Chandragupta Maurya (ruled 322–298 BC), also known as Sandrokottos to the Greeks, was the founder of the first the Mauryan Empire.

The Mauryan empire, whose capital was Pataliputra (Modern day Patna)in Eastern India, is acknowledged to be the greatest empire in ancient India, and lasted until 185 BC, fifty years after the death of Chandragupta's famous grandson, Emperor Asoka.

Prior to Chandragupta's consolidation of power, small regional kingdoms dominated Northern and Eastern India.

Chandragupta is acknowledged as the greatest of ancient Indian rulers, and his kingdom, which spanned from Afghanistan in the West, Bengal in the East, the Deccan plateau in the South and Kashmir in the North, was the greatest power of its day.

Origin or ancestry

The ancestry of Chandragupta is shrouded in mystery. Indian literary traditions connect him with the Nanda dynasty of Magadha. The Sanskrit drama Mudrarakashasa not only calls him Mauryaputra (Act II) but also a Nandanvaya (Act IV). Dhundiraja, a commentator of 18th century on Mudrarakshas states that Chandragupta was son of Maurya who in turn, was son of the Nanda king Sarvarthasiddhi by a wife named Mura, daughter of a Vrishala (shudra). Mudrarakshas especially uses terms like kula-hina and Vrishala for Chandragupta's lineage. This reinforces Justin's contention that Chandragupta had a humble origin. On the other hand, the same play describes the Nandas as of Prathita-kula i.e illustrious lineage. The commentator on the Vishnu Purana informs us that Chandragupta was son of a Nanda prince and a dasi (Hindi:maid), Mura. Pandit Kshmendra and Somadeva call him Purvananda-suta, son of genuine Nanda as opposed to Yoga-Nanda.

Another view is that Chandragupta was raised by peacock tamers (Sanskrit: Mayura-Poshakha), which earned him Maurya epithet. Both the Buddhist as well as Jaina traditions testify to the supposed connection between the Moriya (Maurya) and Mora or Mayura (Peacock). While the Buddhist tradition describes him as the son of the chief of the Peacock clan (Moriya), the Jaina tradition on the other hand, refers to him as the maternal grandson of the headman of the village of peacock tamers (Moraposaga)Parisishtaparvan, p 56, VIII239f. This view suggests a degraded background of Chandragupta. (The same Jain tradition also describes Nanda as the son of a barber by a courtesan).

There is supposed to be monumental evidence connecting the Mauryas with peacocks. The pillar of Ashoka in Nandangarh bears on its bottom the figures of a peacock which is repeated in many sculptures of Ashoka at Sanchi A Guide to Sanchi, pp 44, 62, Sir Johmn Marshal.. According to TurnourMahavamsa (Mahawamsa), xxxix f., Buddhist tradition also testifies to the connection between expression Moriya and Mora or Mayura or peacock. Aelian informs us that tame peacocks were kept in the parks of the Maurya palace at Pataliputra. But Foucher Monuments of Sanchi, 231. does not regard these birds as a sort of canting badge for the dynasty of Mauryas. He prefers to imagine in them a possible allusion to the Mora Jataka.

Third view is that Chandragupta belonged to Moriyas, a Kshatriya clan of little ancient republic of Pippalivana which laid between Rummindei in the Nepalese Tarai and Kasia in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh. Tradition avers that this clan was reduced to great straights in fourth century BCE under Magadhan rule, and young Chandragupta grew up among the peacock-tamers, herdsmen and hunters. Buddhist text Mahavamsa calls Chandragupta a scion of the Khatttya (Kshatriya) clan styled as Moriya (Maurya). DivyavadanaEdited by Cowel and Neil., p 370 calls Bindusara, son of Chandragupta, an anointed Kshatriya, Kshatriya Murdhabhishikata, and in the same work, king Ashoka, son of Bindusara, is also styled a Kshatriya. The Mahaparinnibhana Sutta Mahaparinnibhana Sutta, page 409 of Buddhist canon states that the Moriyas (Mauryas) belonged to the Kshatriya community of Pippalivana. These traditions, atleast, indicate that Chandragupta came of a Kshatriya lineage.

Mahavamshatika connects him with the Sakya clan of Buddha which clan claimed to belong to the race of Aditya i.e solar race. also Avadanakalpalata, No 59.

A mediaeval age inscription represents the Maurya clan as belonging to the solar race of Kshatriyas. Epigraphia Indica, II, 222. It is stated that the Maurya line sprang from Suryavamsi Mandhatri, son of prince Yuvanashva of the solar race For prince Mandhatri, son of prince Yuvanashva, please refer to Mahabharata 7/62/1-10.

The Rajputana Gazetteer describes the Moris (Mauryas?) as a Rajput clan II A, the Mewar Residency by Major K. D. Erskine, p 14..

A Jat writer B.S.Dehiya

These several references, at least, tend to establish the Kshatriya lineage, if not the nativity of Chandragupta Maurya.

Lastly, there is yet another school of scholars like redoubtable B. M. Barua, J. W. McCrindle, Dr D. B. Spooner, Dr H. C. Seth, Dr Hari Ram Gupta, Dr Ratanjit Pal, Gur Rattan Pal Singh and many others who connect Chandragupta Maurya to north-western frontiers including the Gandhara/Paropamisadae, if not exactly Taxila itself. Based on Plutarch's evidence, Dr J. W. McCrindle writes that Chandragupta Maurya was a Punjabi and belonged to the Ashvaka (Assakenoi) territory Invasion of India by Alexander the great, p. 405. Plutarch attests that Androcottos had seen Alexander when he (former) was a lad and afterwards he used to declare that Alexander might easily have conquered the whole country (India).. Justin also attests that Sandrocottos had met Alexander during latter's compaign of north-west.. B. M. Barua connects him either to Taxila or eastern Afghanistan and invests him with Iranian affinities Indian Culture, vol. X, p. 34.. Dr D. B. Spooner, the official excavator of Pataliputra (Bihar), also believes that Mauryas (Chandragupta, Ashoka) were Iranians. Journnal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 1915, (Pt.II) , p.406, Dr D.B. Spooner Appian of Alexandria (95CE-165CE), author of a Roman History attests that Chandragupta, the king of the Indians, lived near river Indus which evidence again points at the north-west frontier borderlands. Other historians of this school state that he belonged to Kunar and Swat valleysThe Kambojas Through the Ages, 2005, pp 150-51, Kirpal Singh.. Ashvakas said that they were Chandravamsi. Megasthenes writes that Chandragupta was also a Chandravamsi Cambridge History of India, I, p 400; See also: Was Chandragupta Maurya a Punjabi? Article in Punjab History Conference, Second Session, Oct 28-30, 1966, Punjabi University Patiala, p 33, fn.2.. Many scholars see a connection between "Chandragupta" (Sandrocottos) and the strap Sisicottos (Diodotus of Erythrae) of the classical writings, stating that the Sashi- part in Sashigupta (Sisicotos) also means Chandra or moon (Sanskrit Sasi = moon, chandra)---hence asserting that Sashigupta (Sisicottos) and Chandragupta (Sandrocottos) was probably one and the same historical personage. Sisicottos had been a ruler of a petty hill state located at the base of Paropamisos (Hindukush) range in former Kamboja. Like Sandrocottos (Chandragupta), this Sisicottos (Sashigupta) was also a refugee at the time of Alexender's invasion. He had left his country seeking refuge first with Bessus of Bactria and later had co-operated with Alexander throughout the Sogdian campaigns Arrian. iv, 30. 4.. Such men had every reason to encourage Alexander to invade cis-Hindukush and he himself also needed little encouragement. During Alexander's invasion of the Ashvakas (q.v.), Sisicottos had cooperated with Alexander. On reduction of Massaga and the rock fort at Aornos, he was appointed governor of the Ashvakan territory (according to Arrian). This may hold a probable clue that Sisicottos was a Kamboja himself After being sacked by his own people (the Ashvakas), Sisicottos had first sought refuge in Bactria and fought against Alexander. But later on, he joined Alexander and instigated the latter to invade cis-Hindukush countries so that he (Sisicottos) could settle his scores with his opponents (Ashvakas) as well as regain his lost position in Paropamisadae. Dr J. C. Vidyalankar also identifies Sashigupta as a Kamboja Itihaas Parvesh, pp 133-34, Dr J. C. Vidyalankar; Kamboj Itihaas, 1973, p 58-59, H. S. Thind.. It is however not quite clear if this Sisicottos was the same person as Sandrocottos or else they were brothers. It appears probable that they were related in someway. Dr J. W. McCrindle thinks that they both possibly belonged two different sections of the Ashvakas Invasion of Alexander, 2nd Ed, p 112, Dr J. W. McCrindle; Op cit., p 33, Dr H. R. Gupta.. Dr McCrindle also writes that modern Afghanistan was ancient

Scholars of this school are also not convinced as how an inexperienced youth far from Bihar with no social, political or military standing in the north-west and with inadequate monetary and other resources of his own could have conquered the tough and hardy people of Punjab and north-west frontiers. It had taken Alexander, the world conqueror, over 16 months to subdue the land from east Afghanistan to river Bias spanning over a distance of just 500 miles. This calculates to conquering only one mile per day.Op cit., p 32, Dr H. C. Gupta.

Dr Spooner observes: "After Alexander's death, when Chandragupta marched on Magadha, it was with largely the Persian army (Shaka-Yavana-Kamboja-Parasika-Bahlika) that he won the throne of India. The testimony of the Mudrarakshasa is explicit on this point, and we have no reason to doubt its accuracy in matter of this kind" op cit., (Part II), p.416-17, Dr D. B. Spooner. This important factor again points to north-west connections of Chandragupta Maurya.

Some small particulars which happen to be recorded are sufficient to show that in the time of the early Maurya Emperors, the court was affected by Iranian practices. The Arthashastra of Kautiliya advises that the king when consulting the Physicians and ascetics should be seated in the room where the sacred fire has been kept, which attests that Zoroastrian rituals were practiced and honored at Mauryan court. Moreover, the ceremonial washing of king's hair was made the occasion of a splendid festival when courtiers offered rich tributes to the king. This observance recalls the ancient Persian hair-washing ceremony on the sovereign's birthday as described by Herodotus. The use of Kharosthi script, a variety of Aramaic in the provinces near the frontiers may also point to the Iranian origin of the Mauryans. The Ashoka Inscriptions and the Architecture at Pataliputra also bear unmistakeable impressions from Persia.Dr V. A. Smith, Oxford History of India.

Though Mahavamsa calls Chandragupta a Khattiya (Kshatriya), Mudrarakshasa by Vishakhadatta describes him as a VrishalaThe term Vrishala was applied to the high class Kshatriyas who did not follow the sacred codes recommended in the Brahmanical texts (Chandragupta Maurya, National Book Trust, India, p 31-32, Gopal Lallanji) (i.e. Mlechha) as well as Chandrasra & Pryadarshana (i.e very handsome, comely). And Adiparava of Mahabharata Mahabharata 1.67.13-14 refers to Ashoka Maurya as a Maha-asura i.e. a great Asura or Demon.

Exactly similar attributes (i.e. Kshatriyas, Vrishala (Mlechhas), Pryadarshanam/Handsome, Asuras, Danvas etc) have been applied to the Kambojas as well as their princes as is attested by ancient texts like Panini's Ashtadhyayi Sutra 4.1.168-175..attesting the Kambojas as one of the fifteen prominent ruling Kshatriya clans of his times, Manu Smriti Manusmriti x.43-44; Mahabharata 13.33.21: Both Manusmriti as well as Mahabharata attest that the Kambojas were originally noble Kshatriyas, but later on, when they discontinued to entertain the Brahminas in their country and ceased to follow sacred Brahmanical rituals & codes, they earned the Vrishala status as aresult of the wrath of the Brahmanas, Mahabharata Mahabharata 1.67.31.32; 7.23.43; 7.82.74; 8.56.111, 8.56.113.114: Mahabharata verses 1.67.31-32 term the Kamboja king Chandravarman as Diti-ja i.e. incarnation of Chandra, son of Diti-- a great Asura ruler. The other verses attest the Kambojas as prabhadarkastu Kambojas (MBH 7.23.43) i.e very handsome Kambojas. Also their princes Chandravarman, Sudakshina and Prapaksha are labelled, sudarshaniya (MBH 7/82/74), pryadarshanam (MBH 8.56.113-14) i.e exceedingly handsome, of gaura varna and tall (MBH 8.56.113-14) etc. , Ramayana, Ramayana verse 1.55.1-3 calls the Kambojas as ravisanibhah i.e Kambojas having faces brighter and illustrious like the Sun Markendeya PuranaMarkendeya Purana: verses 8.1-6 label the Kambojas as Asuras, Srimad Devi-Bhagawatam Srimad Devi-Bhagawatam: verses 5.28.1-12 also label the Kambojas as Asuras.and other ancient Indian sources.

Nuemerous scholars now identify the Ashvakas as a branch of the Kambojas . They were so-called since they (the Ashvaka branch of the Kambojas) were exclusively engaged in horse-profession and their services as cavalrymen were frequently requisitioned in ancient wars.

See also: .

On Iranian Affinities of the Kambojas, see: Language and ethnicity of Kambojas

Chanakya

It is generally held that Chanakya was native of Magadha and was employed in the court of Dhana Nanda, the last king of Magadha. However, another view is that Chanakya actually belonged to Gandhara but had settled at Magadha to rent his services to the court of Magadha rulers. It is stated that king Dhana Nanda, corrupted by power, had once insulted Chanakya and banished him from his court over an insignificant dispute. Thus insulted and disgraced, Chanakya took a silent vow to destroy Dhana Nanda at an appropriate time. On his way back at Taxila, Chanakya chance-met Chandragupta in whom he spotted great military and executive abilities and immediately got associated with him to fullfil his silent vow.

The seasoned and shrewd Chanakya helped Chandragupta raise a powerful army to liberate mother India from the clutches of crual and corrupt Nandhas of Magadha as well as from the foreign invaders like the Greeks. The Mudrarakshas of Visakhadutta as well as the Jaina work Parisishtaparvan talk of Chandragupta's alliance with the Himalayan king Parvatka. This Himalayan alliance gave Chandragupta a composite and formidable army made up of the Yavanas, Kambojas, Shakas, Kiratas, Parasikas and BahlikasAsti tava Shaka-Yavana-Kirata-Kamboja-Parasika-Bahlika parbhutibhih Chankyamatipragrahittaishcha Chandergupta Parvateshvara balairudidhibhiriva parchalitsalilaih samantaad uprudham Kusumpurama (See: Mudrarakshasa Act 2).. With the help of these frontier warlike clans from the northwest (mainly the Iranians) whom Justin brands as "a band of robbers" Historiarum Phillippicarum Libri XLIV, XV, 4. ), Chandragupta managed to defeat, first the corrupt Nanda ruler of Magadha and later, upon Alexander's death, the Macedonian straps of Punjab and Afghanistan, thus laying the foundations of a Maurya Empire in northern India.

Expansion

When he took over Magadha, Chandragupta Maurya inherited a great army from his predecessor, which he continued to build upon until it reached a total of thirty thousand cavalry, nine thousand war elephants, and six hundred thousand infantry (Megasthenes' book on India Indica, quotes an army of 600,000 with 9000 elephants). With this force, he overran all of Northern India, establishing an empire from the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea. He then turned his attention to Northwestern India and the power vacuum left by the departure of Alexander. Starting with the lands east of the Indus River, he then moved south, taking over much of what is now Central India.

The year 305 BC saw Chandragupta back in the northwest, where Seleucus I Nicator, the Macedonian satrap of Babylonia, posed a new threat to the empire. However, circumstances in the west forced Seleucus to abandon his conquests mid-campaign and sign a peace treaty in 303 BC. Seleucus exchanged territory west of the Indus for five hundred war elephants and offered his daughter to Chandragupta. In this matrimonial alliance the enmity turned into friendship, and Seleucus' dispatch an ambassador, Megasthenes, to the Mauryan court at Pataliputra (Modern Patna in Bihar state). As a result of this treaty, Chandragupta's empire was recognized as a great power by the Hellenic world, and the kings of Egypt and Syria sent their own ambassadors to his court.

Jainism & death

Towards the end of his life, Chandragupta gave up his throne and became an ascetic under the Jain saint Bhadrabahu Swami, ending his days in self-starvation at Shravanabelagola, in present day Karnataka. A small temple marks the cave (called Bhadrabahu Cave) where he died .

Family

Chandragupta Maurya renounced his throne to his son, Bindusara, who became the new Mauryan Emperor.

Trivia

• In the 9th century AD, Sanskrit author Vishakhadatta penned a seven-act play on Chandragupta's life called, Mudra Rakshasa (Sanskrit: Signet Ring of the Rakshasa,the chief minister of the last Nanda king).
• In 2001, the Indian Postal Department issued a Rs. 4 stamp commemorating the rule of Chandragupta.

References

Additional reading

• Nilakantha Shastri, K. A. The Age of Nandas and Mauryas, Banaras, 1952.
• Kosambi,D.D. An Introduction to the Study of Indian History, Bombay: Popular Prakashan, 1985
• Bhargava, P.L. Chandragupta Maurya, New Delhi:D.K. Printworld, 160 pp., 2002.
• Habib, Irfan. and Jha, Vivekanand. Mauryan India: A People's History of India,New Delhi:Tulika Books, 2004; 189pp
• Vishakadatta, R.S. Pandit.Mudraraksasa (The Signet Ring of Rakshasa), New Delhi:Global Vision Publishing House, 2004, ISBN 8182200091, edited by Ramesh Chandra

External link

• Chandragupta Maurya

Chandragupta Maurya चन्द्रगुप्त Chandragupta Máuria Чандрагуптаsa:चन्द्रगुप्त मौर्य Chandragupta Mauryata:சந்திரகுப்த மௌரியர் 旃陀羅笈多