Introduction:
Chandragupta Maurya was founder of the Mauryan dynasty which lasted for almost 140 years and the first emperor to unify most of India under one administration. He ruled from 324 B.C till 297 B.C when he voluntary retired and abdicated in favor of his son, Bindusara. He is credited with saving the country from maladministration and freeing it from foreign domination. Assisted by his political and administrative advisor, Kautalya, he established the first territorial empire in ancient India, covering most of the Indian sub-continent.
Origin:
Chandragupta Maurya’s origins were full of mystery. Some sources state that he was brought up of peacock tamer. According to other sources, Chandragupta Maurya was the son of a Nanda prince …show more content…
A battle was announced and the Magadhan army was drawn from the city to a distant battlefield to engage Maurya's forces. Meanwhile, Maurya's general and spies bribed the Nanda's corrupt general and created an atmosphere of civil war in the kingdom, which culminated in the death of the heir to the throne. Upon the civil unrest in the kingdom, Nanda resigned and disappeared into exile. Chanakya contacted the prime minister, Rakshasa, and convinced him that his loyalty was to Magadha, not to the Nanda dynasty, and that he remains in office. Chanakya reiterated that choosing to resist would start a war that would severely affect Magadha and destroy the city. Rakshasa accepted Chanakya's reasoning, and Chandragupta Maurya was legitimately installed as the new King of Magadha in 321 B.C, at the age of twenty-one. Rakshasa became Chandragupta's chief advisor, and Chanakya assumed the position of an elder …show more content…
The general religious policy of the Mauryas was to encourage tolerance. It is said that Hinduism was the major religion at the beginning of the Mauryan Empire because Hindu priests and ministers, such as the advisor Chanakya, played an important part in the court of empire. Mauryan society also began embracing the philosophy of ahimsa, an idea integral to all the major Indian religions at the time. Mauryas eventually discouraged the caste system which had been an aspect of Hinduism and orthodox discrimination, supporting the ideals and values of Jain and Buddhist teachings. According to numerous Jain accounts, Chandragupta became an ardent follower of Jainism in his later years, renounced his throne, and followed Jain monks led by Bhadrabahu to south India. He is said to have lived as an ascetic at Shravanabelagola for several years before starving himself to death, as per Jain practice of
Chandragupta Maurya was founder of the Mauryan dynasty which lasted for almost 140 years and the first emperor to unify most of India under one administration. He ruled from 324 B.C till 297 B.C when he voluntary retired and abdicated in favor of his son, Bindusara. He is credited with saving the country from maladministration and freeing it from foreign domination. Assisted by his political and administrative advisor, Kautalya, he established the first territorial empire in ancient India, covering most of the Indian sub-continent.
Origin:
Chandragupta Maurya’s origins were full of mystery. Some sources state that he was brought up of peacock tamer. According to other sources, Chandragupta Maurya was the son of a Nanda prince …show more content…
A battle was announced and the Magadhan army was drawn from the city to a distant battlefield to engage Maurya's forces. Meanwhile, Maurya's general and spies bribed the Nanda's corrupt general and created an atmosphere of civil war in the kingdom, which culminated in the death of the heir to the throne. Upon the civil unrest in the kingdom, Nanda resigned and disappeared into exile. Chanakya contacted the prime minister, Rakshasa, and convinced him that his loyalty was to Magadha, not to the Nanda dynasty, and that he remains in office. Chanakya reiterated that choosing to resist would start a war that would severely affect Magadha and destroy the city. Rakshasa accepted Chanakya's reasoning, and Chandragupta Maurya was legitimately installed as the new King of Magadha in 321 B.C, at the age of twenty-one. Rakshasa became Chandragupta's chief advisor, and Chanakya assumed the position of an elder …show more content…
The general religious policy of the Mauryas was to encourage tolerance. It is said that Hinduism was the major religion at the beginning of the Mauryan Empire because Hindu priests and ministers, such as the advisor Chanakya, played an important part in the court of empire. Mauryan society also began embracing the philosophy of ahimsa, an idea integral to all the major Indian religions at the time. Mauryas eventually discouraged the caste system which had been an aspect of Hinduism and orthodox discrimination, supporting the ideals and values of Jain and Buddhist teachings. According to numerous Jain accounts, Chandragupta became an ardent follower of Jainism in his later years, renounced his throne, and followed Jain monks led by Bhadrabahu to south India. He is said to have lived as an ascetic at Shravanabelagola for several years before starving himself to death, as per Jain practice of