9/22/2021 The Rise of , Rise of Mauryan Empire, and His Dhamma, India under the Mauryas- FlexiPrep

FlexiPrep The Rise of Magadha, Rise of Mauryan Empire, Ashoka and His Dhamma, India under the Mauryas (For CBSE, ICSE, IAS, NET, NRA 2022)

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The Rise of Magadha The political fight between the powerful Mahajanapadas led to the emergence of Magadha as a state ascending sovereignty from the rest. The dominance of Magadha over all other states was due to several geographical factors also. Firstly, the capital of Magadha, Rajagriha, was surrounded by five hills, which provided natural fortification to them. Secondly, the fertile land boosted agricultural production to feed the army. Thirdly, surplus timber, and elephants. Fourthly, the existence of iron ore in the state.

Bimbisara was one of the earliest powerful rulers of in Magadha. He was famous for his three major policies. They were the policy of the matrimonial alliance, friendship with strong rulers and conquest of the weak neighbours to expand his domain. Kasi, Lichchhavi, Madra, and Anga were thus ascended to the Magadhan Empire through these policies.

His son Ajatasatru succeeded . Ajatasatru followed an aggressive policy to retain territory to his empire. The major battles which he fought were against Prasenajith for the control over Kasi and against maternal grandfather Chetak over Vaisali. Udayin succeeded Ajatasatru.

Udayin was defeated by the Shisunaga who created the Shisunaga dynasty. The most famous ruler of this dynasty was Kalasoka, who conveyed the second Buddhist council. Sisunaga dynasty was succeeded by Nanda dynasty. Mahapadma Nanda was the famous ruler who added Kalinga to the Magadhan Empire. The inefficiency and arrogance of the last Nanda ruler, Dhannanand, was utilised by Chandragupta Maurya to uproot the Nanda dynasty and established the Mauryan Empire.

A flow chart which shows important rulers of Magadhan empire:

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Rise of Mauryan Empire Chandragupta Maurya established the Maurya dynasty in 321 BC by defeating Nanda ruler. He was succeeded by Bindusara (297 - 269 BC) and Asoka (269 - 232 BC) .

The major sources for the study of the Mauryan period include rock edicts issued by Asoka, punched marked coins, sculptures, Arthashastra of Kautilya, Indica of Megasthenes, Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa and Mudrarakshas of Visakhadatta.

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After the Kalinga war 261 BC, Asoka declared that he would follow dhammaghosa (drum of dharma) instead of bherighosa (war drum) . Mauryan dynasty disintegrated due to the inefficiency of the successors after Asoka. The last ruler Brihadaratha was assassinated by his military chief Pusyamitra Sunga in 187 BC and established the Sunga dynasty.

Ashoka and His Dhamma The basic attributes of Dhamma include compassion, charity, truthfulness, purity, and gentleness. Asoka expounds his policy of Dhamma through edicts. He appoints dhammamahamatras to spread his policy.

Pillar edict III: control cruelty, violence, anger, and envoy.

Rock edict I: ban on animal sacrifice and social gatherings

Rock edict II: measures to construct roads, hospitals

Rock edict III, IV, and XII: respect parents, Brahmana՚s and monks.

Rock edict XII states that Dhamma was not a religion.

The Decline of Mauryas The factors that led to the decline of the Mauryan Empire are as follows:

After the death of Asoka, the empire was divided among the successors.

The influence of Buddhism weakened the army.

Religious policy created resentment among Brahmanas.

The successors of Asoka were weak and they could not keep a check on minsters.

Oppressive act of minsters.

There was the debasement of coins due to charity and donations.

India under the Mauryas

Administration Administration of the kingdom under Mauryas was vested with the king. The king took the final decisions on all matters and head of the court.

The King was assisted by council of ministers called Mantri parishad. Other officials were amatyas, mahamatras and Adhyakshas helped king. Adhyakshas were the superintendents who looked in economic departments.

The executive officer is called as samaharta who collect taxes.

Mauryas maintained a vast army and spy network. The administration of the army was under six committee of five officers. The frontier forts were under the purview of antahpala.

The provincial rule was under the Kumaras (royal princes) . The four provinces were Taxila. Suvarnagiri, Tosali, and Ujjain.

The city administration was carried out through six committees with five members each.

Economy, Society, and Art Agriculture was the major economic activity of the Mauryan state. They bought new lands to cultivation by employing people from populated areas and prisoners. These villages were under the official called sitadhyaksha or superintendent of agriculture.

The state derives its income through taxation policy also. Samaharta collected the taxes of all kinds. The Bali (land tax) was the major source of revenue. Other taxes were pindakara (levied on a group of villages) , hiranya (paid in cash) , bhaga (sharecropper tax) , bhoga, pranaya (emergency tax) etc.

Trade and the urban economy flourished during this period. All major cities were connected through trade routes. Mining, metallurgy, craft activity was another economic activity. The traders and artisans were organised into srenis or guilds. Iron industry also flourished at this time. These industries were under the official loha-adyaksha.

Varna system existed in the society with the dominance of Kshatriyas and Brahmanas. With the development of trade, the social status of Vaisyas and shrudas improved. According to Megasthenes, the ancient Mauryan society comprised of

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seven divisions, namely philosophers, farmers, soldiers, herdsmen, artisans, magistrates, and councillors that were referred to as castes.

Mauryan rulers gave patronage to art and architecture also. The Stupas, Asokan pillars, rock-cut caves provide the best example to their architectural grandeur. Megasthenes described the architectural features of the old palace at in his account. A significant development in the field of architecture was the use of lofty free-standing pillars, railings, lion thrones and colossal figures.

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