{"id":2857,"date":"2026-03-04T10:29:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T04:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=2857"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:25:22","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T06:55:22","slug":"mauryan-empire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/mauryan-empire\/","title":{"rendered":"Mauryan Empire, Origin, Rulers, Map, Economy, Decline"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chandragupta Maurya (321\u2013297 BCE) is considered to be the founder of the\u00a0Mauryan Empire<\/strong>. Inspired by Alexander, Chandragupta built up an army and overthrew the Nanda power in Magadha, in present-day eastern India, establishing the Mauryan Empire. After becoming king, Chandragupta took additional lands by force and alliances.\u00a0<\/strong>Chandragupta\u2019s chief minister,\u00a0Kautilya,<\/strong>\u00a0sometimes advised\u00a0Chandragupta\u00a0<\/strong>and contributed to the empire\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\r\n

The Mauryan empire marks a watershed juncture in Indian history. For the first time in India's history, a large portion of the subcontinent, extending up to the far northwest, was ruled by a single supreme power.<\/p>\r\n

Sources for the Mauryan Period<\/h2>\r\n
    \r\n\t
  • Kautilya\u2019s Arthashastra<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
  • Ashokan inscriptions<\/li>\r\n\t
  • The most important literary source is\u00a0Megasthenes\u2019 Indica.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
  • Divyavadana and the Ashokavadana<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
  • Sri Lankan Buddhist chronicles included the\u00a0Mahavamsa, theDipavamsa,<\/strong>\u00a0and the kings listed in\u00a0Puranas.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
  • Bulandi Bagh and Kumrahar archaeological remains\u00a0<\/strong>are associated with the Mauryan capital,\u00a0Pataliputra.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    Mauryan Empire Rulers and their Contributions<\/h2>\r\n

    Archaeologically, the Mauryan period in South Asia corresponds to the\u00a0Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW)<\/strong>\u00a0era.<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    Period:\u00a0321 BCE- 185 BCE<\/strong><\/td>\r\nCapital:\u00a0Patliputra<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    \r\n

    Chandragupta Maurya<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    (321 BCE-297 BCE)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    -\u00a0Parishishtaparvan,<\/strong>\u00a0written by\u00a0Hemachandra,\u00a0<\/strong>identifies Chandragupta as the grandson of the\u00a0chief of the peacock tamers clan (mayura-poshakas).<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    - He was the chief architect of the Mauryan empire and built a vast empire, which included Bihar, Nepal, western and north-western India, and the Deccan.<\/p>\r\n

    - War with Seleucus:\u00a0<\/strong>The Mauryans annexed several areas in the Hindu Kush region in 305 BC. These regions were governed by satraps (governors) appointed by Alexander during his campaign.<\/p>\r\n

      \r\n\t
    • This move prompted\u00a0Seleucus\u00a0<\/strong>to campaign against Chandragupta to secure the eastern border of his empire.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      -\u00a0Treaty with Seleucus Nicator (303 BCE):<\/strong>\u00a0According to the terms of this treaty, Seleucus ceded Chandragupta the territories of\u00a0Arachosia<\/strong>\u00a0(the Kandahar area of south-east Afghanistan),\u00a0Gedrosia<\/strong>\u00a0(south Baluchistan), and\u00a0Paropomisadai\u00a0<\/strong>(area between Afghanistan and the Indian subcontinent).<\/p>\r\n

        \r\n\t
      • Alongside the treaty, the general rights of intermarriage between the Greeks and the Indians were also acknowledged.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

        -\u00a0Greek historians<\/strong>\u00a0Megasthenes and Dionysius resided at the\u00a0Mauryan court.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

        -\u00a0Religion:<\/strong>\u00a0Chandragupta gave up his throne and became a disciple of Jain teacher\u00a0Bhadrabahu<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    Bindusara (297 BCE-273 BCE)<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

    - The\u00a0Mahabhashya<\/strong>\u00a0refers to Chandragupta\u2019s successor as\u00a0Amitraghata\u00a0<\/strong>(a slayer of enemies).<\/p>\r\n

      \r\n\t
    • He is also referred to as \"Amitrochates\" in Greek sources.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      -\u00a0Conquest:<\/strong>\u00a0He brought\u00a0sixteen states\u00a0<\/strong>under the Mauryan Empire and thus conquered almost all of the Indian peninsula.<\/p>\r\n

        \r\n\t
      • He conquered \u2018the land between the two seas\u2019, i.e., the\u00a0Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
      • He continued the empire\u2019s expansion well into the Deccan, stopping around the region of\u00a0Karnataka.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

        - Deimachus was the Seleucid emperor Antiochus I's ambassador at Bindusara's court.<\/p>\r\n

        -\u00a0Religion:<\/strong>\u00a0He joined the\u00a0Ajivika sect.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    Ashoka<\/strong>\u00a0(272 BCE \u2013232 BCE)<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

    - During his father\u2019s reign, he was appointed as the\u00a0Viceroy of Taxila and Ujjain.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    - He was the\u00a0first ruler to maintain direct contact with his people through his inscriptions.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    -\u00a0Names of Ashoka:\u00a0<\/strong>Buddhashakya and Ashoka (in the Maski Edict), Dharmasoka (Sarnath inscription), Devanampiya (meaning beloved of the gods), and Piyadassi (given in the Sri Lankan Buddhist chronicles Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa).<\/p>\r\n

    -\u00a0Kalinga War<\/strong>: Fought between Ashoka and the state of Kalinga.<\/p>\r\n

      \r\n\t
    • Reason for invading Kalinga:<\/strong>\u00a0Kalinga was a glorious and prosperous region that valued freedom and was talented in the arts. Kalinga had some important ports as well as a strong navy.<\/li>\r\n\t
    • After witnessing so much loss of life during the war, Ashoka abandoned violence and established peace and harmony in his kingdom.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      -\u00a0Religion:<\/strong>\u00a0Proponent of Buddhism; Organised 3rd Buddhist Council at Pataliputra.<\/p>\r\n

      -\u00a0Dhamma:\u00a0<\/strong>The word \u2018Dhamma\u2019 is the Prakrit form of the Sanskrit word \u2018Dharma\u2019.<\/p>\r\n

        \r\n\t
      • The Ashokan edicts were written primarily to explain to the people throughout the empire the principles of Dhamma.<\/li>\r\n\t
      • Ashoka\u2019s\u00a0dhamma<\/em>\u00a0was not a specific religious belief or practice.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    \r\n

    Dasharatha<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    (232 BCE - 224 BCE)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    - He was the last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty to have issued\u00a0imperial inscriptions<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n

    - Several territories of the empire broke away during his reign.<\/p>\r\n

    -\u00a0Religion:<\/strong>\u00a0Continued the religious and social practices of Ashoka.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Samprati<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    (224 BCE - 215 BCE)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    - Samprati ruled both from\u00a0Pataliputra and Ujjain,<\/strong>\u00a0according to the Jain text\u00a0Parisistaparvan<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n

    - He reconquered the provinces of\u00a0Saurashtra, Maharashtra, Andhra, and Mysore,\u00a0<\/strong>which were disintegrated after Ashoka\u2019s death.<\/p>\r\n

    -\u00a0Contributions to Jainism:<\/strong>\u00a0He is regarded for his patronage and efforts to spread\u00a0Jainism<\/strong>\u00a0in East India.<\/p>\r\n

      \r\n\t
    • He made it possible for monks to travel to\u00a0barbarian lands.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
    • He was a disciple of\u00a0Suhastisuriji.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
    • Samprati\u00a0<\/strong>was mentioned in the\u00a0Kalpa-sutra-bhashya<\/strong>\u00a0as making Andhra, Dravida, Maharashtra, and Coorg safe for Jain monks.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    \r\n

    Shalishuka<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    (215 BCE - 202 BCE)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		- He was mentioned in the Gargi Samhita's Yuga Purana section as a quarrelsome, unrighteous ruler.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    \r\n

    Devavarman<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    (202 BCE- 195 BCE)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		- According to the Puranas, he was Shalishuka's successor and reigned for seven years.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    \r\n

    Shatadhanvan<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    (195 BCE - 187 BCE)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    - According to Puranas, Shatadhanvan succeeded Devavarman Maurya.<\/p>\r\n

    - The empire lost some of its territories because of invasions from outside and neighbouring kingdoms during his reign.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    Brihadratha\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    (187 BCE - 185 BCE)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    - Brihadratha was the\u00a0last\u00a0<\/strong>Mauryan emperor.<\/p>\r\n

    - According to some sources, he was assassinated by his Brahman commander-in-chief,\u00a0Pushyamitra Shunga,\u00a0<\/strong>who went on to establish the\u00a0Shunga Empire.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n

    Mauryan Empire Map<\/strong>
    \r\n\"\"<\/h2>\r\n

    Mauryan Empire Society and Religion<\/h2>\r\n