Early India: From
the Mauryas to AD 650. Munshiram Manoharlal, Delhi. ISBN
978-81-215-1028-8
Durant, Will (1935). Our Oriental Heritage. New York: Simon and
Schuster.
Falk, Harry. Asokan Sites and Artefacts A Source-book with
Bibliography (Mainz :
Philipp von Zabern, [2006]) ISBN 978-3-8053-3712-0
Gokhale, Balkrishna Govind (1996). Asoka Maurya (Twayne
Publishers) ISBN 978-
0-8290-1735-9
Hultzsch, Eugene (1914). The Date of Asoka, The Journal of the
Royal Asiatic
Society of Great Britain and Ireland (Oct. 1914), pp. 943951.
Article stable URL.
Keay, John. India: A History (Grove Press; 1 Grove Pr edition 10
May 2001) ISBN
0-8021-3797-0
Mookerji, Radhakumud (1962). Aoka (3rd ed.). Delhi: Motilal
Banarsidas.
Nikam, N. A.; McKeon, Richard (1959). The Edicts of Aoka.
Chicago: University of
Chicago Press.
Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta (1967). Age of the Nandas and Mauryas.
Reprint: 1996,
Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi. ISBN 978-81-208-0466-1
Singh, Upinder (2012). "Governing the State and the Self:
Political Philosophy and
Practice in the Edicts of Aoka," South Asian Studies, 28:2
(University of Delhi:
2012), pp. 131145. Article stable URL.
Swearer, Donald. Buddhism and Society in Southeast Asia
(Chambersburg,
Pennsylvania: Anima Books, 1981) ISBN 0-89012-023-4
-
Thapar, Romila. (1973). Aoka and the decline of the Mauryas. 2nd
Edition. Oxford
University Press, Reprint, 1980. SBN 19-660379 6.
von Hinber, Oskar. (2010). "Did Hellenistic Kings Send Letters
to Aoka?" Journal
of the American Oriental Society, 130:2 (Freiburg: 2010), pp.
261266.
[edit]External links
Wikisource has the text of
the1911 Encyclopdia
Britannicaarticle Asoka.
Ashoka at the Open Directory Project
Media related to Ashoka at Wikimedia Commons
Quotations related to Ashoka at Wikiquote
International Vegetarian Union: King Asoka of India
Reclaiming Ashoka An Iron Age Interfaith Exemplar
The Unknown Ashoka
How Ashoka The Great Gave Brahmins A Song With Which They
Conquered India
Ashoka
Mauryan dynasty
Born: 304 BCE Died: 232 BCE
Preceded by
Bindusara
Mauryan Emperor 272232 BCE
Succeeded by
Dasaratha
[show]
V
T
E
Buddhism topics
Categories:
Indian monarchs
304 BC births
232 BC deaths
Maurya Empire
Converts to Buddhism
-
Indian Theravada Buddhists
People from Patna
Indian Buddhist missionaries
Ancient history of Pakistan
3rd-century BC rulers
Indian pacifists
Buddhist monarchs
Buddhist pacifists
Buddhist vegetarians
Ancient history of Afghanistan
Mauryan emperors
Navigation menu
Create account
Log in
Article Talk Read Edit View history
Main page
Contents
Featured content
Current events
Random article
Donate to Wikipedia Interaction
Help
About Wikipedia
Community portal
Recent changes
Contact Wikipedia Toolbox Print/export Languages
Alemannisch
Aragons
( )
-
Bosanski
Brezhoneg
Catal
esky
Cymraeg
Dansk
Deutsch
Eesti
Espaol
Esperanto
Euskara
Fiji Hindi
Franais
Galego
Hak-k-fa
Hrvatski
Ilokano
Bahasa Indonesia
slenska
Italiano
Basa Jawa
Kiswahili
Latina
Latvieu
Lietuvi
Magyar
Bahasa Melayu
Nederlands
Norsk bokml
Norsk nynorsk
Occitan
-
Polski
Portugus
Romn
Shqip
Simple English
Slovenina
Slovenina
/ srpski
Srpskohrvatski /
Suomi
Svenska
Tagalog
Trke
Vahcuengh
Ting Vit
Winaray
emaitka
Edit links
This page was last modified on 17 March 2013 at 17:17.
Text is available under the Creative Commons
Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms
may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation,
Inc., a non-profit organization.
Contact us
Chandragupta Maurya From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
-
Chandragupta Maurya
Samraat (Emperor)
Titles Samraat Chakravartin
Born 340 BC
Birthplace Pataliputra (Patna), Bihar, India
Died 298 BC
Place of death Sravana Belgola, Karnataka, India[1]
Predecessor Dhanananda of Nanda Dynasty
Successor Bindusara
Consort Durdhara
Offspring Bindusara
Royal House Mauryan dynasty
Mother Mura
Religious beliefs Hinduism, gave up his throne and became a Jain
monk
Chandragupta Maurya (340 BC 298 BC) was the founder of the
Mauryan Empire and the first emperor to
unify India into one state. He ruled from from 322 BC until his
voluntary retirement and abdication in favour of his
son Bindusara in 298 BC.[2][3][4]
Chandragupta Maurya is a pivotal figure in the history of India.
Prior to his consolidation of power, most of South
Asia was ruled by small states, while the Nanda Dynasty
dominated the Gangetic Plains.[5]
Chandragupta succeeded in
-
conquering and subjugating almost all of the Indian subcontinent
by the end of his reign.[nb 1]
His empire extended
from Bengaland Assam in the east, to Afghanistan and
Balochistan, eastern and south-east Iran in the west,
to Kashmir and Nepal in the north, and to the Deccan Plateau in
the south. It was the largest empire yet seen in Indian
history.[6][7]
After unifying India, Chandragupta and his chief advisor
Chanakya passed a series of major economic and political
reforms. He established a strong central administration
patterned after that of the Persian Achaemenid dynasty and
after Chanakyas text on politics, theArthashastra. Mauryan India
was characterised by an efficient and highly organised
bureaucratic structure with a large civil service. Due its
unified structure, the empire developed a strong economy, with
internal and external trade thriving and agriculture
flourishing. In both art and architecture, the Mauryan empire
constitued a landmark. There was a growth in culture which
derived its inspiration from the Achaemenids and
theHellenistic world.[8]
Chandragupta's reign was a time of great social and religious
reform in India. The religious reform
movements ofBuddhism and Jainism became increasingly
prominent.
In foreign Greek and Latin accounts, Chandragupta is known as
Sandrokottos and Androcottus.[9]
He became well
known in the Hellenistic world for conquering Alexander the
Great's easternmost satrapies, and for defeating the most
powerful of Alexander's successors, Seleucus I Nicator, in
battle. Chandragupta subsequently married Seleucus's
daughter to formalize an alliance and established a policy of
friendship with the Hellenistic kingdoms, which stimulated
India's trade and contact with the western world. The Greek
diplomat Megasthenes is an important source of Mauryan
history.
Taditionally, Chandragupta, who was a Hindu, was influenced to
accept Jainism by the sage Bhadrabahu; he abdicated
his throne to spend his last days at the Shravana Belgola, a
famous religious site in southwest India, where he fasted to
death. Along with his grandson, Ashoka, Chandragupta Maurya is
one of the most celebrated rulers in the history of
India. He has played a crucial role in shaping the national
identity of modern India, and has been lionised as a model
ruler and as a national hero.
Contents
[hide]
1 Early life
2 Foundation of the Maurya Empire
o 2.1 Nanda army
o 2.2 Conquest of the Nanda Empire
o 2.3 Conquest of Macedonian territories in India
3 Expansion
o 3.1 Conquest of Seleucus' eastern territories
o 3.2 Southern conquest
-
4 Jainism and Sallekhana
5 Successors
6 In popular culture
7 See also
8 References
o 8.1 Notes
o 8.2 Footnotes
9 Further reading
10 External links
[edit]Early life
Very little is known about Chandragupta's youth. What is known
is rathered from later classical Sanskrit literature, as
well as classicalGreek and Latin sources which refer to
Chandragupta by the names "Sandracottos" or "Andracottus."[10]
Plutarch reports that he met with Alexander the Great, probably
around Takshasila in the northwest, and that he viewed
the rulingNanda Empire in a negative light:
Androcottus, when he was a stripling, saw Alexander himself, and
we are told that he often said in later times that
Alexander narrowly missed making himself master of the country,
since its king was hated and despised on account of
his baseness and low birth.
Plutarch, Parallel Lives: Life of Alexander 62.9
According to this text, the encounter would have happened around
326 BCE, suggesting a birth date for Chandragupta
around 340 BCE. Plutarch and other Greco-Roman historians
appreciated the gravity of Chandragupta Maurya's
conquests. Justin describes the humble origins of Chandragupta,
and explains how he later led a popular uprising
against the Nanda king.[11]
Many Indian literary traditions connect him with the Nanda
Dynasty in modern day Bihar in eastern India. More than half
a millennium later, the Sanskrit drama Mudrarakshasa calls him a
"Nandanvaya" i.e. the descendant of Nanda (Act IV).
Again more than a millennium later, Dhundiraja, a commentator of
18th century on Mudrarakshasa states that
Chandragupta was the son of the Nanda king Sarvarthasiddhi by a
wife named Mura, daughter of a Vrishala (Shudra).
Mudrarakshasa uses terms like kula-hina and Vrishala for
Chandragupta's lineage. This reinforces Justin's contention
that Chandragupta had a humble origin.[12][13]
On the other hand, the same play describes the Nandas as of
Prathita-
kula, i.e. illustrious, lineage. The medieval commentator on the
Vishnu Purana informs us that Chandragupta was the
son of a Nanda prince and a Hindi: dasi (English: maid) named
Mura. The poets Kshmendra and Somadeva call him
Purvananda-suta, son of the genuine Nanda, as opposed to
Yoga-Nanda, i.e. pseudo-Nanda. The Nanda dynasty was
started byMahapadma Nanda, who is considered the first Shudra
king of Magadha.[citation needed]
-
The Buddhist text the Mahavamsa calls Chandragupt a member of a
division of the Khattiya (Kshatriya) clan called the
Moriya (Maurya). Divyvadna calls Bindusara, son of Chandragupt,
an anointed Kshatriya, Kshatriya
Murdhabhishikata, and in the same work King Ashoka, son of
Bindusara, is also styled a Kshatriya.
The Mahaparinibbana Sutta states that the Moriyas (Mauryas)
belonged to the Kshatriya community of Pippalivana.
These traditions indicate that Chandragupt came from a Kshatriya
lineage. TheMahavamshatika connects him with
the Shakya clan of the Buddha, a clan which also belongs to the
race of dityas.[citation needed]
A medieval inscription represents the Maurya clan as belonging
to the solar race of Kshatriyas. It is stated that the
Maurya line sprang from Suryavamsi Mandhatri, son of prince
Yuvanashva of the solar race.[citation needed]
Chandragupta
was a student of Chanakya.
[edit]Foundation of the Maurya Empire
Further information: Magadha and Maurya Empire
Silver punch mark coin of the Maurya empire, with symbols of
wheel and elephant. 3rd century BCE.
Chandragupta Maurya, with the help of Chanakya/kautilya,
defeated the Magadha king and the army of the
Chandravanshi clan. Following his victory, the defeated generals
of Alexander settled in Gandhara
(the Kamboja kingdom), today'sAfghanistan. At the time of
Alexander's invasion, Chanakya was a teacher inTakshasila.
The king of Takshasila and Gandhara, Ambhi (also known as
Taxiles), made a peace treaty with Alexander. Chanakya,
however, planned to defeat the foreign invasion and sought help
from other kings to unite and fight Alexander.
Parvateshwara (Porus), a king of Punjab, was the only local king
who was able to challenge Alexander at the Battle of
the Hydaspes River, but he was defeated.
Chanakya then went further east to Magadha, to seek the help of
Dhana Nanda, who ruled the vast Nanda
Empire which extended from Bihar and Bengal in the east to
Punjab and Sindh in the west,[11]
but Dhana Nanda refused
to help him. After this incident, Chanakya began to persuade his
disciple Chandragupta of the need to build an empire
that could protect Indian territories from foreign invasion.
[edit]Nanda army
-
The Nanda Empire at its greatest extent under Dhana Nanda circa
323 BCE.
Main article: Nanda Dynasty
According to Plutarch, at the time of the Battle of the Hydaspes
River, the Nanda Empire's army numbered
200,000 infantry, 80,000 cavalry, 8,000 chariots, and 7,000 war
elephants, which discouraged Alexander's men and
prevented their further progress into India:
"As for the Macedonians, however, their struggle with Porus
blunted their courage and stayed their further
advance into India. For having had all they could do to repulse
an enemy who mustered only twenty thousand
infantry and two thousand horse, they violently opposed
Alexander when he insisted on crossing the river
Ganges also, the width of which, as they learned, was thirty-two
furlongs, its depth a hundred fathoms, while
its banks on the further side were covered with multitudes of
men-at-arms and horsemen and elephants. For
they were told that the kings of the Ganderites and Praesii were
awaiting them with eighty thousand horsemen,
two hundred thousand footmen, eight thousand chariots, and six
thousand fighting elephants. And there was no
boasting in these reports. For Androcottus, who reigned there
not long afterwards, made a present to Seleucus
of five hundred elephants, and with an army of six hundred
thousand men overran and subdued all India."
Plutarch, Parallel Lives, "Life of Alexander" 62.1-4
In order to defeat the powerful Nanda army, Chandragupta needed
to raise a formidable army of his own.[11]
[edit]Conquest of the Nanda Empire
Further information: Nanda Dynasty
Main article: Nanda War
-
Chandragupta's empire when he founded it c. 320 BCE, by the time
he was about 20 years old.
Chanakya had trained and guided Chandragupta and together they
planned the destruction of Dhana Nanda.
The Mudrarakshasa of Visakhadutta as well as the Jainwork
Parisishtaparvan talk of Chandragupta's alliance with the
Himalayan king Parvatka, sometimes identified with
Porus.[14]
It is noted in the Chandraguptakatha that Chandragupta and
Chanakya were initially rebuffed by the Nanda forces.
Regardless, in the ensuing war, Chandragupta faced off against
Bhadrasala, the commander of Dhana Nanda's armies.
He was eventually able to defeat Bhadrasala and Dhana Nanda in a
series of battles, culminating in the siege of the
capital city Pataliputra[11]
and the conquest of the Nanda Empire around 321 BCE,[11]
thus founding the powerful Maurya
Empire in Northern India by the time he was about 20 years
old.
[edit]Conquest of Macedonian territories in India
Main article: SeleucidMauryan war
Chandragupta had defeated the remainingMacedonian satrapies in
the northwest of the Indian subcontinent by 317 BCE.
After Alexander's death in 323 BCE, Chandragupta, turned his
attention to Northwestern India (modern Pakistan),
where he defeated the satrapies (described as "prefects" in
classical Western sources) left in place by Alexander
(according to Justin), and may have assassinated two of his
governors, Nicanor and Philip.[3][11]
The satrapies he fought
may have included Eudemus, ruler in western Punjab until his
departure in 317 BCE; and Peithon, son of Agenor, ruler
of the Greek colonies along the Indus until his departure for
Babylon in 316 BCE. The Roman historian Justindescribed
how Sandrocottus (Greek version of Chandragupta's name)
conquered the northwest:
-
"Some time after, as he was going to war with the generals of
Alexander, a wild elephant of great bulk
presented itself before him of its own accord, and, as if tamed
down to gentleness, took him on its back, and
became his guide in the war, and conspicuous in fields of
battle. Sandrocottus, having thus acquired a throne,
was in possession of India, when Seleucus was laying the
foundations of his future greatness; who, after
making a league with him, and settling his affairs in the east,
proceeded to join in the war against Antigonus.
As soon as the forces, therefore, of all the confederates were
united, a battle was fought, in which Antigonus
was slain, and his son Demetrius put to flight. "
Justin, Historiarum Philippicarum libri XLIV, XV.4.19
[edit]Expansion
By the time he was only about 20 years old, Chandragupta, who
had succeeded in defeating the Macedonian satrapies
in India and conquering the Nanda Empire, had founded a vast
empire that extended from the Bay of Bengal in the
east, to the Indus River in the west. In later years he would
expand this empire.
[edit]Conquest of Seleucus' eastern territories
Silver coin of Seleucus I Nicator, who fought Chandragupta
Maurya, and later made an alliance with him.
Chandragupta extended the borders of his empire towards Seleucid
Persia after his conflict with Seleucus c. 305 BCE.
-
Seleucus I Nicator, a Macedonian satrap of Alexander,
reconquered most of Alexander's former empire and put under
his own authority the eastern territories as far as Bactria and
the Indus (Appian, History of Rome, The Syrian Wars 55),
until in 305 BCE he entered into conflict with Chandragupta:
Always lying in wait for the neighboring nations, strong in arms
and persuasive in council, he acquired Mesopotamia,
Armenia, 'Seleucid' Cappadocia, Persis, Parthia, Bactria,
Arabia, Tapouria, Sogdia, Arachosia, Hyrcania, and other
adjacent peoples that had been subdued by Alexander, as far as
the river Indus, so that the boundaries of his empire
were the most extensive in Asia after that of Alexander. The
whole region from Phrygia to the Indus was subject to
Seleucus. He crossed the Indus and waged war with Sandrocottus
[Maurya], king of the Indians, who dwelt on the
banks of that stream, until they came to an understanding with
each other and contracted a marriage relationship. Some
of these exploits were performed before the death of Antigonus
and some afterward.
Appian, History of Rome, The Syrian Wars 55
The exact details of engagement are not known. As noted by
scholars such as R. C. Majumdar and D. D. Kosambi,
Seleucus appears to have fared poorly, having ceded large
territories west of the Indus to Chandragupta. Due to his
defeat, Seleucus surrendered Arachosia, Gedrosia, Paropamisadae,
and Aria.[15]
Mainstream scholarship asserts that Chandragupta received vast
territory west of the Indus, including the Hindu Kush,
modern day Afghanistan, and the Balochistanprovince of
Pakistan.[16][17]
Archaeologically, concrete indications of
Mauryan rule, such as the inscriptions of the Edicts of Ashoka,
are known as far as Kandhahar in southern Afghanistan.
After having made a treaty with him [Sandrakotos] and put in
order the Orient situation, Seleucos went to war
against Antigonus.
Junianus Justinus, Historiarum Philippicarum libri XLIV,
XV.4.15
It is generally thought that Chandragupta married Seleucus's
daughter to formalize an alliance. In a return gesture,
Chandragupta sent 500 war-elephants,[15][18][19][20][21][22]
a military asset which would play a decisive role at the Battle
of
Ipsus in 302 BCE. In addition to this treaty, Seleucus
dispatched an ambassador, Megasthenes, to Chandragupta, and
later Deimakos to his son Bindusara, at the Mauryan court at
Pataliputra (modern Patna in Bihar state). Later Ptolemy II
Philadelphus, the ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt and contemporary of
Ashoka the Great, is also recorded by Pliny the
Elder as having sent an ambassador named Dionysius to the
Mauryan court.[23]
Classical sources have also recorded that following their
treaty, Chandragupta and Seleucus exchanged presents, such
as when Chandragupta sent various aphrodisiacs to Seleucus:
And Theophrastus says that some contrivances are of wondrous
efficacy in such matters [as to make people more
amorous]. And Phylarchus confirms him, by reference to some of
the presents which Sandrakottus, the king of the
Indians, sent to Seleucus; which were to act like charms in
producing a wonderful degree of affection, while some, on
the contrary, were to banish love.
Athenaeus of Naucratis, Deipnosophistae, I.32
[edit]Southern conquest
-
After annexing Seleucus' eastern Persian provinces, Chandragupta
had a vast empire extending across the northern
parts of Indian Sub-continent, from the Bay of Bengal to the
Arabian Sea. Chandragupta then began expanding his
empire further south beyond the barrier of the Vindhya Range and
into the Deccan Plateau except the Tamil regions
(Pandya, Chera, Chola and Satyaputra) and Kalinga(modern day
Odisha).[11]
By the time his conquests were complete,
Chandragupta had succeeded in unifying most of Southern Asia.
Megasthenes later recorded the size of
Chandragupta's army as 400,000 soldiers, according to
Strabo:
Megasthenes was in the camp of Sandrocottus, which consisted of
400,000 men.
Strabo, Geographica, 15.1.53
On the other hand, Pliny, who also drew from Megasthenes' work,
gives even larger numbers of 600,000 infantry,
30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 war elephants:
But the Prasii surpass in power and glory every other people,
not only in this quarter, but one may say in all India, their
capital Palibothra, a very large and wealthy city, after which
some call the people itself the Palibothri,--nay even the
whole tract along the Ganges. Their king has in his pay a
standing army of 600,000-foot-soldiers, 30,000 cavalry, and
9,000 elephants: whence may be formed some conjecture as to the
vastness of his resources.
Pliny, Natural History VI, 22.4
[edit]Jainism and Sallekhana
Purportedly the mark of Chandragupta's footprints in Karnataka,
India, not far from the cave where he starved himself to death
in
accordance with Jain beliefs.
Chandragupt gave up his throne in 298 BCE, when he was 42 years
old, and became an ascetic under the Jain
saint Acharya Bhadrabahu, migrating south with them and ending
his days in "sallekhana" at ravaa Begoa in
present day Karnataka, though fifth-century inscriptions in the
area support the concept of a larger southern migration
around that time.[24]
A small temple marks the cave (Bhadrabahu Cave) where he is said
to have died by fasting.
There are two hills in ravaa Begoa, Chandragiri (Chikkabetta)
and Vindyagiri. The last shruta-kevali, Bhadrabahu
and his pupil Chandragupta Maurya, are believed to have
meditate