Origin of Mauryans

Mauryan empire was originated from the kingdom of Magadha in the Indo-Gangetic plains. Mauryans ruled from the capital Pataliputra. Both Indian and classical sources suggest that Alexander's retreat resulted in the reaction of a Vacuum and therefore, it was not difficult for Chandragupta to carve a kingdom for himself. Chandragupta founded the Mauryan empire by overthrowing the Nanda dynasty with the help of Chanakya, who was an important minister in the Court of Nanda rulers.

Sources of Mauryan History

Literary Sources

1. The Arthashastra work, in Sanskrit, is a comprehensive treatise on statecraft and public administration. The work is attributed to Kautilya, the Prime Minister of Chandragupta. It deals with the kingship, government, state, war and peace and diplomacy, the systems of revenue, description of various aspects of espionage, army organization, laws related to marriage. It is divided into 15 Adhikaranas or books, 180 Prakarnas (chapter) and 6000 verses in all.

2. The Jataka stories of the Buddha's previous lives tell us about the prevalent social and economic order.

3. The Ashokavadana and Divyavadana contain information about Bindusara, Ashoka's expeditions to Taxila to suppress a rebellion and about his conversion to Buddhism.

4. The Dipavamsa (compiled between 3rd century BC and AD 4th century) and Mahavamsa (written in the AD 5th century) are Sri Lankan chronicles, which describe in the detail the role played by Ashoka in spreading Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

5. A commentary on Mahavasma, known as Mahavamsatika or Vamsatthapakasini composed in the AD 10th century, contains information about the origin of the Mauryans. The Jaina work Sthaviravali Charita or Parisishtaparvan of Hemachandra (A biography of Chanakya) provides very interesting information on Chandragupta Mauryan, such as his early life, conquest of Magadha, famine in Magadha and conversion to Jainism.

6. Mudrarakshasa of Vishakhadatta (AD 4th century), a drama in Sanskrit, gives an account of the prevailing socio-economic conditions. It also mentions Chandragupta Sabha (Council).

7. Rajatarangini of Kalhana, Kathasaritasagar of Somadeva and Brihatkathamanjari of Kshemendra also provided information about the Mauryan.

Mauryan Dynasty

Chandragupta Maurya (321 - 298 BC)

1. Chandragupta, at the young age of 25, dethroned the last Nanda ruler (Dhanananda) and occupied Pataliputra in 321 BC with the help of Brahmana, Kautilya also known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta (this fact finds mention in Mudrarakshasa of Vishakhadatta).

2. In 305 BC, Chandragupta again moved towards North-West for a campaign against Seleucus Nikator, which ended with the treaty of 303 BC in favour of the Mauryans. Chandragupta gave 500 elephants to Seleucus and in return, Seleucus gave him Eastern Afghanistan, Baluchistan and the area West of the Indus. According to Seleucus sent an ambassador called Megasthenes, according to Athenacus.

3. The Girnar record refer to Chandragupta Viceroy or Governor, Pushyagupt (brother in law of Chandragupta), who is said to have constructed the famous Sudarsana lake. His title was Simant Raja.

4. The Sohagura Copper Plate Inscription (Gorakhpur district) and Mahasthan Inscription (Bogra district) deal with the relief measures to be adopted during a famine, these inscription were probably issued during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya.

5. Chandragupta went to South India with Bhadrabahu, the Jaina saint. At Sravana Belagola, he spent rest of his life and died in the orthodox Jain way by slow starvation (Sallekhana).

Bindusara (298 - 273 BC)

1. Chandragupta Maurya was succeeded by his son Bindusara. In a Chinese text, he is mentioned as Bindupala. Bindusara was known as to the Greeks as Amitrochates (derived from the Sanskrit word Amitraghata or slayer of foes) or Amitrakhada (devourer of foes). Strabo calls him Amitrochates.

2. According to Taranatha, the Tibetan Buddhist monk who visited India in the 16th century, Bindusara conquered 16 states, comprising the land between the two seas (presumably the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal).

3. Bindusara appointed his eldest son Sumana or Susima as Viceroy of Taxila and Ashoka at Ujjain. The Divyavadana/Ashokavadana tells the story of a revolt in Taxila, during the time of Susima. Bindusara deputed Ashoka to restore order.

4. Bindusara had contacts with Antiochus I, the Seleucid king of Syria whose ambassador, Deimachus was said to have been at his court. Bindusara wrote to Antiochus I asking for some sweet wine, dried figs and a sophist to be sent to the Mauryan Court. Antiochus I sent all except the sophist, explaining that Greek law forbid a sophist to be sold.

5. Pliny mentions that Ptolemy Philadelphus of Egypt sent Dionysius as his ambassador to the court of Bindusara. He was a believer of Ajivika sect

Ashoka (273 - 232 BC)

He succeeded his father Bindusara, but seems to have fought a battle of succession. According to 'Divyavadana', Ashoka was sent to quell rebellion at Taxila. He was initiated into Buddhist fold by Nigrodh, a 7 years old monk. Ashoka reduced the land revenue of Lumbini village to first eighth of produce. Three different phases of life of Ashoka were Kamasoka, Chandasoka, Dhammasoka.

Kalinga War

After accession to the throne, Ashoka fought only one major war called as Kalinga War. 100000 people were killed, several lakhs perished and 150000 were taken prisoner. He was moved by the massacre in this war. The war had far reaching effect on the policy of Ashoka. He abandoned the policy of physical occupation in favour of cultural conquest. Bhabru Inscription states that after 2 years of the war, Ashoka became an ardent supporter of Buddhism.

Ashoka's Dhamma

1. The Dhamma according to Ashoka's edict is not a religion or religious system, but a moral law a common code of conduct. In pillar Edict II, Ashoka himself put the question "What is Dhamma" and then he enumerates the basic attributes or constituents of Dhamma.

2. Ashoka's Dhamma was completely cosmopolitan, capable of universal application and acceptance as essence of all religions. Ashoka wanted conquest through Dhamma instead of war. Replacement of Bherighosa (sound of war drums) by Dhammaghosa (sound of peace).

3. Ashoka's Dhamma was intended to strengthen social solidarity or social relationship. It was to promote religious tolerance. It was intended as an ethical concept related to the individual in the context of his society. Through Dhamma, he further stressed the paternal concept of monarchy.

4. To the propagation of Dhamma, Ashoka had taken several measures through the Dhamma Mahamata, undertaking Dhamma by regulation.

Ashoka's inscription

He was the first ruler to issue edicts. Maximum number of inscriptions has been discovered from Mysore. First Ashokan edict was discovered by Padre tie fenthaler, which was deciphered by James Princep in AD 1837 (Delhi-Meerut Pillar). Most of the inscriptions are composed in Brahmi script (left to right) and Prakrit language. Maski, Gurjara, Nittur and degolan inscriptions mention full name Ashoka i.e. Devanampiya Ashoka Piyadassi.

Ashokan Edicts

Fourteen Major Rock Edicts

1. These edicts cover a very large scope, defining the nature and broader application of Dhamma. They were located at Kalsi (Dehradun), Girnar (Gujarat), Yerragudi (Anddhra Pradesh), Mansehra (Pakistan), Sopara (Bombay), Dhauli and Jaugada (both in Orissa) and Shahbazgarhi (Pakistan in Kharosthi).

2. Two separate Kalinga rock edicts are located in Dhauli and Jaugada (Orissa). Sometime called Edicts XV and XVI they substitute for three edicts i.e. XI on charity and kinship of mankind, XII on religious tolerance and XIII on the Kalinga War and the change of heart. Girnar seems to be an important site for edification as inscriptions of Skandagupta and Rudradaman have also been found here. The inscriptions at Mansehra and Shahbazgarhi are in Kharosthi script. Separate edict describes Ashoka's paternal concept of monarchy.

Minor Rock Edicts

1. Minor rock edicts are concentrated in the South and Central parts of the empire.

2. They highlight Ashoka's activity as Buddhist disciple i.e. personal history of Ashoka and also represent the summary of Dhamma.

3. The edict found at Kandahar is billingual, being inscribed in Greek and Aramaic. Minor rock edict III (Bairat) is addressed to the Buddhist clergy.

4. The title most commonly adopted by Ashoka in his predicts is Devanampiya Piyadassi (beloved of the Gods).

5. Minor rock edicts were located at Bairat (Rajasthan), Jatinga-Rameshwar (Karnataka), Sahsaram (Bihar), Rupanath (Madhya Pradesh), Gavimath (Mysore), Brahmagiri (Karnataka), Maski (Karnataka), Gujjara (Madhya Pradesh), Palkigundu (Karnataka), Rajula-Mandagiri (Andhra Pradesh), Siddapura (Karnataka), Suvarnagiri (Karnataka), Yerragudi (Andhra Pradesh), Nittur (Karnataka), Udegolam (Karnataka) and Kandahar (Afghanistan).

Major Pillar Edicts

1. The pillar edicts are found at Delhi-Topra, Delhi-Meerut, Ram-Purva, Lauriya-Arerai, Lauriya-Nandangarh and Allahabad Kosam.

2. The Ashokan Pillar at Allahabad contains two later inscriptions. One of the Gupta ruler Samudragupta. Dayaga Prasasti written by poet Harisena describing his conquests and another of the Mughal empire Jahangir. The complete set of seven edicts is found at only one place Topra. The pillar edict VII is the last edict to be issued by Ashoka.

Later Mauryans (232 - 184 BC)

According to Buddhist tradition, Ashoka ruled for 27 years. The disintegration of the Mauryan empire seemed to have set in immediately after Ashoka's death. The last ruler was Brihadratha, who was murdered by his general Pushyamitra Shunga. This was the end of Mauryan dynasty.

Mauryan Administration

Central Administration

1. The state , according to Kautilya, is constituted of the Saptanga or the seven elements viz Svamin (King), Amatya (Minister or high officials), Janapada (Territory or population), Durga (Fort), Kosa (Treasury), Bala (Army) and Mitra (Friend or Ally).

2. The Mauryan empire had major administrative units like the center and the provinces, which had various sub-units down to the village and all came under the purview of central administration. Tirthas were the highest categories of officials. They were 18 in number.

Revenue Administration

There were different sources of states revenue cities, rural areas, mine, pastures, plantation and forests Samaharta supervised collection for the entire kingdom.

Judiciary

1. The sources of law as mentioned by Kautilya were as follows

- Dharma

- Vyavahara (current legal codes)

- Charitra (customs)

- Rajasasana (Royal Decree)

2. The Chief Justice called the Dharmadhikarina and he presided over the Supreme Court: There were two types of courts.

(I) Dharmasthiya Civil Court, headed by Dharmastha.

(II) Kantaksodhan Criminal Court, headed by Pradeshika.

Army

According to Megasthenes, Chandragupta had at his disposal, a formidable army numbering about 600000. The army consisted of foot soldiers, elephants and horses. It had 30000 cavalry and 900 elephants.

Espionage Network

The spies were of two types Sansthan and Sanchari, the former worked by remaining stationed at a public place and the latter by moving from place to place, they were also known as Gudhapurshas.

City Administration

Nigarika was the city of Superintendent assisted by two officials. According to Megasthenes, the city council was divided into 6 boards of 5 members each.

Mauryan Society

1. There was well developed 'caste' system as per the accounts of Megasthenes and this caste system was based upon 'occupation' rather then birth. The marriage and polygamy both were present. Polygamy continued to royal classes. Women enjoyed high status. There was no slavery in the sense that people used to work as dasa, out of their own compulsions.

2. There were proper hospitals and Bheshajas (doctors) appointed along with a team of midwives nurses etc. According to Megasthenes, there were seven castes in India:

(I) The Philosopher

(II) Peasants

(III) Herdsmen and Shepherds

(IV) Artisans and Traders

(V) Soldiers and Warriors

(VI) Magistrates or Superintendents

(VII) Councilors and Assessors

Mauryan Economy

1. Chief source of revenue was 'land tax'. It was the total produce and it was collected by the revenue officers. Foreign trade by means of the land and sea was prevalent and regulated by passports kind of documents. Indigo, cotton and silk was most traded commodities. The trade routes were called Vanikatha.

2. Punchmarked coins mainly of silver and copper, Pana was the silver coin, gold coins were absent.

Agriculture

1. In some parts of the empire, the Gana Sangha System with communal ownership of land continued.

2. There are also reference to state-owned lands called Sita lands.

Public Welfare

1. The state took considerable interest in irrigation, encouraged people for repairing dams and construction of a water reservoir.

2. A reservoir (Tadaga) was probably built in Saurashtra region during Chandragupta time as indicated by an Inscription of Rudradaman. There are many references to medicine men of various kinds during this period like ordinary physicians (Chikitsakah), midwives ( Garbhavyadhi) etc.

The Mauryan Art

Pillars and Sculpture

The best example is the Sarnath Pillar, the four lions standing back to back and the figure of four animals (lion, elephant, horse and bull) in relief on the abacus, the inverted lotus and the sacred Dharma Chakra (with 24 spokes), all indicates a highly advanced from of art.

Stupas

The main purpose of building a Stupa was to enshrine some relics of Buddha or some great Buddhist monk. The best example of the Stupa is the Stupa at Sanchi. He enlarged the Stupa of Kanakamana a 'former Buddha'.

Caves

The caves primarily served as residence for monks or churches and assembly halls. Caves in Barabar hills are the finest examples. Lomas Rishi and Sudama caves were denoted by Ashoka to Ajivikas.