The sources of information about Mauryan Dynasty are “Mudrarakshasa of Vishakha Dutta” & “Arthshastra of Chanakya” . It was established by “Chandragupta Maurya”

Chandragupta Maurya –
- He was the founder of Mauryan dynasty
- The sources of information about him are
- “Indica” of Magasthenese
- “Junagarh inscription” of Rudradaman
- “Mudrarakshasa” of Vishakadatta
- “Arthshastra” of Chanakya
- He was follower of Jainism
- He built “Sudershan lake” in Gujarat
- He died in “Shravanbelgola” (Karnataka)
- He died by “sallekhna system”/”Santhara/Fasting” system according to jain religion
Capital | Patliputra |
Father | Sarvarth Siddha Maurya |
Mother | Mura |
Teacher | Chanakya |
Religious Teacher | Bhadra Bahu |
Wives | Durdhara & Helena |
Other names | Androcottus & Sandrocotus |
NOTE – Durdhara was daughter of “Dhanananda”
NOTE – Helena was daughter of “Selecus Nicator”
NOTE – Chandragupta Maurya defeted Siecus Nicator in 305BC and married his daughter, ehich was 1st international marriage
NOTE – Bhadra Bahu was a Jain saint
NOTE – “Magasthenese” came into the court of Chandragupta Maurya
Bindusara –
Father | Chandragupta Maurya |
Mother | Durdhara |
Sons | Ashoka,Sushim,Shyamak, Bittashoka |
Other names | Bindupal, Bhadrasara, Simhasena, Amitrochettus & Amitroghata |
Prime ministers | Chanakya, Khallatak & Radha Gupta |

- He was follower of “Ajivika sect”
- He died in Patliputra
- Ashoka was his governor of Ujjain
- “Diemachus” came into court of Bindusara
- Diemachus was ambassador of “Antiochus”
NOTE – Ajivika Sect was established by “Makkhiliputra Gosala”
NOTE – Antiochus was king of “Syria”
Demands of Bindusara from Antiochus –
Sweet wine | Accepted |
Dried fig | Accepted |
Philosopher | Denied |
Ashoka –
- He is also known as “The Great Ashoka”
- He was the governor of Ujjain
- He killed his 99 brothers accept “Agam” to become the king
- Srinagar was built by him

Father | Bindusara |
Mother | Subhadrangi/Dharma |
Wives | Mahadevi, Devi, Karuvaki, Ashandhimitra, Patmavati & Tishyaraksha |
Sons | Mahindra & Tivara |
Daughter | Sangghmitra |
Religious teacher | Mogliputra Tissa |
Other names | Chandashoka, Ashoka Vardhan, Devanampia, Buddhashakya, Piyadassi, Priyadarshani |
Battle of Kalinga –
- It was fought in 261 BC
- It was between “Ashoka” & “Samntha Mahapadma Nabha”
- Ashoka won this war
- Details of Kalinga war are found in the “13th Rock edict”
- After Kalinga war Ashoka adopted Buddhism
NOTE – He was inspired by “Nigrodha” to adopt Buddhism
NOTE – He was converted to Busshism by “Upgupta”
Dhamma –
- It was started by Ashoka
- It was an ethical code
- Its purpose was to “respect to all person” & “Respect to all religions”
- “Dhamma Mahamantra” was established by Ashoka for the message of Dhamma
Ashokan edicts –
- He was the 1st Indian ruler who made edicts
- For edicts he was inspired by “Darius” of Persia
- The edicts were decoded by “James Princep” in 1837
- There are total major 14 rock edicts
- 7 are pillar edicts
- 4 are minor pillar edicts
Important Rock/pillar edicts/ Inscriptions –
Place | Edict |
Pakistan | Shahbajgarhi, Manshera |
Bihar | Lauriya Areraj, Lauriya Nandagarh, Rampurva |
Nepal | Lumbini, Niglwasagar |
Odisha | Dhauli, Kalinga, Jaugada |
UP | Sarnath, Prayagraj |
MP | Sanchi, Rupnath |
Karnataka | Brahmgiri |
Rajasthan | Bhabru Bairat |
Afghanistan | Sarekhuna |
- Script/language used were “Aramaic, Brahmi, Prakrit & Greek”
Caves built by Ashoka –
- Sudama
- Karna Chaupar
- Vishva Jhopari