Maurya Dynasty – History of Great Emperor Ashoka

Kings of Maurya Empire – Chandragupta Maurya Chandragupta Maurya became king in 321 bc.  Chanakya was Chandragupta’s prime minister. He also wrote a book based on Politics named “Arthashastra”. The governor of Chandragupta Maurya whose name was Pushyagupta built a lake named “Sudarshan Lake”.

• Megasthenes who came to the court of Chandragupta Maurya was a messenger of Seleucus. He writes “Indica” based on his experience in the court.
• Seleucus married his daughter with Chandragupta Maurya and gave Kandahar, Kabul, Haera, and Makraan as dowry.
• Chandragupta Maurya was a follower of Buddhism. He took initiation from Bhadravahu.

Chandragupta Maurya lost life in Shravanbehgola in 298 BC.

After the death of Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara became the next king.

Maurya Emperor Bindusara The Amitraghat

Bindusara took the Royal throne of Magadha in 298BC. He was the second emperor of Maurya Emperor. Bindusara was known as “Amitraghat” that means enemy’s destroyer. The great emperor of Maurya Emperor Ashoka was his son.

Bindusara was a follower of “Ajeevak Community”.

Antiochus I sent his royal ambassador Deimachus in Bindusara’s court. Egyptian king Tolmy II Philadelphus sent his messenger “Dionysius” in Bindusara’s court.

The Great Emperor Ashoka

After Bindusaar’s death in 269 BC, Ashok took the royal throne of Magadha Empire. Ashoka won Kalinga in the ninth year of his royal ceremony of carnation. We are getting Ashoka’s name in Maaski’s short inscription.

• Due to the effect of Moggliputra Tiss, Ashoka became the follower of Buddha religion.
• After 10 years of Ashoka’s coronation, he went to Bodh Gaya.
• He went to Lumbini, the birthplace of Mahatma Buddha after 20 years of his coronation.

King Ashoka’s Dhamma and His Charitable Works:

King Ashoka’s Dhamma is a set of certain ethical principles and humanitarian ideals. Dhamma is based on moral law. It is the essence of all religions. The purpose of Dhamma was to promote the peaceful co-existence and universal brotherhood. It is said that Ashoka’s Dhamma is based on Buddhism. But It can’t be correct because Dhamma doesn’t contain the fundamental teachings of Buddhism like the four Grand Truth, the Eight Fold Path, Nirvana etc. Ashoka’s Dhamma is a reflection of his idea’s of moral reforms. He insists on self-examination and self-exertion in Dhamma for moral progress. Dhamma emphasizes the essence of religion.

Facts related to Ashoka’s Dhamma and Administration:

• 14 inscription and 13 short inscriptions of Ashoka’s time are available today.
• There were 7 columns which were written at the time of Ashoka. The smallest of Ashoka’s column was “Rummindei” found at Lumbini.
• The inscription of Kaushambi’s inscription was also called “Queen’s inscription”  in which the details about his second queen “kaaruvaki” was scripted.
• James Prinsep got success in reading Ashoka’s inscription in the year 1837.
• In the 5^th column of Ashoka, the posting of “Dharmmahamatra” can be found. Ashoka built four caves for the “Ajeevak people” nearby.

The last king for Maurya Dynasty was “Brihadratha”.

• Ashoka wrote a maximum inscription in Brahmi script.
• The revenue generated from the land was called “SITA”.
• The TAX generated from farmer’s land was called “BHAGA”.
• The TAX levied on flowers, fruits, vegetable, and Herbs was called “SETU”.
• The name used commonly for the Economy, Farming, Rearing and Commerce was “VARTA”.
• Detectives were called “Mischief man” and Detectives who were used to work from one place was called “Sanstha”.

Click here to know about the Magadha Kingdom

• The smallest unit of government was “Gram” and the leader of the same was called “Gramki”.
• The king elected the priest and chief minister through a special technique in which the character was judged through a process called “Updha Parikshan”.

Females whose accepted prostitution willingly were called “Roopjeeva” in Maurya Emperor.

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