Mauryan Dynasty

Chapters for Module IV

•R. S. Sharma
16. Iranian and Macedonian Invasions- Iranian Invasion
18. The Maurya Age
19. The Significance of Maurya Rule

•NCERT VI-
7. ASHOKA, THE EMPEROR WHO GAVE UP WAR
Mauryan Dynasty
 • After Alexander invaded
the northwest part of the
subcontinent, one of his
generals, Seleucus Nicator,
founded the Seleucid
Empire.

• In Seleucus’s conflict with

the mighty Chandragupta
Maurya, he ceded large
• The Seleucid Empire was a Greek state in Western
Asia that existed from 312 BC to 63 BC. parts to the west of the
Indus, including the Hindu
• The Seleucid Empire was founded by Seleucus I Kush, present-day
Nicator, following the division of the Macedonian Afghanistan and
Empire that existed previously, which had been Balochistan to the Mauryan
founded by Alexander the Great king.
 Sources- Indigenous
Author/Work Remarks

Arthashastra (4th century BC) Talks of Mauryan administration; Kautilya is also

(the manuscript was discovered by R.Shamasastri in called ‘Indian Machiavelli’.
1905 at the Oriental library, Mysore)

Mudrarakshasa of Visakhadatta (5th century AD) Talks of the foundation of the Mauryan empire by
Chandragupta and Chanakya after overthrowing the
Nandas- ‘Mauryan Revolution’

Harshacharita of Bana (7th century AD) Decline of Mauryan empire; assassination of

Brihadratha by Pushyamitra Sunga.
Rajatarangini of Kalhana (12th century AD) History of Kashmir; Mauryas also ruled over
Kashmir. Ashoka built Srinagar.
Puranas Genealogy of Mauryas

Jatakas Socio-economic conditions of Mauryas

Parsistaparvan of Hemachandra A jain poet; Chandra Gupta Mauryawent to
Sravanabelgola and committed ‘Sallekhana’
 Foreign Sources
Author/Work Remarks

Indica of Megasthenes (300 BC) Written in Greek language; Gives detailed

description of Mauryan administration.

‘Geography’ of Strabo (1st century BC-1st Written in Greek, talks about the marriage of
century AD) Chandra Gupta Maurya with Helena, daughter
of Seleucus Nicator.
‘An-Epitome’ by Justine (2nd century AD) Written in Greek, mentions that Sandrocottus
conquered North Western India and terminated
the Greek governors appointed by Alexander

‘Indica’ of Arrian (2nd century AD) Written in Greek tells us that Nandas had 2 lakh
i n f a n t r y, 6 0 , 0 0 0 c a v a l r y a n d 6 0 0 0 w a r
elephants
Pliny’s ‘Natural History’ (1st century AD) Written in Latin tells us that Mauryas had 6 lakh
infantry, 30,000 cavalry, 9000 war elephants and
8000 chariots. He was a Roman.

Chinese Accounts: Fahien (5 t h century AD): Greatness of Mauryan

monuments

Hiuen Tsang (7 th century AD): His book ‘Si-Yu-Ki’

mentions about Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism
under influence of a boy monk,Upagupta.

Buddhist Chronicles of Ceylon Mahavamsa, Dipavamsa, Kulavamsa and

Vamsathapakasini written in Pali.

Mahavamsa:Ashoka’s children Mahendra and

Sanghamitra introduced and propagated Buddhism in
Sri Lanka.
Divyavadana A Buddhist text of Tibet gives an account of Ashoka;
written in Tibetan language
 Polity
Chandragu Bindusara Ashoka
pta Maurya Dasharatha
(324/321- 298–272 268–232 232–224 BCE
297 BCE) BCE BCE

Samprati Shalishuka Devavarman Shatadhanvan

224–215 BCE 215–202 BCE 202–195 BCE 195–187 BCE

Brihadratha
187–180 BCE
 Chandragupta Maurya (324/321- 297
BCE)
• Established the Mauryan Empire in 322 BC by defeating Dhana Nanda.

• Referred to as ‘Sandracottos’ and ‘Andracottus’ in Greek sources.

• Chandragupta may have first established himself in the Punjab and then moved eastwards
until he gained control over the Magadha region.

• Several texts such as the Puranas, Milindapanha, Mudrarakshasa, Mahavamshatika, and

Parishishtaparvan refer to his conflict with the Nandas.

• Junagarh inscription (2nd Century CE of Rudradaman - Construction of Sudarshan lake

 Bindusara (297 – 272 BCE)
• Lesser reference in Buddhist texts

• References of him found in Tamil poets in Sangam literature

• Greek accounts refer to his diplomatic relations and exchange of ambassadors

• Daimachus sent by Antiochus, Dionysius sent by Ptolemy II Philadelphus, cordial relations

between Antiochus and Bindusara

• Bindusara patronised the Ajivika sect.

• He was referred to as ‘Amitrochates’ by the Greek writers after his title ‘Amitraghatha'
(slayer of foes)
 Ashoka (268 – 232 BCE)
• During his father’s reign, Ashoka was stationed as governor at Ujjayini, and before that,
possibly at Taxila

• After the death of Bindusara, a fratricidal war of succession (BCE 272-268) broke out
among his sons.

• According to Mahavamsa (Buddhist chronicle of Sri Lanka), Ashoka captured the throne
after killing all his brothers.

• The Kalinga War fought in his 8th regnal year (B.C 261 or 260)was the turning point in
the life of Ashoka.

• Deeply disturbed by the death and destruction that occurred in the war, Ashoka decided to
abandon war and take up the propagation of Dhamma.
 Administration
•Mauryas established a well-organized and efficient centralized system
of administration.

•The concept of the saptanga rajya considers the state as consisting of

seven inter-related and interlocking constituent limbs or elements (angas
or prakritis)— svami (the lord, i.e., the king), amatya (ministers),
janapada (the territory and the people), durga (the fortified capital),
kosha (the treasury), danda (justice or force), and mitra (ally).

Portfolio based administration

•Different class of officers mentioned in Arthashastra and also in
Ashokan edicts
 Central Administration

Tirthas (Heads of department)

Adhyakshas (High officials in charge of important portfolios)

Mahamattas (Special Duties)

Amatya (Executive Officers)

Ashokan Inscription refers four provinces under governors - Uttarapatha

(Taxila), Avantirath (Ujjain), Prachyapatha (Tosali), Dakshinapatha (Suvarnagiri)
 Provinces:Kumara: Governors, title given to the son of a King
Aryaputra: Governors, Persons of Royal Blood (relatives)

Districts: Pradesika: District head, Law and Order & Revenue collection
Rajuka: Rural Administration & Justice
Yukta: Secretarial Staff

Intermediate: (Group of Villages) Sthanika: Tax Collector

Gopa:Accountant

Village: Gramika-Village Headman (Agronomoi-Indica)

Tirthas

Purohita: Senapati:
Mantrin: Yuvaraja:
Military
Minister Chief priest Crown prince
Commander

Dauvarika: Samaharta: Sannidhata:

Prasastri:
incharge of Chief collector Treasury Prisons
Palace of taxes chief

Antarvesika: Vyavaharika: Dandapal:

Nayaka:City
Chief of
constable Chief Judge Police Chief
Harem

Antapal:
Chief of
frontier
defense
 Adhyaksha Department
Akara-dhyaksha Mines and minerals

Akhapala-dhyaksha Accounts

Kupya-dhyaksha Forest produce

Lakshana-dhyaksha Mint

Panya-dhyaksha Trade & Commerce

Pautava/Tulamana-dhyaksha Weights & measures

Sita-dhyaksha Crown lands

Sulka-dhyaksha Customs & tolls
Sura-dhyaksha Excise
Sutra-dhyaksha Handlooms
Vivita-dhyaksha Pasture lands
Samstha-dhyaksha Markets/check wrong practices
Pattana-dhyaksha Ports
 Mahamattas

Vaharika-mahamatta Judicial Officer

Senanaya-mahamatta Military Officer

Donamapaka-mahamatta Assessment Officer

Dhamma-mahamatta Officer for Dhamma

Sabbatthaka-mahamatta Chief Minister

Amta-mahamatta Officer in charge of Frontier Areas

Itijhaka-mahamatta Officer in charge of women/harem

Judicial
•Danda one of the limbs of Saptanga theory
• Reference to civil courts (Dharmasthiya) and criminal courts
(Kankatsodhana)

Espionage Department
•Headed by ‘Mahamatyapasarpa’ who controlled the secret
agents/spies.
•Kautilya calls spies as 'gudhapurushas’ while Ashokan inscriptions
referred to them as 'pativedakas’ & ‘Pulisanis’.
 Economy
•Direct Control

•State’s monopoly in mining and metallurgy – Akaradhyaksha and

Lohadhyaksha

•State was also directly involved in production of some goods - “Rajpanya’

Taxes
Bhaga- Land Revenue- 1/4th -1/6th of produce Vartani- Road tax
Nishkramya- Export duty
Vishti- Tax paid in the form of work (forced labour)
 Trade
•The Jataka stories have frequent references to caravan traders
carrying large quantities of goods to different parts of the country.

•The security provided by Mauryan rule enabled internal trade to

blossom.

•Major trade routes to West Asia and Central Asia passed through
north-west India.

•The main trade routes in northern Indian were along the river Ganges
and the Himalayan foothills. Major centres like Rajagriha in Magadha
and Kausambi, near present-day Allahabad, were connected in this
way.
 Social Milieu
•Megasthenes divided the Indian people into seven strata. The seven groups were as
follows: philosophers, farmers, herdsmen and hunters, artisans and traders, soldiers,
overseers, and the kings’ counsellors.

•The Arthashastra mentions wage labour, bonded labour, and slave labour. The
term karmakara refers to a person who works in return for wages.

•The Arthashastra reflects a significant hardening of the Brahmanical position on

untouchability.

•Women’s Position within Brahmanical was low and within heterodox sects they had
more freedom.
 Ashokan Dhamma
• Ashoka’s connection with Buddhism is reflected in Buddhist texts and in his inscriptions. Buddhist
tradition considers him an exemplary king and a devout upasaka.

• He had a close connection with the sangha and with leading monks of his time such as Upagupta.

• He is credited with redistributing the relics of the Buddha and enshrining them in stupas in every
important town. He is supposed to have built 84,000 stupas and viharas.

• He is described as having undertaken pilgrimages to all the major places connected with the
Buddha’s life, and having had them marked with signs for the benefit of future pilgrims.

• He is also supposed to have exerted himself in spreading the teaching of the Buddha far and wide.

• Spread his message of Buddhism via Dhamma through Inscriptions

 Principles of Dhamma and Edicts
•The theme of ahimsa (non-injury) is an important aspect of Ashoka’s
dhamma and is frequently mentioned and emphasized.
•Rock edict 1 announces bans on animal sacrifices (at some or all places) and
on certain kinds of festive gatherings that probably included the killing of
animals, and also reports a reduction in the killing of animals for food in the
royal kitchens.
•Pillar edict 5 refers to more sweeping prohibitions promulgated by Ashoka, 26
years after his consecration.
•The good conduct and social responsibilities that were part of
dhamma were anchored to certain key relationships.
•Rock edict 9 begins with a criticism of ceremonies performed by people,
especially women, on occasions such as illness, marriage, birth, and setting
forth on journeys.
•Another important aspect of Ashoka’s dhamma was the generation of mutual
respect and concord among people belonging to different sects or religious
communities.

•One of the most remarkable and innovative aspects of Ashoka’s idea of his own
dhamma and the dhamma of a king was his renunciation of warfare and his re-
definition of righteous conquest.

•Ashoka created a special cadre of dhamma mahamatas 13 years after his

consecration. Rock edict 5 enjoins them to spread dhamma within the kingdom
and among border people.

•The chief disseminator of the dhamma message was, however, Ashoka himself. In
major rock edict 8, he states that earlier kings used to go on pleasure tours
consisting of hunts and other past times.
Major Rock Edicts Message

I Prohibition of animal sacrifice and festive gatherings

II Welfare measures (road construction, digging tanks, planting

saplings etc); mentions Southern kingdoms of Chola, Pandya,
Keralaputra (Chera) and Tamraparni (Sri Lanka)

III Respect to Brahmanas and Sramanas (monks of heterodox

religions)
IV Preaches non-violence; Bherigosha (sound of war drums)to be
replaced by Dhammagosha (sound of righteousness)

V Humane and kind treatment of slaves; appointment of

Dhammamahamatras to propagate dhamma; emperor used
to pardon prisoners for good behaviour on his coronation
anniversary.
VI All people are my children; public welfare
VII Tolerance to each other’s religions

VIII Took up Dhammayatras in place of Viharayatras.

IX People to discontinue rituals, sacrifices and follow dhamma.
X Ashoka defines Dhamma as ‘freedom from evil’
XI Dhamma elaborately discussed
XII Ashoka orders the people to live in harmony and peaceful co-
existence

XIII Most important among the Major Rock Edicts and the lengthiest; Talks
about the Kalinga War; mentions southern kingdoms; mentions 5
contemporary Greek kingdoms along with their rulers:
i) Amtiyoko (Antiochus II Theos)- Syria
ii) Turayama (Ptolemy Philadelphus)- Egypt
iii) Antikini (Antigonus Gonatas)- Macedonia
iv) Alikasudaro (Alexander)- Epirus(Greece)
v) Maka (Magas) –Cyrene (Libya)
XIV Orders that all the above edicts be engraved on the rocks
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