The Maurya Empire was established in 322 BCE by Chandragupta Maurya. He had toppled the Nanda Dynasty. Chandragupta extended his capacity westbound across central and western India.
As indicated by legend, the instructor Chanakya persuaded his Chandragupta Maurya, to vanquish the realm of Magadha. He told him to do this because he was offended by Dhana Nanda.
Chandragupta Maurya extended the Maurya Empire north and west as he vanquished the Macedonian Satrapies. He also won the Seleucid-Mauryan war.
During that time, the Maurya Empire was probably the largest empire in the world. Involving most of South Asia, the Maurya Empire was incorporated by the triumph of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Its capital city was situated at Pataliputra.
The realm was the biggest political entity that has existed in the Indian subcontinent. It was supposed to be reaching out more than 5 million square kilometers at its pinnacle under Ashoka. The following are the sub-topics that are going to be discussed in this article.
- Chandragupta Maurya
- Megasthenes
- Chanakya’s Arthashastra
- Ashoka
- Edicts of Ashoka
- Administration
- Art and culture
Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta Maurya was the founder of the Mauryan Empire in old India. Destined to a modest foundation, he was educated and guided by Chanakya who had an extraordinary impact on the arrangement of his domain.
Together, Chandragupta and Chanakya assembled probably the biggest domain on the Indian subcontinent. As indicated by Jain sources, he later disavowed his realm and turned into a Jain priest.
Chandragupta’s life and achievements are depicted in Greek, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain writings. In Greek and Latin records, Chandragupta is alluded to as Sandrokottos or Androcottus.
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Chandragupta Maurya was a crucial figure throughout the entire existence of India. Prior to his consolidation of power, Alexander the Great had attacked the northwest Indian subcontinent. But he abandoned his battle in 324 BCE.
He left an inheritance of a few Indo-Greek realms in northwest old India. Chandragupta applied the standards of statecraft, constructed an enormous armed force, and kept growing the limits of his domain.
Chandragupta’s domain reached out from Bengal to a large part of the Indian subcontinent. But except for the districts that are currently Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Odisha. Chandragupta’s rule was a period of monetary thriving, changes, and framework development.
Many religions flourished in India inside his domain. A memorial to Chandragupta Maurya exists on the Chandragiri slope alongside the seventh-century hagiographic engraving.
Megasthenes
Megasthenes was a Greek envoy of Seleucus I Nicator in the court of Chandragupta Maurya. Arrian clarifies that Megasthenes lived in Arachosia, with the satrap Sibyrtius, from where he visited India. Megasthenes often discussed his meeting with Sandracottus, the king of the Indians.
Megasthenes visited India at some point between c. 302 and 288 BCE, during the rule of Chandragupta Maurya. The specific dates of his visit to India and the length of his stay in India are uncertain.
Modern researchers for the most part accept that Seleucus sent him to India following the bargain with Chandragupta.
Arrian claims that Megasthenes met Porus. This case is by all accounts an incorrect one, except if we accept that Megasthenes went with Alexander the Great during the Greek attack of India.
Megasthenes visited the Mauryan capital Pataliputra. But it isn’t sure which different pieces of India he visited.
He seems to have gone through the Punjab district in north-western India, as he gives a point by point record of the waterways here. He should have then made a trip to Pataliputra along the Yamuna and the Ganga rivers.
Megasthenes assembled data about India in his book Indica. But this is currently a lost work, yet gets by in type of citations by the later journalists.
There were other Greek visitors to the Indian court after Megasthenes. They were Deimachus as envoy to Bindusara and Dionysius as the representative to Ashoka.
Arthashastra
The Arthashastra alludes to an act of political discretion that emerged in India,. It is exemplified by the composed material on position, strategy, and military procedure composed by Kautilya. Kautilya was an academician at Taxila University.
He later became the Prime Minister of the Mauryan Empire. He is alluded to as the Indian Machiavelli. This is because of his undisputed and quick procedures and strategies. This reflects a “pragmatist” way to deal with governmental issues, strategy, and fighting.
His Arthashastra text suggested that no methods were on the far side extent of a ruler to extend his domain or get influence just as the corrupt morals of allowing torment, duplicity, double-dealing, and spying as real proposes, to acknowledge an area, riches, and influence.
Arthashastra talks about the characteristics and orders required for a ruler to lead his subjects.
As per Kautilya, a King is one who:
- Has self-control, having conquered the unfriendly temptations of the senses.
- Cultivates the intellect by consulting with elders.
- Keeps his eyes open and stays updated through spies.
- Is always active in promoting the protection and welfare of the folks.
- Ensures the speculation of the themes of their Dharma by authority and example.
- Improves his own discipline by enhancing his learning in all branches of knowledge.
- Endears himself to his subjects by enriching them.
Ashoka
Bindusara died in 272 BCE and was succeeded by his son, Ashoka the Great (304-232 BCE). As a youthful ruler, Ashoka (r. 272-232 BCE) was a splendid administrator who squashed revolts in Ujjain and Taxila. As a ruler, he was goal-oriented and forceful.
Thus, reasserting the Empire’s predominance in southern and western India. In any case, it was his triumph of Kalinga (262-261 BCE) that proved to be the pivotal event of his life. In Kalinga, approximately 100,000 warriors and people were murdered including more than 10,000 of Ashoka’s own men.
A huge number of individuals were antagonistically influenced by the devastation and aftermath of war. When he personally witnessed the devastation, Ashoka began feeling remorse.
Despite the fact that the extension of Kalinga was finished, Ashoka grasped the lessons of Buddhism and revoked war and brutality. He sent missionaries to go around Asia and spread Buddhism to different nations.
Edicts of Ashoka
The Edicts of Ashoka is a collection of more than thirty inscriptions on pillars. They were inscribed on stones and cavern dividers too. This is credited to Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire who ruled from 268 BCE to 232 BCE.
Ashoka utilized the Dhaṃma Lipi (Prakrit in the Brahmi, “Engravings of the Dharma”) to depict his own Edicts. These engravings were scattered all through the zones of cutting edge Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
They give unmistakable proof of Buddhism. The decrees portray in detail Ashoka’s view about dhamma, an attempt to solve society’s complex problems.
According to the declarations, the degree of Buddhist proselytism during this period came to the extent of the Mediterranean. Many Buddhist landmarks were made.
These engravings broadcast Ashoka’s adherence to the Buddhist way of thinking which is called dharma, “Law”. The engravings show his endeavors to build up the Buddhist dharma all through his realm.
Despite the fact that Buddhism as Gautama Buddha is referenced, the orders center around social and good statutes. These were situated out in the open places and were intended for individuals to peruse.
Administration
The Mauryan Empire was separated into four territories. The main capital was at Pataliputra. This was close to the Ganges River in the advanced territory of Bihar in India.
The Edicts of Ashoka give the names of the Mauryan Empire’s four commonplace capitals. They were Tosali in the east, Ujjain in the west, Suvarnagiri in the south, and Taxila in the north.
The hierarchical structure started at the supreme level with the sovereign and his Mantriparishad, or Council of Ministers. The top of the common organization was the Kumara or regal ruler.
He administered the territories as the king’s delegate, with the help of Mahamatyas. Mahamatyas were basically provincial executives. Through this modern arrangement of organization, the domain administered all parts of the government at each level, from city cleanliness to universal exchange.
Art and Culture
Arts of The Mauryan period may be categorized into Sculptures(Pillars and statues), Rock-cut Architecture, Stupas.
| Sculptures | Rock-cut Architecture | Stupas |
| Pillars-Lion Capital pillar
Statues-Yakshi figure from Didarganj |
Lomas Rishi cave at Barabar hills, Gaya, Bihar. | Sanchi stupa |
Sculptures
- Two of the most celebrated figures of the Mauryan time frame are those of Yaksha and Yakshi.
- They were objects of love identified with every one of the three religions – Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
- The most punctual notice of Yakshi can be found in Silappadikaram, a Tamil book.
- The middle of the naked male figure found at Lohanipur at Patna.
- Didargunj Yakshi was found at Didarganj town at Patna.
Pillars
The top portion of Mauryan pillars is carved with capital figures of Bull, The Lion, The elephant, etc. The shaft of the Pillars is polished. Ashoka pillars, (usually made of chunar sandstone), as a symbol of the state, assumed a great significance in the entire Mauryan Empire.
Objective: The principle objective was to scatter the Buddhist philosophy and court orders in the whole Mauryan realm.
Language: While most Ashoka column orders were in Pali and Prakrit language, few were written in Greek or Aramaic language moreover.
Design: Mauryan columns basically include four sections:
Shaft: A long shaft framed the base and consisted of a solitary bit of stone or stone monument.
Capital: On the head of the pole lay the capital, which was either lotus-molded or chime formed.
Abacus: Above the capital, there was a roundabout or rectangular base known as the math device.
Capital Figure: All the capital figures (normal creatures like a bull, lion, elephant, and so on) are incredible and cut remaining on a square or round math device.
Statues
Statues of Yakshas and Yakhinis from the Mauryan period are found in Places like Patna, Vidisha, Mathura, etc. These are large, polished, and in standing position.
Statues have a full round face and pronounced cheek. Sculpture artists have physiognomic skills. Physiognomic details are captured in statues. Brahmanical gods represented in sculpture form.
Rock-cut Architecture
Many rock-cut caves were carved during the Mauryan Empire. Caves served the purpose of viharas, Chaityas, etc. Lomas Rishi cave, Gaya, Bihar is one such example. The Cave is decorated with semicircular Chaitya.
The rock-cut technique is used for carving Sculptures. Dhauli rock-cut elephant is one such example.The construction of rock caves continued as in the Mauryan period.
However, this period saw the development of two types of rock caves – Chaitya and Viharas.Chaitya was a rectangular prayer hall with a stupa placed in the center, for the purpose of prayer and Viharas were used as the residences of the monks.
Examples
Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha were patronized by the Kalinga king Kharavela and are also known for the Hathigumpha inscription (in Brahmi script).
Ranigumpha cave in Udayagiri is double-storied and has some beautiful sculptures.
Stupas
The popularity of Buddhism led to the construction of many Stupas during the Mauryan period. The architecture of Stupas was initially simpler however it became complex in later centuries. The stupa consists of a Cylindrical drum, circular Anda, Harmika, Chhatra.
Gandhara
- The Gandhara School of Art or Greco-Indian School of Art (First sculptural portrayal of Buddha in human structure) has its starting point in Greco convention (Greek intruders carried with them the customs of the Greek and Roman stone carvers) which was additionally converged with the provincial or neighborhood specialty of the time.
- Support: This school was belittled by both Shaka and Kushan rulers.
- Significant focuses of Gandhara School of workmanship were Jalalabad (Eastern Afghanistan), Hadda (an antiquated area of Gandhara), Begram (Parwan region of Afghanistan) and Taxila (Pakistan).
- Key Features: Buddha was delineated in Gandhara Art, through four sorts of hand motions called Mudras:
- Abahayamudra: Indicates valor
- Dhyana mudra: Indicates thoughtful position
- Dharmachakra Mudra: Means turning the wheel of law.
- Bhumisparsha Mudra: Touching the earth with his right hand and calling it to observe truth.
Conclusion
The Sunga Dynasty usurped the Maurya Dynasty, and parts of the empire were incorporated into the Indo-Greek Kingdom. The following were the reasons for its decline. Ashoka, the Great’s standard was trailed by 50 years of powerless rulers who didn’t hold a solid central position.
This in the long run prompted the disintegration of the Mauryan Empire. General Pusyamitra Sunga organized a coup against the Mauryan Empire in 185 BCE. Thus, he climbed the seat and established the Sunga Dynasty.
In 180 BCE, the Greco-Bactrian King Demetrius vanquished the northwestern Indian regions and established the Indo-Greek Kingdom. Buddhism lost favor when the Sunga Dynasty picked up power; however, stayed prevailing in the Indo-Greek Kingdom.