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The Maurya dynasty was founded by Chandragupta Maurya, who seems to have belonged to some ordinary family.
According to the Brahmanical tradition, he was born of Mura, a Sudra woman in the court of the Nandas.
However, an earlier Buddhist tradition speaks of the existence of a Kshatriya clan called Mauryas living in the region of Gorakhpur adjoining the Nepalese territory. In all likelihood, Chandragupta was a member of this clan.
With the help of Chanakya, known as Kautilya, Chandragupta overthrew the Nandas and established the rule of the Maurya dynasty.
Chandragupta liberated north-western India from the thraldom of Seleucus, who ruled over the area west of the Indus.
Eventually, peace was concluded between the two, and in return for 500 elephants, Seleucus gave him eastern Afghanistan, Baluchistan, and the area west of the Indus.
Chandragupta thus built up a vast empire which included not only Bihar and good portions of Orissa and Bengal, but also western and north-western India, and the Deccan.
Leaving Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and parts of north-eastern India, the Mauryas ruled over the whole of the subcontinent.
In the north-west, they held sway over certain areas which were not included even in the British empire.
The Mauryas organized a very elaborate system of administration. The empire was divided into provinces, each placed under a prince who was a scion of the royal dynasty. The provinces were further divided into smaller units. Pataliputra, Kausambi, Ujjain, and Taxila were the most important cities, with special attention paid to their administration.
The administration of Pataliputra, the capital of the Mauryas, was carried on by six committees, each consisting of five members. These committees were entrusted with sanitation, care of foreigners, registration of births and deaths, regulation of weights and measures, and similar functions.
In addition to these officers, the central government maintained about two dozen departments of the state, which controlled social and economic activities at least in the areas near the capital. The most striking feature of Chandragupta’s administration is the maintenance of a huge army, with various wings assigned to different committees.
Chandragupta Maurya was succeeded by Bindusara, whose reign is important for continued links with the Greek princes. His son, Asoka, is the greatest of the Maurya rulers. According to Buddhist tradition, he was initially cruel but later adopted Buddhist principles.
We can reconstruct the history of Asoka based on his inscriptions. He is the first Indian king to speak directly to the people through his inscriptions. They were engraved on rocks, polished stone pillars, and caves, found not only in the Indian subcontinent but also in Kandhar, Afghanistan.
The Kalinga war marked a turning point in Asoka's life. It caused great suffering, leading him to abandon the policy of physical occupation in favor of cultural conquest. Asoka made ideological appeals to tribal peoples and frontier kingdoms, promoting the principles of dharma.
Asoka was converted to Buddhism as a result of the Kalinga war. According to tradition, he became a monk, made huge gifts to the Buddhists, and undertook pilgrimages to the Buddhist shrines. The fact of his visiting the Buddhist shrines is also suggested by the dharma yatras mentioned in his inscriptions.
The Buddhist council was held under the chairmanship of Asoka’s brother, and missionaries were sent not only to south India but also to Sri Lanka, Burma, and other countries to convert the people.
Asoka set a very high ideal for himself, that of paternal kingship. He repeatedly asked his officials to tell the subjects that the king looked upon them as his children. As agents of the king, the officials were also asked to take care of the people. Asoka appointed dharmamahamatras for propagating dharma among various social groups, including women. He also appointed rajukas for the administration of justice in his empire.
Asoka disapproved of rituals, especially those observed by women. He forbade the killing of certain birds and animals, completely prohibited the slaughter of animals in the capital, and interdicted gay social functions in which people indulged in revelries.
Asoka's dharma was not a narrow one; it aimed to preserve the social order. He ordained that people should obey their parents, pay respect to the brahmanas and Buddhist monks, and show mercy to slaves and servants. These instructions can be found in both the Buddhist and brahmanical faiths.
Asoka's policy of peace, non-aggression, and cultural conquest was significant. He pursued a tolerant religious policy, making gifts to non-Buddhist and even anti-Buddhist sects. Asoka's missionary activities helped the cause of administration and promoted cultural contacts between different regions of his empire.
Above all, Asoka is important in history for his policy of peace. He consistently stuck to his policy of non-aggression, urging his successors to give up the policy of conquest and aggression. Although he possessed sufficient resources and maintained a huge army, he did not wage any war after the conquest of Kalinga. In this sense, Asoka was certainly far ahead of his day and generation.
However, Asoka's policy did not make any lasting impression on his viceroys and vassals, who declared themselves independent in their respective areas after his retirement in 232 BC. Similarly, the policy could not convert his neighbors, who attacked the north-western frontier of his empire within 25 years of Asoka's exit from power in 232 BC.
Chandragupta Maurya was a remarkable Indian emperor who founded the Maurya dynasty, one of the largest empires in ancient India. Born in humble beginnings, his rise to power was marked by strategic alliances and military prowess. Chandragupta's ascension to the throne was facilitated by Chanakya, also known as Kautilya, a shrewd political strategist. Together, they orchestrated the downfall of the reigning Nanda dynasty, seizing control and establishing Chandragupta as the new ruler. This pivotal moment in history marked the beginning of the Maurya era, characterized by Chandragupta's astute leadership and administrative reforms.
The Mauryas implemented a sophisticated administrative system that facilitated governance across their vast empire. Provinces were governed by princes belonging to the royal dynasty, ensuring centralized control. These provinces were further divided into smaller administrative units to streamline governance and enhance efficiency. Notable cities such as Pataliputra, Kausambi, Ujjain, and Taxila served as vital hubs of administration and commerce.
Additionally, the Mauryas established specialized committees to oversee various aspects of governance, including sanitation, foreign affairs, and trade regulation. This meticulous organization extended to the military, with separate committees managing different branches of the armed forces. The Mauryan military, renowned for its strength and discipline, played a crucial role in safeguarding the empire's borders and maintaining internal stability.
Megasthenes, a Greek ambassador, provided valuable insights into Mauryan administration through his writings. His accounts offer a unique perspective on the social, economic, and political landscape of ancient India during the Mauryan period. Although his original works are lost, fragments preserved in subsequent Greek writings shed light on Mauryan governance.
Kautilya's Arthasastra, composed centuries later, remains a seminal work on statecraft and governance. Despite its post-Mauryan origin, the Arthasastra contains authentic material relevant to the Mauryan era. Its detailed prescriptions for effective administration, economic management, and military strategy provide invaluable insights into the functioning of the Mauryan state.
The dharma of Asoka encapsulates the moral and ethical principles espoused by Emperor Asoka, particularly during the latter part of his reign. Following his conversion to Buddhism and the transformative experience of the Kalinga War, Asoka embraced a philosophy of compassionate governance grounded in Buddhist teachings.
Asoka's dharma emphasized principles of non-violence, social harmony, and benevolent rule. His edicts, inscribed on pillars and rocks throughout the empire, conveyed messages of tolerance, respect for all religious traditions, and the welfare of his subjects. Asoka's commitment to dharma transcended sectarian boundaries, embodying a universal ethos of justice and righteousness.
Asoka's promotion of Buddhism was multifaceted and transformative, marking a significant chapter in the history of the faith. Following his conversion to Buddhism after the Kalinga War, Asoka became a fervent patron of the religion, employing various means to propagate its teachings.
Asoka's support for Buddhism extended beyond mere patronage; he actively sought to disseminate Buddhist principles both within his empire and beyond. He sponsored the establishment of monasteries, supported Buddhist missions to neighboring regions, and made generous donations to the sangha.
Furthermore, Asoka's inscriptions and edicts, inscribed across the empire, served as powerful vehicles for spreading Buddhist doctrines and ethical precepts. These inscriptions, composed in accessible language and distributed widely, conveyed Asoka's commitment to Dhamma, or righteous conduct, as the guiding principle of his rule.
Asoka, also known as Ashoka the Great, emerged as one of the most influential figures in ancient Indian history. Born into the Maurya dynasty, Asoka's early life was marked by ambition and military conquests. However, it was his transformative experience during the Kalinga War that altered the course of his reign and legacy.
Following the bloodshed of the Kalinga War, Asoka underwent a profound spiritual awakening, embracing the teachings of Buddhism and renouncing violence as a means of governance. This pivotal moment led to Asoka's adoption of a policy centered on Dhamma, or righteous conduct, aimed at promoting social welfare, religious tolerance, and ethical governance.
Asoka's reign was characterized by unprecedented efforts to propagate Buddhist principles and foster social harmony. He sponsored missionary activities, erected pillars and rock edicts, and promoted religious tolerance throughout his empire. As a result, Asoka's legacy endured long after his reign, leaving an indelible mark on Indian civilization and the spread of Buddhism across Asia.
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