Mauryan Dynasty Notes

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

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
CapitalPatliputra
FatherSarvarth Siddha Maurya
MotherMura
TeacherChanakya
Religious TeacherBhadra Bahu
WivesDurdhara & Helena
Other namesAndrocottus & 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 –

FatherChandragupta Maurya
MotherDurdhara
SonsAshoka,Sushim,Shyamak, Bittashoka
Other namesBindupal, Bhadrasara, Simhasena, Amitrochettus & Amitroghata
Prime ministersChanakya, Khallatak & Radha Gupta
Bindusara
  • 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 wineAccepted
Dried figAccepted
PhilosopherDenied

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
Ashoka
FatherBindusara
MotherSubhadrangi/Dharma
WivesMahadevi, Devi, Karuvaki, Ashandhimitra, Patmavati & Tishyaraksha
SonsMahindra & Tivara
DaughterSangghmitra
Religious teacherMogliputra Tissa
Other namesChandashoka, 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 –

PlaceEdict
PakistanShahbajgarhi, Manshera
BiharLauriya Areraj, Lauriya Nandagarh, Rampurva
NepalLumbini, Niglwasagar
OdishaDhauli, Kalinga, Jaugada
UPSarnath, Prayagraj
MPSanchi, Rupnath
KarnatakaBrahmgiri
RajasthanBhabru Bairat
AfghanistanSarekhuna
Mauryan Dynasty
  • Script/language used were “Aramaic, Brahmi, Prakrit & Greek”

Caves built by Ashoka –

  • Sudama
  • Karna Chaupar
  • Vishva Jhopari

History Notes For UPSC & Govt. Exams – ReetPrep

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