Chandragupta Maurya

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Chandragupta Maurya

Carving of Chandragupta Maurya

Medieval stone relief at Digambara Jain pilgrimage site Shravanabelagola, Karnataka. It has been
interpreted as Bhadrabahu and Chandragupta Maurya,[1] but others disagree.[2]

1st Mauryan Emperor

Reign c. 324 or 321 – c. 297 BCE[3][4]

Coronation c. 324 or 321 BCE

Predecessor Dhana Nanda

Successor Bindusara (son)[5]

Spouse Durdhara

Issue Bindusara

Religion

Hinduism[6]

end of life: Jainism[7]

Maurya Empire

(322–180 BCE)

Ashoka pillar at Vaishali, Bihar Lomas Rishi, Barabar Caves

Chandragupta 322–297 BCE

Bindusara 297–272/268 BCE

Ashoka 272/268–232 BCE

Dasharatha 232–224 BCE

Samprati 224–215 BCE

Shalishuka 215–202 BCE

Devavarman 202–195 BCE

Shatadhanvan 195–187 BCE

Brihadratha 187–180 BCE

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Chandragupta Maurya (reign: 321–298 BCE) was the founder of the Maurya Empire in ancient India.[3]
[8] He was born in a humble family, orphaned and abandoned, raised as a son by another pastoral
family, was picked up, taught and counselled by Chanakya – a Hindu Brahmin also known as Kautilya[9]
and the author of the Arthashastra.[3] Chandragupta with his counsellor Chanakya thereafter together
built one of the largest empires ever on the Indian subcontinent.[3][10][11] According to Jain sources,
he then renounced it all, became a monk in the Jain tradition.[10] His grandson was emperor Ashoka,
famous for his historic pillars and for his role in helping spread Buddhism outside of ancient India.[12]
[13] Chandragupta's life and accomplishments are described in ancient Greek, Hindu, Buddhist and Jain
texts, but they vary significantly.[14] In Greek and Latin accounts, Chandragupta is referred to as
Sandrokottos or Androcottus.[15]

Chandragupta Maurya was a pivotal figure in the history of India. Prior to his consolidation of power,
Alexander the Great had invaded the northwest Indian subcontinent, then abandoned his campaign in
324 BCE and left a legacy of several Indo-Greek kingdoms in the northwest ancient India.[16][17]
Chandragupta created a new empire, applied the principles of statecraft, built a large army and
continued expanding the boundaries of his empire. Greek rulers such as Seleucus I Nicator avoided war
with him, entered into a marriage alliance instead, and retreated into Persia.[18] Chandragupta's empire
extended from Bengal to most of the Indian subcontinent except for parts that are now Tamil Nadu,
Kerala and Odisha.[19][10]

Chandragupta's reign, as well the dynasty that followed him, was an era of economic prosperity, reforms
and expansion of infrastructure such as irrigation, roads and mines. In his empire and those of his
descendants, many religions thrived in India, with Buddhism, Jainism and Ajivika gaining prominence
along with the Brahmanism traditions.[20][21] A memorial to Chandragupta Maurya exists on the
Chandragiri hill, along with a 7th-century hagiographic inscription, on one of the two hills in
Shravanabelagola, Karnakata.[22]