CHAPTER 6 - THE MAURYAN EMPIRE

CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA (322 - 297 BC)

● The Maurya dynasty was founded by Chandragupta Maurya who came from an ordinary
family. With the help of Chanakya he overthrew the Nandas.
● He is the first ruler to politically conquer entire Aryavarta (North India)
● His Greek name - Sandrokottos
● He adopted Jainism (Digambara tradition). He went to Shravanbelagola along with
Bhadrabahu where he died by slow starvation (Sallekhana)
Seleucid-Mauryan war (305-303 BC):
● War between CGM & Seleucus Nicator. Seleucus Necator got defeated.
● Chandragupta conquered area upto Afghanistan
● Marriage alliance was forged between the two
● Megasthenes was sent as ambassador in Chandragupta's court

BINDUSARA (297 - 269 BC)

● Greek name - Amitraghat or Amitrochates
● Made request to Antiochus I of Syria for sweet wine, dry fig and Sophist. First two were
sent but Sophist was not sent.
● Said to have conquered land between the two seas i.e. Peninsular region
● Greek Ambassador Deimachos visited his court (sent by Antiochus I)
● Joined Ajivika Sect

ASHOKA (269 - 232 BC)

● Served as viceroy of Taxila
● Fought Kalinga war in 260 BC (Mentioned in 13th rock edict)
● He was converted to Buddhism by Upagupta. Ashoka convened 3rd Buddhist council at
Pataliputra in 250BC
● He sent his daughter ‘Sanghamitra’ on a Buddhist missionary to Srilanka
● Followed Vyavahara Samata (Equality before law) & Danda Samata (Equal Punishment)

Ashoka’s policy of Dhamma

● Ashoka propagated Dhamma policy. This is different from Buddha’s Dhamma policy.
Ashoka Dhamma policy is a social code of conduct for ordinary citizens.
● The policy consists of 14 principles which are famously called as 14 major Rock edicts
of Ashoka. These rock edicts are carved out of Chunar hills
● As of today, 10 of them are discovered across subcontinent.
● Inspiration for these Rock edits - Persian King Darius.
● Language used - Prakrit ; Script - Brahmi & Kharosthi (These scripts were deciphered
by James Princep in 1838). Also used Greek & Aramaic languages at some places.
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14 Rock Edicts / 14 principles of Dhamma -

. Prohibits animal slaughter & Bans festive gatherings

. Mentions the South Indian kingdoms such as Cholas, Pandya, Satyaputas and
Keralaputras. Deals with social welfare measures
. Liberty to Brahmanas. Every five years Yukatas, Pradesikas along with Rajukas visit all
the areas of the kingdom to spread Dhamma.
. Preference of Dhammaghosa (Sound of peace) over Berighosa (Sound of wandrums).
Impact of Dhamma on society.
. Humane treatment of slaves by their masters. Mentions about the appointment of
Dhamma Mahamatras.
. Deals with the welfare measures. King’s wish to know about the condition of the people
. Tolerance towards all religions and sects.
. Mentions about Ashoka’s visit to Bodh Gaya and Bodhi tree. Maintaining contact with
rural people via Dharmayatras.
. Stresses on the moral conduct of people. Avoiding expensive ceremonies.
. Condemns the desire for fame and glory
. Elaborate explanation of Dhamma
. Appeal for developing tolerance towards all religious sects.
. Explains about Kalinga war and conquest through Dhamma
. Deals with the purpose of engraving inscriptions in various parts of the country.

Also, there are 7 other separate major pillar edicts of Ashoka

. Ashoka’s principle of protection of people

. Defines Dhamma as a minimum of sins, many virtues, compassion and purity
. Abolition sins of harshness, cruelty, anger, pride, etc..
. Deals with duties of Rajukas
. A list of animals and birds, which should not be killed on some days and another list of
animals, which have not to be killed at all occasions
. Dhamma policy
. Work done by Ashok for Dhamma policy. This edict only is on the Delhi-Topra pillar.

Later Mauryans
● After death of Ashoka Magadh Empire got divided into eastern and western parts.
● Vishnu Purana gives names of 7 successors of Ashoka who rules from Patliputra.
● The 7th and last King Brihadratha was killed by his own commander in chief
Pushyamitra Shunga in 188BC thereby ending the Mauryan Empire from Patliputra.
● The western part of the Empire was ruled by Kunal (son of Ashoka) who was followed
by Sampratti (Son of Kunal). However this branch too could not last long due to inroads
by Indo-Greeks and collapsed by 180 BC.
Causes for downfall of The Mauryan Empire :
The Magadha Empire began to disintegrate after the exit of Ashoka in 232 B.C. Several
causes seem to have brought about the decline and fall of the Maurya
● Brahmanical Reaction - Began as a result of the policy of Ashoka who prohibited killing
of animals and birds which brought loss to the brahmanas.
● Financial Crisis - Enormous expenditure on the army and payment to bureaucracy
created a financial crisis
● Oppressive Rule - Oppressive rule of bureaucrats in the provinces was an important
cause of the break-up.
● New Knowledge in the Outlying Areas - New kingdoms were founded and developed in
several areas due to which the Gangetic valley lost its importance. The rise of the
Sungas and Kanvas in central India of the Chedis in Kalinga and that of the
Satavahanas in the Deccan.
● Neglect of the North-West Frontier - Ashoka could not pay attention to the
safeguarding of the passage on the North-Western frontier and many central tribes
such as Scythians, Parthians, Shakas invaded India from this front.
● Immediate cause - The Maurya empire was finally destroyed by Pushyamitra Shunga
was a general of the last Maurya king called Brihadratha by killing him publicly.

ADMINISTRATION

Mauryans followed Centralised Bureaucracy.

● Empire ⸺ Provinces ⸺ Aharas ⸺ Group of Villages ⸺ Villages
– (King) (Kumaras) (Sthanika) (Gopa) (Gramika)

– Administration was mainly based on Kautilya’s Arthashstra. He gave Sapthanga Theory

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1. Raja 2. Amatya 3. Janapada 4. Durg 5. Kosha 6. Sena 7. Mitra
– King was assisted by Mantri Parishad (COM). The highest and most important officials
are called as Tirthas or Amatyas. Kautilya mentioned about the 18 Tirthas in Central
Government. It includes Mantrin, Purphita, Senapati, Yuvaraja etc..
– Kautilya states that decision by majority is desirable but opinion of King prevails.

Other Officers of Mauryan Empire

● Prashasti - Prison head
● Koshadhyaksha - Treasury officer
● Koshagar Adhyaksha - Royal treasury manager
● Nayaka - City Security chief
● Kunyadhyaksha - Officer of forest.
● Manadhyaksha - Office of time & place determining
● Dyut Adhyaksha - Gambling department
● Dandapala - Head of Police
● Pradeshika - District administrator
● Vyavaharika - Chief judicial officer
— Megasthenes in his Indica described about the administration of Pataliputra and
mentioned that there were 6 sub councils and each sub council had 5 members in it to look
after the general administration, economic activities in particular.
— As per Megasthenes, army was also of 6 kinds - Elephantry, Infantry, Cavarly, Chariotry,
Transport and Navy. However, Arthashstra mentioned only about Chaturanga Balalu.

— Arthashstra mentioned about 2 kinds of Espionage system :

. Sanstha - Stationed espionage ; 2. Sanchari - wandering espionage
● Arthashstra also mentioned about an espionage officer called ‘Gudha Purush’ (secret
agent). Ashoka’s inscriptions mentioned them as ‘Pativedakas’.
— King was Dharmapravattaka and hence supreme judicial authority.
● Two kinds of courts were there :
. Dharmasthiya - For civil law ; 2. Kantakasodhana - For criminal law
*However, justice was Varna based.

SOCIAL CONDITIONS

● Brahmanical Status - The Brahmanical ideals and values were dominant in society and
they enjoyed the highest social status as before.
● Varnashrama dharma system - It was followed but it must be emphasised that it was
just a theoretical model, it was never followed rigidly because Arthashastra provides
for the recruitment of members of all the four varnas in armed forces.
● Seven Divisions - Megasthenes and later Greek authors describe Indian society at the
time of Mauryas as being divided into seven distinct groups : 1. Philosophers 2.
Cultivators 3. Hunters and Herdsmen 4. Artisans a n d traders 5. Soilders 6. Overseers
(spies) 7. Counselors and Assessors.
● Moral Character - According to Megasthenes Indians were of high moral character.
They were honest and respected the truth.
● Status of Shudras - It was quite good in society because shudras were allowed to
participate in all economic activities. They were recruited in the military as well.
● Slavery - Slave system was prevalent in the society. Kautilya mentioned nine types of
slaves. According to him Aryans cannot be slaves in any condition. Only Mlecchas
(foreigners) and non-aryans could be made slaves. According to Kautilya, son or
daughter of any slave with the king would be considered as his legitimate child. [But,
according to Megasthenes, there was no slavery in India]
● Status of women - It was high in society. They were employed as royal bodyguards as
informed by Greek sources. They also enjoyed the right to stridhana. Some elements of
decline were visible in the status of women.
● Marriage - According to Arthashastra, 8 forms of marriage were prevalent and it was
considered a sacrament. It allowed divorce in special circumstances.
● Child marriage was absent ; Normal marriage age for girls - 12 & boys - 16 years.
● Widow remarriage was allowed.
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

● Growth of agriculture - Megasthenes in his account of the Indian society and its
division into seven classes mentioned the farmers as second class because they were
numerically a large class devoted to land.
● Irrigation - Pushyagupta, one of the governors of Chandragupta Maurya, is said to have
built a dam for creating a reservoir of water near Girnar in Saurashtra. This was known
as Sudarshana tadaga (water tank).
● Land Assessment - The Mauryas in fact attached great importance to the assessment
of land revenue and the highest officer in charge of this was the samsharta.
● Tax Levied - 1/4th of the produce was paid in tax by the peasants.
● Land tax (bhaga) was the main item of revenue.
● Share cropping - Sharecropping was another way by which the state collected
agricultural resources. The sharecroppers were in the first place provided with seeds,
oxen, etc., and received arable land for cultivation. In this kind of situation the
peasants probably gave half of the produce to the State.
● Provided Security - The Mauryan State provided security and peace and hence trade
routes and trade became more secure. The Jatakas refer to caravan traders carrying
large volumes of goods to distant places.
● Use of Coins - Though the use of currency began in an earlier period, it became fairly
common during the Mauryan period because of the development of commerce. Gold
coins were referred as Suvarnarupa, Lead coins as Sisarupa, Copper coins as
Tamarupan and Silver coins as Rupyarupa by Chanakya.
● Officials were used to pay in Cash as their salary.

Important officers related to economy

● Samaharta - Chief Tax collector

● Yukta - Subordinate revenue officer
● Sannidata - Treasury head
● Shulk Adhyaksha - Toll tax officer
● Panyadhyaksa: To fix prices of goods.
● Samsthadhyaksa: To check the wrong practices of the traders.
● Pautavadhyaksa: Superintendent of weights and measures.
● Navadhyaksa: State boats that facilitated transport were put under his charge.
● Sulkadhyaksa: To collect taxes from traders and merchants.
● Akaradhyaksa: Superintendent of mines (mining of metals was monopoly of state).
● Karmanthika: Head of industries & factories
● Lohadhyaksha: Superintendent of Iron.
● Lavanadhyaksha: Superintendent of Salt department
● Lakshanadhyaksha: Coin minting
● Rajjukas: Land measuring officer
ART & ARCHITECTURE

● Stone masonry - They introduced stone masonry on a wide scale as noticed by

Megsthenes at Pataliputra.
● Mauryan artisans attained high technical skill in polishing the stone pillars, NBPW etc..
● Rock cut caves - Started the practice of hewing out caves from rocks for monks as
seen in from Barabar caves and Nagarjuna caves. These were oldest surviving rock cut
caves. Mauryans dedicated them to Ajivikas.
● Mauryan architecture is influenced by Persian imperial art.
● Vajrasan - Throne of meditation at Mahabodhi temple belongs to Mauryan period
● Sculptures - Yaksha a n d Yakshi images, rock sculpture of elephant and Dhauli
● Stupa - Ashoka converted mud mounds into stone structure. Sanchi Stupa was built by
him whereas Piprahwa and Vaishali Stupa were rebuilt by him.
● Pillared hall at Kumrahar also belongs to Mauryan period.