The Maurya Empire was a geographically wide Iron Age historical state in South Asia centred in Magadha that was created in 322 BCE by Chandragupta Maurya and lasted until 185 BCE. Various sources, literary and archaeological, epigraphic and numismatic, have shed light on the empire's history. Current literature and archaeological discoveries are important sources of knowledge. This article will explain to you the Asoka and Buddhism which will be helpful in Ancient History preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Mauryan Empire

• The Mauryan Empire, which began about 321 BCE and ended in 185 BCE, was the first pan-Indian empire, encompassing the majority of India.
• It encompassed sections of central and northern India as well as modern-day Iran.
• Literary sources such as Kautilya's Arthashastra, Megasthenes' Indica, and Ashoka's edicts give further light on this period's history.
• Dhana Nanda, the last of the Nanda rulers, was universally reviled for his harsh taxation policy.
• The Maurya Empire was established in Magadha under the leadership of Chandragupta Maurya and his mentor Chanakya. Chanakya accompanied Chandragupta to Taxila to study statecraft and government.
• Chandragupta required an army, so he recruited and annexed tiny military republics like the Yaudheyas, which had battled Alexander's Empire.
• The origins of Chandragupta are shrouded in mystery.
• Sandrokottos is the name given to him in Greek documents.

Sources of study of Mauryan Empire

Literary Sources

• A multitude of literary texts, both contemporary and late, Indian and foreign, make direct or indirect references to Mauryan history.
• The most important literary sources of Mauryan history and chronology are the Arthashastra, Megasthenes' Indica, the Milindapanho, the Puranas, the Mudrarakshasa, the Mahavamsa, and the Jaina Parishishta Parvan.
• Puranas are the most important brahmanical texts that provide information on Mauryan ancestry.
• The Vishnu Purana describes the origins of the Nandas and their eventual downfall by Chandragupta, who was guided by his master Kautilya.

Buddhist Literature

• A number of Buddhist texts produced during or after the Mauryan period make reference to Mauryan polity and culture.
• These include the Jatakas, which provide a detailed account of people's social situations in India around the middle of the first millennium BC. It also extends extensively to the Mauryan period.
• Aside from that, the Dighanikaya, together with its commentary Sumanga lavilasini, is a source for this period's history.
• In addition to Indian Buddhist literature, Tibetan and Chinese Buddhist histories have mentioned the Mauryan kingdom.
• The Divyavadana and the Ashokavadana both relate to major events in Ashoka's life, such as his expedition to quash the Taxila insurrection and his conversion to Buddhism.
• Ashoka's dhammayatras are sometimes referred to as Divyavadana.
• Aside from them, Ceylonese chronicles are another major source of Mauryan history.
• Dipavamsa (3rd century BC–4th century AD) and Mahavamsa (fifth century AD) both commended Ashoka for his efforts to propagate Buddhism in Ceylon.
• Vamsathapakasini, a commentary on the Mahavamsa written in India during the eleventh century AD, provides some information regarding the Mauryas' origins.
• Furthermore, literature like as the Lalitavistara and the Mahavastu give significant information on the period's history.

Jain Literature

• The Parishishthaparvan, written by Hemchandra in the tenth century AD, was largely produced as a biography of Chanakya or Kautilya
• It nonetheless provides an intriguing description of the many periods of Chandragupta's life, such as his early life, his later conversion to Jainism, and so on.
• Parishishthaparvan also sheds information on Magadha's social and economic situations during the Mauryan period.
• Bhadrabahu's Jaina Kalpasutra is another major source for this period's history (c. 4th cemtury BC).

Mudrarakshasa

• Vishakhadatta wrote Mudrarakshasa during the Gupta dynasty (c. 4th century AD).
• It is set against the backdrop of Chanakya's hostility toward the Nandas and his later support for Chandragupta Maurya.
• Under the tutelage of Chanakya, Chandragupta Maurya not only conquered Dhanananda but also demolished the supposedly impenetrable Nanda power.

Literary Sources in Greek and Latin

• Though Megasthenes' Indica is the principal source of foreign literature about the Mauryan period, it has been lost in its original form, thus historians have been looking to subsequent Greek and Latin writings that include real quotations from the Indica.
• Strabo (64 BC19 AD) created a geography book and ascribed part of it to India.
• Aside from that, he mentions the marriage union between Chandragupta Maurya and Seleucus in his book but does not elaborate on the nature and circumstances of this alliance. Strabo also refers to Chandragupta Maurya's female bodyguards.

Arthashastra by Kautilya

• It is a text about government and governance authored by Kautilya (another name for Chanakya).
• It illustrates the Mauryan period's economic and political situations. Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan empire, appointed Kautilya as Prime Minister.
• Distinct sections of the book are supposed to have been written by Chanakya, Kautilya, and Vishnugupta; possibly by the same individual under three different identities.
• The Arthashastra is not, as most people believe, a dissertation on ancient Indian political thinking, however it is appropriate to call Kautilya a political thinker because he puts forth his own beliefs about the perfect government in the Arthashastra.
• The Arthashastra depicts chakravartikshetra, or the imperial sovereign's dominion, as spanning north-south from the Himalayas to the sea and a thousand yojanas east-west.
• These are the dimensions of the Mauryan empire, which is referred to as Prithvi in the Arthashastra.

Indica of Megasthenes

• Megasthenese, the ambassador of Selecus Nikator at Cahndraqgupta Maurya's court, wrote Indica.
• It represents Mauryan Empire administration, the 7-caste system, and the lack of slavery in India.
• Although it has been lost in its original form, citations from classical Greek writers such as Plutarch, Strabo, and Arrian have survived.
• Megasthenes wrote extensively about different aspects of Indian life, including as society, administration, and kingship, which he compiled into a book titled Indica.
• The original piece was destroyed.
• The Indica is only known in pieces as citations in subsequent texts, yet it is a valuable source of Mauryan history.

Archaeological Sources

• In terms of archaeology, the usage of Northern Black Polished Ware identifies the age of the Mauryas.
• The constructions discovered near Patna at Kaushambi and Kumrahar have been the most important sources of knowledge.
• These structures represent thriving urban culture. The Kaushambi structure includes a massive defence system.
• At Kumarhar is thought to be the palace of Chandragupta Maurya.
• It is a pillared hall with a wooden superstructure that is said to have caved in as a consequence of a conflagration, leaving an ashy deposit.
• The drainage system uncovered in several locations demonstrates the significance humans placed on health and hygiene.
• Aside from that, the recovery of a variety of artefacts, weapons, and decorations has assisted historians and archaeologists in better understanding the different dimensions of Maurya life and cultural identity.

Numismatic Sources

• Around the sixth century BC, with the establishment of urban settlement and an increase in trade and commercial activity, an age of monetary transactions also began in ancient India.
• A number of punch marked coins recovered during excavations demonstrate that monetary trade was an intrinsic component of Mauryan economy and society.
• The first was the silver pana and its submultiples, followed by the copper mashaka and its submultiples.
• The Arthashastra also mentions kakani, a copper currency that was not as widely used as pana and mashaka.
• These coins contain no name of any Maurya monarch and are imprinted with diverse motifs like as the Sun, a tree in a fence, the moon, animals, and so on.

Mauryan Empire - Coins

Inscriptions and Edicts

• In this respect, the inscriptions of Ashoka are significant since they have survived relatively undamaged.
• These inscriptions are, for the most part, the most authentic confirmation of the Maurya dynasty's existence.
• The significance of these inscriptions rests in the fact that they provide us with the original rendition of crucial events in Ashoka's life as well as his central notion of Dhamma.
• Except for certain locations in the deep south, Ashoka's inscriptions were erected in every corner of the Indian subcontinent.
• These places represent the breadth of the Mauryan empire under the reign of Ashoka.
• Some fresh inscriptions, doubtfully ascribed to Ashoka, have been found in Afghanistan; if confirmed, the east-west bounds of Ashoka's kingdom would reach from Afghanistan to Bengal.

Major Rock Edicts and Inscriptions

Conclusion

The Mauryan Empire, which ruled over the bulk of India from 321 BCE to 185 BCE, was the first pan-Indian empire. It spanned central and northern India, as well as modern-day Iran. Literary and archaeological, epigraphic and numismatic sources have all provided insight on the empire's history. Current literature and archaeological finds are valuable sources of information.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Which of the following texts was written by Chanakya and provides insights into Mauryan administration?

A. Arthashastra
B. Mudrarakshasa
C. Indica
D. Rajatarangini

2. Which foreign traveler’s account is one of the primary sources for studying the Mauryan Empire?

A. Fa Hien
B. Ibn Battuta
C. Megasthenes
D. Al-Biruni

3. The Ashokan Edicts are inscribed on which materials?

A. Clay tablets
B. Copper plates
C. Rocks and pillars
D. Papyrus scrolls

4. Which archaeological site is associated with the Mauryan capital?

A. Pataliputra
B. Taxila
C. Nalanda
D. Sarnath

5. Which of the following is a Sanskrit play that discusses the Mauryan period?

A. Shakuntala
B. Nagananda
C. Mudrarakshasa
D. Mrichchhakatika

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the significance of the Ashokan Edicts in understanding the Mauryan Empire's administration and policies.

Answer: The Ashokan Edicts are one of the most valuable sources for understanding the Mauryan Empire's administration and policies. These edicts, inscribed on rocks and pillars, promote the principles of Dhamma, emphasizing non-violence, religious tolerance, and moral conduct. The edicts also provide insights into Ashoka’s administrative measures, such as the appointment of Dhamma Mahamatras to spread the message of Dhamma and ensure the welfare of his subjects. Additionally, the inscriptions shed light on the judicial system, foreign relations, and public welfare projects undertaken by Ashoka.

Q2: Analyze the role of Megasthenes’ Indica in understanding the social and political life of the Mauryan Empire.

Answer: Megasthenes’ Indica is a key source of information about the social and political life of the Mauryan Empire, particularly during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya. As a foreign ambassador, Megasthenes provided a unique perspective on the Mauryan capital Pataliputra, describing its fortifications, palaces, and urban layout. He also documented the caste system, detailing the roles and responsibilities of different social groups. Politically, Megasthenes highlighted the centralized nature of Mauryan administration and the role of the king as the supreme authority, aided by a council of ministers. His account provides invaluable insights into the functioning of the Mauryan state.

Q3: Evaluate the importance of archaeological sources in reconstructing the history of the Mauryan Empire.

Answer: Archaeological sources are crucial for reconstructing the history of the Mauryan Empire, as they provide tangible evidence of the empire's achievements in architecture, urban planning, and religion. Excavations at sites like Pataliputra have revealed the remains of fortified walls, pillars, and palaces, giving us a glimpse of the grandeur of the Mauryan capital. The Ashokan pillars and stupas, such as the Sanchi Stupa, reflect the empire's architectural prowess and Ashoka's patronage of Buddhism. These archaeological remains, along with inscriptions, help historians piece together the socio-political and religious aspects of the Mauryan period.

Previous Year Questions on Mauryan Empire

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2017

Question: Which of the following works is attributed to Kautilya, the chief advisor to Chandragupta Maurya?
A. Indica
B. Arthashastra
C. Mudrarakshasa
D. Rajatarangini

Answer: B

Explanation: Arthashastra is a treatise on statecraft, economics, and military strategy, written by Kautilya (Chanakya), the chief advisor to Chandragupta Maurya. It provides invaluable insights into the administrative and economic policies of the Mauryan Empire.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2018 (GS Paper 1)

Question: Discuss the role of inscriptions and archaeological sources in understanding the Mauryan Empire.

Explanation: Inscriptions, particularly the Ashokan Edicts, are key primary sources for understanding the Mauryan Empire's administration, policies, and religion. These inscriptions promote Dhamma and provide details about Ashoka's governance and diplomatic relations. Archaeological remains, such as the ruins of Pataliputra and stupas like Sanchi, reveal the architectural achievements and urban planning of the Mauryans. These sources, combined with literary texts like the Arthashastra and foreign accounts like Indica, help historians reconstruct the socio-political, economic, and cultural life of the Mauryan Empire.