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MAURYAN EMPIRE

March 8, 2025
Posted by: Beauty Kumari

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Foundation of the Mauryan Empire (Simplified & Detailed)

The Mauryan Empire was founded by Chandragupta Maurya, marking a major turning point in Indian history.

Chandragupta Maurya and His Rise to Power

Chandragupta belonged to a ruling family from a small republic called Pipphalivana (near Gorakhpur).
Some traditions claim he was born to a Shudra woman in the court of the Nanda dynasty.
With the help of Chanakya, he overthrew the Nanda rulers and established his empire.
The story of how Chanakya helped Chandragupta is described in the book Mudrarakshasa by Vishakhadatta.

Sources of Mauryan History

The Mauryan Empire is important because, for the first time, we have many written and archaeological sources that give us detailed information about this period.

1. Literary Sources

Source	Information Provided
Arthashastra (by Kautilya/Chanakya)	A detailed book on politics, administration, war, diplomacy, and economy.
Jataka Stories	Tells about social and economic life in ancient India.
Ashokavadana & Divyavadana	Contains information about Ashoka, his conquests, and his conversion to Buddhism.
Dipavamsa & Mahavamsa (Sri Lankan texts)	Explain how Ashoka spread Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
Parishisthaparvan (by Hemachandra)	Gives details about Chandragupta Maurya’s life, including his conquest of Magadha and conversion to Jainism.
Mudrarakshasa (by Vishakhadatta)	Describes the social and economic conditions and mentions Chandragupta’s council.
Rajatarangini, Kathasaritsagara, Brihatkathamanjari	Provide additional information about Mauryan rule.

2. Archaeological Sources

A. Ashoka’s Edicts and Inscriptions

The Ashokan Edicts were discovered and deciphered by James Prinsep in 1837. These inscriptions were written on rocks, pillars, and caves, mainly to spread Ashoka’s ideas of Dhamma (moral law).

Type of Edict	What It Says	Locations
14 Major Rock Edicts	Describe Ashoka’s Dhamma policy, social welfare, and religious tolerance.	Found in Kalsi (Uttarakhand), Junagadh (Gujarat), Dhauli (Odisha), Mansehra (Pakistan), etc.
Kalinga Rock Edicts	Talk about Ashoka’s administration after the Kalinga War.	Found in Dhauli (Odisha) and Jaugada (Odisha).
Minor Rock Edicts	Give details about Ashoka’s personal beliefs and summary of his Dhamma.	Found in Brahmagiri (Karnataka), Maski (Andhra Pradesh), Rupnath (Madhya Pradesh), etc.
Bhabru-Bairat Rock Edict	Talks about Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism.	Found in Bhabru-Bairat (Rajasthan).
Pillar Edicts	Additional explanations about Dhamma.	Found in Allahabad, Sarnath, Sanchi, and Rampurva (Bihar).
Tarai Pillar Edicts	Show Ashoka’s deep respect for Buddhism.	Found in Lumbini (Nepal).
Cave Edicts	Show Ashoka’s policy of religious tolerance.	Found in Barabar Hills (Bihar).

B. Material Remains

Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) pottery was found, showing high-quality craftsmanship of the Mauryan period.
Punch-marked silver and copper coins were commonly used during this period.
Some coins show Chandragupta standing with a Greek queen, which suggests friendly relations between Maurya and Greece.

Significance of the Mauryan Empire

The Mauryan Empire was the first large, centralized empire in India, and its rule left a lasting impact on administration, economy, and religion. Ashoka’s policy of Dhamma and his role in spreading Buddhism influenced not just India but also Sri Lanka, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.

Here’s a simplified and detailed version of the text:

The Mauryan Dynasty

Chandragupta Maurya (Founder of the Mauryan Dynasty)

Chandragupta Maurya was the first ruler of the Mauryan dynasty.
Greek writers referred to him as Sandrokottos or Androkottos.
With the guidance and support of Chanakya, he overthrew the Nanda rulers and became the king of Magadha.
He made Pataliputra his capital.
Chandragupta defeated Seleucus Nicator, a Greek general who had inherited Alexander the Great’s empire in India. Later, they became allies.
As part of their peace agreement, Seleucus sent Megasthenes, a Greek ambassador, to Chandragupta’s court in 304 BC.
Megasthenes wrote a book called “Indica”, which provides details about India during the Mauryan period.

Bindusara (298 – 273 BC)

Bindusara was the son of Chandragupta Maurya.
The Greeks called him “Amitraghata”, meaning “slayer of enemies.”
He expanded the empire southwards up to Mysore.
The Tibetan monk Taranatha mentions that Bindusara conquered 16 states.
Tamil literature from that period also confirms the expansion of the Mauryan Empire into the southern parts of India.
He received an ambassador named Deimachus from the Syrian king Antiochus I.
Bindusara supported the Ajivika sect, a religious group.
He appointed his son Ashoka as the governor of Ujjain.

Ashoka (269 – 232 BC)

Ashoka fought the Kalinga War around 261 BC.
According to inscriptions, the war led to 100,000 deaths, and many people went missing.
The destruction and bloodshed changed Ashoka’s heart, and he abandoned military expansion.
He decided to replace the sound of war drums (Bherighosa) with the teachings of Dhamma (Dhamma Ghosha).
The last Mauryan king, Brihadratha, was assassinated by his general Pushyamitra Shunga around 187 BC, marking the end of the Mauryan Empire.

Ashoka’s Dhamma (Code of Conduct)

Ashoka dedicated his life to spreading Dhamma, a set of moral and ethical values.
He sent Buddhist missionaries to Sri Lanka and Central Asia to spread Buddhism.
His Dhamma emphasized:
- Compassion
- Charity
- Truthfulness
- Purity
- Gentleness
Ashoka inscribed his teachings on rocks and pillars, known as Dhamma Lipis (Edicts).

Some Important Rock Edicts of Ashoka:

Edict 1: Bans animal sacrifices and promotes non-violence.
Edict 2: Talks about the construction of hospitals, roads, wells, and trees for shade.
Edicts 3, 4, and 12: Urges people to respect parents, relatives, Brahmins, and monks.
Edict 7: Encourages religious tolerance.
Edict 9: Advises people not to waste money on social ceremonies.
Edict 13: Describes the Kalinga War.
Edict 12: Refers to Ashoka as “Devanam Piyadassi” (Beloved of the Gods).

Ashoka appointed Dhamma Mahamatras, officials responsible for spreading Dhamma and ensuring peace.
Most of Ashoka’s inscriptions were written in the Brahmi script, but some were in Kharosthi, Greek, and Aramaic.
The language used in the inscriptions included Prakrit, Greek, and Aramaic.

Mauryan Administration

Sources of Information

Megasthenes’ Indica and Kautilya’s Arthashastra provide insights into Mauryan administration.

Political Administration

The Mauryan administration was highly centralized.
The king was the supreme authority in military, law, and governance.
A Council of Ministers (Mantri Parishad) helped the king.

Law and Governance

The king’s decree was the most powerful law.
Kautilya’s Arthashastra mentions six important aspects of the state:
1. Amatya (Bureaucracy)
2. Anapada (Territory)
3. Durga (Fortified Capital)
4. Kosha (Treasury)
5. Danda (Military and Police Force)
6. Mitra (Allied Kingdoms)

Important Officials and Their Duties

Officer	Role
Bhandagaradhikreta	Head of Treasury
Dandapashika	Chief of Police
Mahadandanayak	Chief Justice
Mahaswapati	Head of Cavalry
Ranabhandagarika	Inspector of Military Stores
Antapala	Security Officer for Border Forts

Census System

A regular census was conducted to record population, caste, occupations, and even the number of animals in households.

Revenue System

The chief revenue officer, called Samharta, was responsible for collecting taxes.
Sources of Revenue:
- Land tax (Bhaga) – one-sixth of the produce
- Custom duties (Sulka)
- Fines from law courts
- Taxes on shops, mines, forests, and irrigation

Types of Taxes:

Tax Name	Purpose
Bhaga	Land revenue (one-sixth of the produce)
Bali	Additional tax
Pranaya	Emergency tax
Pindakara	Annual village tax
Vishti	Forced labor tax
Hiranya	Gold tax

Provincial and Local Administration

The empire was divided into five major provinces:
- Pataliputra (Capital)
- Taxila (Northwest)
- Suvarnagiri (South)
- Tosali (East)
- Ujjain (West)
Provinces were ruled by the king’s relatives (Kumars).
Districts were managed by Rajukas, who functioned like modern-day collectors.
Villages were administered by Gramani (village head).

Mauryan Army

The Mauryan military was one of the largest in the world.
According to Greek historian Pliny, the army consisted of:
- 600,000 infantry (foot soldiers)
- 30,000 cavalry (horse riders)
- 9,000 war elephants
- 8,000 chariots
The Senapati (Commander-in-Chief) led the army.
The army was divided into six departments, including the navy and transport.

Decline of the Mauryan Empire

After Ashoka’s death, the empire was divided:
1. Dasaratha ruled the eastern part.
2. Samprati ruled the western part.
Reasons for Decline:
1. Weak successors after Ashoka.
2. Economic crisis (evident from debased coins).
3. Difficulties in managing a vast empire.
4. Religious policies led to dissatisfaction among Brahmins.
5. The last Mauryan king was assassinated by Pushyamitra Shunga.
Eventually, regional kingdoms like Kalinga and the Satavahanas emerged, and the Sunga dynasty replaced the Mauryas.