76-696: Topra , combined name for the larger Topra Kalan and adjacent smaller Topra Khurd , is a Mauryan Empire -era village in Yamunanagar district of Haryana state in India . It lies 14 km west of Yamunanagar , 14 km from Radaur and 90 km from Chandigarh . Situated in Pong valley of is the original home of Delhi-Topra pillar (originally located at 30°07′44″N 77°09′35″E / 30.12889°N 77.15965°E / 30.12889; 77.15965 ), one of many pillars of Ashoka , that
152-524: A campaign at the frontier of the Nanda empire, gradually conquering various territories on their way to the Nanda capital. He then refined his strategy by establishing garrisons in the conquered territories, and finally besieged the Nanda capital Pataliputra. There Dhana Nanda accepted defeat. The conquest was fictionalised in Mudrarakshasa play, it contains narratives not found in other versions of
228-637: A city called Moriya-nagara ("Peacock-city"), which was so called, because it was built with the "bricks coloured like peacocks' necks". The dynasty's connection to the peacocks, as mentioned in the Buddhist and Jain traditions, seems to be corroborated by archaeological evidence. For example, peacock figures are found on the Ashoka pillar at Nandangarh and several sculptures on the Great Stupa of Sanchi . Based on this evidence, modern scholars theorize that
304-1014: A disciplined central authority. Farmers were freed of tax and crop collection burdens from regional kings, paying instead to a centrally administered and strict-but-fair system of taxation as advised by the principles in the Arthashastra . Chandragupta Maurya established a single currency across India, and a network of regional governors and administrators and a civil service provided justice and security for merchants, farmers and traders. The Mauryan army wiped out many gangs of bandits, regional private armies, and powerful chieftains who sought to impose their own supremacy in small areas. Although regimental in revenue collection, Mauryas also sponsored many public works and waterways to enhance productivity, while internal trade in India expanded greatly due to new-found political unity and internal peace. List of Haryanvi-language films Haryanvi films are films in
380-532: A feature of Indian society that continues to influence the Indian politics till today. Historians theorise that the organisation of the Empire was in line with the extensive bureaucracy described by Chanakya in the Arthashastra : a sophisticated civil service governed everything from municipal hygiene to international trade. The expansion and defense of the empire was made possible by what appears to have been one of
456-415: A fortification there and securing it as a possession. Although Ashoka's army succeeded in overwhelming Kalinga forces of royal soldiers and citizen militias, an estimated 100,000 soldiers and civilians were killed in the furious warfare, including over 10,000 of Imperial Mauryan soldiers. Hundreds of thousands of people were adversely affected by the destruction and fallout of war. When he personally witnessed
532-504: A large and powerful army, to keep the peace and maintain authority, Ashoka expanded friendly relations with states across Asia and Europe, and he sponsored Buddhist missions. He undertook a massive public works building campaign across the country. Over 40 years of peace, harmony and prosperity made Ashoka one of the most successful and famous monarchs in Indian history. He remains an idealized figure of inspiration in modern India. The Edicts of Ashoka , set in stone, are found throughout
608-464: A large empire that consisted of what is now, Northern, Central and Eastern parts of India along with parts of Afghanistan and Baluchistan . Bindusara extended this empire to the southern part of India, as far as what is now known as Karnataka . He brought sixteen states under the Mauryan Empire and thus conquered almost all of the Indian peninsula (he is said to have conquered the 'land between
684-554: A later stage converted to Jainism ), Bindusara believed in the Ajivika religion. Bindusara's guru Pingalavatsa (Janasana) was a Brahmin of the Ajivika religion. Bindusara's wife, Empress Subhadrangi was a Brahmin also of the Ajivika religion from Champa (present Bhagalpur district ). Bindusara is credited with giving several grants to Brahmin monasteries ( Brahmana-bhatto ). Historical evidence suggests that Bindusara died in
760-480: A model that also applies to the Maurya Empire. Kulke and Rothermunf agree with her approach, noting that Ashoka's inscriptions reveal a regional pattern, demarcating the five parts of the empire, whereas the major rock edicts have only been found in the frontier provinces, but are absent in the centre. Inscriptions and rock edicts are entirely absent in large parts of the territories supposedly under control of
836-554: A salient role in Buddhism becoming a world religion, and himself a figure of world history. As Ashoka's edicts forbade both the killing of wild animals and the destruction of forests, he is seen by some modern environmental historians as an early embodiment of that ethos. Archaeologically, the period of Mauryan rule in South Asia falls into the era of Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW). The Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath
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#1732793582921912-464: A young prince, Ashoka ( r. 272–232 BCE) was a brilliant commander who crushed revolts in Ujjain and Taxila. As emperor he was ambitious and aggressive, re-asserting the Empire's superiority in southern and western India. But it was his conquest of Kalinga (262–261 BCE) which proved to be the pivotal event of his life. Ashoka used Kalinga to project power over a large region by building
988-618: Is all this done, that it may endure to my sons and sons' sons - as long the sun and the moon shall last. Let stone pillars be prepared and let this edict of dharma (religion) be engraven thereon, that it may endure unto the remotest ages. In 2015 April, Manohar Lal Khattar , the Chief Minister of Haryana , announced an allocation of INR 50 crore (INR 500 million) to build an Ashokan Edicts Archaeological Park at Topra Kalan village where seven Ashoka Pillars, eight Rock Edicts and other ancient structures of Mauryan Time will be constructed. It
1064-532: Is disputed: other scholars—such as epigraphist D. C. Sircar —read the phrase as mukhiya-kala ("the principal art"). According to the Buddhist tradition, the ancestors of the Maurya kings had settled in a region where peacocks ( mora in Pali ) were abundant. Therefore, they came to be known as "Moriyas", literally meaning, "belonging to the place of peacocks". According to another Buddhist account, these ancestors built
1140-551: Is known about another son, Jalauka . The empire lost many territories under Dasharatha, which were later reconquered by Samprati , Kunala's son. Post Samprati, the Mauryas slowly lost many territories. In 180 BCE, Brihadratha Maurya , was killed by his general , Pushyamitra Shunga in a military parade without any heir. Hence, the great Maurya Empire finally ended, giving rise to the Shunga Empire . Reasons advanced for
1216-507: Is said to have lived as an ascetic at Shravanabelagola for several years before fasting to death, as per the Jain practice of sallekhana . Bindusara was born to Chandragupta , the founder of the Mauryan Empire. This is attested by several sources, including the various Puranas and the Mahāvaṃsa . He is attested by the Buddhist texts such as Dīpavaṃsa and Mahāvaṃsa ("Bindusaro");
1292-491: Is said to have met the Nanda king, angered him, and made a narrow escape. Historically reliable details of Chandragupta's campaign against Nanda Empire are unavailable and legends written centuries later are inconsistent. Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu texts claim Magadha was ruled by the Nanda dynasty , which, with Chanakya 's counsel, Chandragupta conquered Nanda Empire. The army of Chandragupta and Chanakya first conquered
1368-647: Is the State Emblem of the Republic of India , and the 24-pointed Buddhist Wheel of Dharma on the capital's drum-shaped abacus , is the central feature of India's national flag. The name "Maurya" does not occur in Ashoka's inscriptions , or the contemporary Greek accounts such as Megasthenes 's Indica , but it is attested by the following sources: According to some scholars, Kharavela's Hathigumpha inscription (2nd-1st century BC) mentions era of Maurya Empire as Muriya Kala (Mauryan era), but this reading
1444-580: Is today Patna ) was located in Magadha; the other core regions were Taxila in the northwest; Ujjain in the Malwa Plateau ; Kalinga on the Bay of Bengal coast; and the precious metal -rich lower Deccan plateau " Outside the core regions, the empire's geographical extent was dependent on the loyalty of military commanders who controlled the armed cities scattered within it. The Mauryan economy
1520-541: The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom . Some historians, such as Hem Chandra Raychaudhuri , have argued that Ashoka's pacifism undermined the "military backbone" of the Maurya empire. Others, such as Romila Thapar , have suggested that the extent and impact of his pacifism have been "grossly exaggerated". Buddhist records such as the Ashokavadana write that the assassination of Brihadratha and the rise of
1596-707: The Haryanvi dialect of Hindi . Due to the dominance of the Mumbai -based Hindi film industry , films in Haryanvi were not extensively produced until the 1980s. The First movie of Haryanvi cinema is Dharti , released in 1968. The financial success of Devi Shankar Prabhakar's Chandrawal (1984) was largely responsible for the continuing production of Haryanvi films , although none have been as successful. Other films such as Phool Badan and Chora Haryane Ka followed with only about one out of twelve films being profitable at
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#17327935829211672-478: The Hindu Kush and as far south as the northern Deccan ; however, beyond the core Magadha area, the prevailing levels of technology and infrastructure limited how deeply his rule could penetrate society. During the rule of Chandragupta's grandson, Ashoka (ca. 268–232 BCE), the empire briefly controlled the major urban hubs and arteries of the subcontinent excepting the deep south. The Mauryan capital (what
1748-468: The Viceroy of Avantirastra during his father's reign, which highlights the importance of the province. Bindusara's life has not been documented as well as that of his father Chandragupta or of his son Ashoka. Chanakya continued to serve as prime minister during his reign. According to the medieval Tibetan scholar Taranatha who visited India, Chanakya helped Bindusara "to destroy the nobles and kings of
1824-524: The Yaudheyas that had resisted Alexander's Empire. Ancient Greek historians Nearchus , Onesictrius , and Aristobolus have provided a valuable source of information about Chandragupta and the Mauryan empire. Chandragupta Maurya's ancestry is shrouded in mystery and controversy. On one hand, a number of ancient Indian accounts, such as the drama Mudrarakshasa ( Signet ring of Rakshasa – Rakshasa
1900-563: The 270s BCE. According to Upinder Singh, Bindusara died around 273 BCE. Alain Daniélou believes that he died around 274 BCE. Sailendra Nath Sen believes that he died around 273–272 BCE, and that his death was followed by a four-year struggle of succession, after which his son Ashoka became the emperor in 269–268 BCE. According to the Mahāvaṃsa , Bindusara reigned for 28 years. The Vayu Purana , which names Chandragupta's successor as "Bhadrasara", states that he ruled for 25 years. As
1976-520: The Ashokan pillar for a minaret. Feroz Shah Tuhglaq, however decided to erect it near the mosque instead. At the time of re-installation of the obelisk in Delhi, in 1356, no one knew the meaning of the script engraved in the stone. About five hundred years later, the script ( Brahmi ) was deciphered by James Prinsep in 1837 with help from scripts discovered on other pillars and tablets in South Asia. It
2052-526: The Chanakya-Chandragupta legend. Because of this difference, Thomas Trautmann suggests that most of it is fictional or legendary, without any historical basis. Radha Kumud Mukherjee similarly considers Mudrakshasa play without historical basis. These legends state that the Nanda emperor was defeated, deposed and exiled by some accounts, while Buddhist accounts claim he was killed. With the defeat of Dhana Nanda, Chandragupta Maurya founded
2128-670: The Empire and instil stability and peace across West and South Asia. .Even though large parts were under the control of Mauryan empire the spread of information and imperial messages was limited since many parts were inaccessible and were situated far away from capital of empire. For the first time in South Asia , political unity and military security allowed for a common economic system and enhanced trade and commerce, with increased agricultural productivity. The previous situation involving hundreds of kingdoms, many small armies, powerful regional chieftains, and internecine warfare, gave way to
2204-640: The Great was leading his Indian campaigns and ventured into Punjab. His army mutinied at the Beas River and refused to advance farther eastward when confronted by another army. Alexander returned to Babylon and re-deployed most of his troops west of the Indus River . Soon after Alexander died in Babylon in 323 BCE, his empire fragmented into independent kingdoms ruled by his generals. "India, after
2280-690: The Greek rulers in the West as far as the Mediterranean. The edicts precisely name each of the rulers of the Hellenistic world at the time such as Amtiyoko ( Antiochus II Theos ), Tulamaya ( Ptolemy II ), Amtikini ( Antigonos II ), Maka ( Magas ) and Alikasudaro ( Alexander II of Epirus ) as recipients of Ashoka's proselytism. The Edicts also accurately locate their territory "600 yojanas away" (1 yojana being about 7 miles), corresponding to
2356-616: The Hellenic world. Deimachus was the ambassador of Seleucid king Antiochus I at Bindusara's court. Diodorus states that the king of Palibothra ( Pataliputra , the Mauryan capital) welcomed a Greek author, Iambulus . This king is usually identified as Bindusara. Pliny states that the Ptolemaic king Philadelphus sent an envoy named Dionysius to India. According to Sailendra Nath Sen, this appears to have happened during Bindusara's reign. Unlike his father Chandragupta (who at
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2432-520: The Jain texts such as Parishishta-Parvan ; as well as the Hindu texts such as Vishnu Purana ("Vindusara"). According to the 12th century Jain writer Hemachandra 's Parishishta-Parvan , the name of Bindusara's mother was Durdhara . Some Greek sources also mention him by the name "Amitrochates" or its variations. Historian Upinder Singh estimates that Bindusara ascended the throne around 297 BCE. Bindusara, just 22 years old, inherited
2508-468: The Maurya Empire. After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE, Chandragupta led a series of campaigns to take satrapies in the Indus Valley and northwest India. When Alexander's remaining forces were routed, returning westwards, Seleucus I Nicator fought to defend these territories. Not many details of the campaigns are known from ancient sources. Seleucus was defeated and retreated into
2584-482: The Nanda Empire. He had to flee in order to save his life and went to Taxila , a notable center of learning, to work as a teacher. On one of his travels, Chanakya witnessed some young men playing a rural game practicing a pitched battle. One of the boys was none other than Chandragupta. Chanakya was impressed by the young Chandragupta and saw imperial qualities in him as someone fit to rule. Meanwhile, Alexander
2660-509: The Nanda outer territories, and finally besieged the Nanda capital Pataliputra . In contrast to the easy victory in Buddhist sources, the Hindu and Jain texts state that the campaign was bitterly fought because the Nanda dynasty had a powerful and well-trained army. The Buddhist Mahavamsa Tika and Jain Parishishtaparvan records Chandragupta's army unsuccessfully attacking the Nanda capital. Chandragupta and Chanakya then began
2736-468: The Shunga empire led to a wave of religious persecution for Buddhists , and a resurgence of Hinduism . According to Sir John Marshall , Pushyamitra may have been the main author of the persecutions, although later Shunga kings seem to have been more supportive of Buddhism. Other historians, such as Etienne Lamotte and Romila Thapar , among others, have argued that archaeological evidence in favour of
2812-667: The Subcontinent. Ranging from as far west as Afghanistan and as far south as Andhra ( Nellore District ), Ashoka's edicts state his policies and accomplishments. Although predominantly written in Prakrit, two of them were written in Greek , and one in both Greek and Aramaic . Ashoka's edicts refer to the Greeks, Kambojas , and Gandharas as peoples forming a frontier region of his empire. They also attest to Ashoka's having sent envoys to
2888-463: The aged and full of years, by kindness to learned, to the orphan and destitute and servants and minstrel tribe. And religion increaseth among men by two separate processes - by performance of religious offices, and by security against persecution. (...) And that religion may be free from the persecution of men, that it may increase through the absolute prohibition to put to death (any) living beings or sacrifice aught that draweth breath. For such an object
2964-593: The allegations of persecution of Buddhists are lacking, and that the extent and magnitude of the atrocities have been exaggerated. The fall of the Mauryas left the Khyber Pass unguarded, and a wave of foreign invasion followed. The Greco-Bactrian king Demetrius capitalized on the breakup, and he conquered southern Afghanistan and parts of northwestern India around 180 BCE, forming the Indo-Greek Kingdom . The Indo-Greeks would maintain holdings on
3040-589: The box office. In 2000, Aswini Chowdhary won the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director at the National Film Awards for the Haryanvi film Laddo . In 2010 the government of Haryana announced they were considering establishing a film board to promote Haryanvi-language films. At the 62nd National Film Awards , the Haryanvi movie Pagdi The Honour won the award for Best Feature Film in Haryanvi and Baljinder Kaur won
3116-717: The city seems to have had many similarities with Persian cities of the period. Chandragupta's son Bindusara extended the rule of the Mauryan empire towards southern India. The famous Tamil poet Mamulanar of the Sangam literature described how areas south of the Deccan Plateau which comprised Tamilakam was invaded by the Mauryan Army using troops from Karnataka. Mamulanar states that Vadugar (people who resided in Andhra-Karnataka regions immediately to
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3192-600: The consolidation of caste in the Gangetic plain , and the declining rights of women in the mainstream Indo-Aryan speaking regions of India. After the Kalinga War in which Ashoka's troops visited much violence on the region, he embraced Buddhism and promoted its tenets in edicts scattered around South Asia, most commonly in clusters along the well-traveled road networks. He sponsored Buddhist missionaries to Sri Lanka , northwest India, and Central Asia, which played
3268-542: The death of Alexander, had shaken off the yoke of servitude from its neck and put his governors to death. The author of this liberation was Sandrocottus." Justin The Maurya Empire was established in the Magadha region under the leadership of Chandragupta Maurya and his mentor Chanakya. Chandragupta was taken to Taxila by Chanakya and was tutored about statecraft and governing. Requiring an army Chandragupta recruited and annexed local military republics such as
3344-401: The decline include the succession of weak emperors after Ashoka Maurya, the partition of the empire into two, the growing independence of some areas within the empire, such as that ruled by Sophagasenus , a top-heavy administration where authority was entirely in the hands of a few persons, an absence of any national consciousness, the pure scale of the empire making it unwieldy, and invasion by
3420-441: The devastation, Ashoka began feeling remorse. Although the annexation of Kalinga was completed, Ashoka embraced the teachings of Buddhism, and renounced war and violence. He sent out missionaries to travel around Asia and spread Buddhism to other countries. He also propagated his own dhamma . Ashoka implemented principles of ahimsa by banning hunting and violent sports activity and abolishing slave trade . While he maintained
3496-474: The distance between the center of India and Greece (roughly 4,000 miles). Ashoka was followed for 50 years by a succession of weaker emperors. He was succeeded by Dasharatha Maurya , who was Ashoka's grandson. None of Ashoka's sons could ascend to the throne after him. Mahinda , his firstborn, became a Buddhist monk. Kunala Maurya was blinded and hence couldn't ascend to the throne; and Tivala , son of Karuvaki , died even earlier than Ashoka. Little
3572-498: The eastern parts of Gedrosia , and possibly also Arachosia and Aria as far as Herat." Seleucus I received the 500 war elephants that were to have a decisive role in his victory against western Hellenistic kings at the Battle of Ipsus in 301 BCE. Diplomatic relations were established and several Greeks, such as the historian Megasthenes , Deimachus and Dionysius resided at the Mauryan court. Megasthenes in particular
3648-443: The emperor to whom tribute was paid by the laboring class. In return the emperor supplied the laborers with agricultural products, animals, seeds, tools, public infrastructure, and stored food in reserve for times of crisis. The economy of the empire has also been described as "a socialized monarchy", "a sort of state socialism", and the world's first welfare state . Arthashastra and Megasthenes accounts of Pataliputra describe
3724-409: The empire, which means that "large parts of present Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh as well as Kerala and Tamil Nadu were not actually included in the Maurya empire." Controlling the main trade routes was essential for the empire, as they were threatened by undefeated tribes inhabiting large parts of the interior. Under the Mauryan system there was no private ownership of land as all land was owned by
3800-467: The fertile eastern Gangetic plain, these factors helped maritime and river-borne trade, which were essential for acquiring goods for consumption as well as metals of high economic value. To promote movement and trade, the Maurya dynasty built roads, most prominently a chiefly winter-time road—the Uttarapath—;which connected eastern Afghanistan to their capital Patliputra during
3876-584: The first centuries of the common era ; partial records of the lost history of Megasthenes in Roman texts of several centuries later; and the Edicts of Ashoka , which were first read in the modern era by James Prinsep after he had deciphered the Brahmi and Kharoshthi scripts in 1838. Through military conquests and diplomatic treaties, Chandragupta extended his suzerainty as far westward as Afghanistan below
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#17327935829213952-530: The first centuries of the common era ; partial records of the lost history of Megasthenes in Roman texts of several centuries later; and the Edicts of Ashoka , which were first read in the modern era by James Prinsep after he had deciphered the Brahmi and Kharoshthi scripts in 1838. Prior to the Maurya Empire, the Nanda Empire ruled the Ganges basin and some adjacent territories. The Nanda Empire
4028-421: The imperial capital at Pataliputra , and several former mahajanapadas next to it formed the center, which was directly ruled by the emperor's administration. The other territories were divided into four provinces, ruled by princes who served as governors. From Ashokan edicts, the names of the four provincial capitals are Tosali (in the east), Ujjain (in the west), Suvarnagiri (in the south), and Taxila (in
4104-806: The intricate municipal system formed by Maurya empire to govern its cities. A city counsel made up of thirty commissioners was divided into six committees or boards which governed the city. The first board fixed wages and looked after provided goods, second board made arrangement for foreign dignitaries, tourists and businessmen, third board made records and registrations, fourth looked after manufactured goods and sale of commodities, fifth board regulated trade, issued licenses and checked weights and measurements, sixth board collected sales taxes. Some cities such as Taxila had autonomy to issue their own coins. The city counsel had officers who looked after public welfare such as maintenance of roads, public buildings, markets, hospitals, educational institutions etc. The official head of
4180-499: The largest armies in the world during the Iron Age . According to Megasthenes, the empire wielded a military of 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, 8,000 chariots and 9,000 war elephants besides followers and attendants. A vast espionage system collected intelligence for both internal and external security purposes. Having renounced offensive warfare and expansionism, Ashoka nevertheless continued to maintain this large army, to protect
4256-515: The most skillful in the sacred offices discreetly and respectfully use their most persuasive efforts, acting on the heart and eyes of the children, for the purposes of imparting enthusiasm and instruction in dharma (religion). And whatsoever benevolent acts have been done by me, the same shall be prescribed as duties to the people who follow after me, and in this manner shall their influence and increase be manifest - by service to father and mother, by service to spiritual pastors, by respectful demeanor to
4332-470: The mountainous region of Afghanistan. The two rulers concluded a peace treaty in 303 BCE, including a marital alliance. According to Grant, under its terms, Seleucus Nicator ceded the Hindu Kush, Punjab and parts of Afghanistan to Chandragupta Maurya. According to Kosmin, "Seleucus transferred to Chandragupta's kingdom the easternmost satrapies of his empire, certainly Gandhara , Parapamisadae , and
4408-648: The north of Tamil Nadu) formed the vanguard of the Mauryan Army. He also had a Greek ambassador at his court, named Deimachus . According to Plutarch , Chandragupta Maurya subdued all of India, and Justin also observed that Chandragupta Maurya was "in possession of India". These accounts are corroborated by Tamil Sangam literature which mentions about Mauryan invasion with their south Indian allies and defeat of their rivals at Podiyil hill in Tirunelveli district in present-day Tamil Nadu . Chandragupta renounced his throne and followed Jain teacher Bhadrabahu . He
4484-839: The northwest). The head of the provincial administration was the Kumar (prince), who governed the provinces as emperor's representative. The kumara was assisted by mahamatyas (great ministers) and council of ministers. This organizational structure was reflected at the imperial level with the Emperor and his Mantriparishad (Council of Ministers). . The Mauryans established a well developed coin minting system. Coins were mostly made of silver and copper. Certain gold coins were in circulation as well. The coins were widely used for trade and commerce Monica Smith notes that historiography has tended to view ancient states as vast territories, whereas they are better understood as networks of centers of power,
4560-622: The peacock may have been the dynasty's emblem. Some later authors, such as Dhundhi-raja (an 18th-century commentator on the Mudrarakshasa and an annotator of the Vishnu Purana ), state that the word "Maurya" is derived from Mura and the mother of the first Maurya emperor. However, the Puranas themselves make no mention of Mura and do not talk of any relation between the Nanda and the Maurya dynasties. Dhundiraja's derivation of
4636-466: The sixteen kingdoms and thus to become absolute master of the territory between the eastern and western oceans". During his rule, the citizens of Taxila revolted twice. The reason for the first revolt was the maladministration of Susima , his eldest son. The reason for the second revolt is unknown, but Bindusara could not suppress it in his lifetime. It was crushed by Ashoka after Bindusara's death. Bindusara maintained friendly diplomatic relations with
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#17327935829214712-779: The subcontinent right up to the birth of Christ. Although the extent of their successes against indigenous powers such as the Shungas , Satavahanas , and Kalinga are unclear, what is clear is that Scythian tribes, named Indo-Scythians , brought about the demise of the Indo-Greeks from around 70 BCE and retained lands in the trans-Indus, the region of Mathura , and Gujarat. Megasthenes mentions military command consisting of six boards of five members each, (i) Navy (ii) Military transport (iii) Infantry (iv) Cavalry and Catapults (v) Chariot divisions and (vi) Elephants . Ashoka's empire consisted of five parts. Magadha, with
4788-477: The time of year when the water levels in the intersecting rivers were low and they could be easily forded . Other roads connected the Ganges basin to Arabian Sea coast in the west, and precious metal -rich mines in the south. The population of South Asia during the Mauryan period has been estimated to be between 15 and 30 million. The empire's period of dominion was marked by exceptional creativity in art, architecture, inscriptions and produced texts, but also by
4864-416: The trans-Indus region, and make forays into central India, for about a century. Under them, Buddhism flourished, and one of their kings, Menander , became a famous figure of Buddhism; he was to establish a new capital of Sagala, the modern city of Sialkot . However, the extent of their domains and the lengths of their rule are subject to much debate. Numismatic evidence indicates that they retained holdings in
4940-581: The two seas' – the peninsular region between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea ). Bindusara did not conquer the friendly Tamil kingdoms of the Cholas , ruled by King Ilamcetcenni , the Pandyas , and Cheras . Apart from these southern states, Kalinga (modern Odisha) was the only kingdom in India that did not form part of Bindusara's empire. It was later conquered by his son Ashoka , who served as
5016-477: The village was Gramika and in towns and cities was Nagarika . The city counsel also had some magisterial powers. The taking of census was regular process in the Mauryan administration. The village heads ( Gramika ) and mayors ( Nagarika ) were responsible enumerating different classes of people in the Mauryan empire such as traders, agriculturists, smiths, potters, carpenters etc. and also cattle, mostly for taxation purposes. These vocations consolidated as castes,
5092-459: The word seems to be his own invention: according to the Sanskrit rules, the derivative of the feminine name Mura ( IAST : Murā) would be "Maureya"; the term "Maurya" can only be derived from the masculine "Mura". The primary sources for the written records of the Mauryan times are the Arthashastra , a work previously attributed to Kautilya , but now thought to be composed by multiple authors in
5168-478: Was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in South Asia based in Magadha . Founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BCE, it existed in loose-knit fashion until 185 BCE. The primary sources for the written records of the Mauryan times are the Arthashastra , a work first discovered in the early 20th century, and previously attributed to Kautilya , but now thought to be composed by multiple authors in
5244-530: Was a large, militaristic, and economically powerful empire due to conquering the mahajanapadas . According to several legends, Chanakya travelled to Pataliputra , Magadha , the capital of the Nanda Empire where Chanakya worked for the Nandas as a minister . However, Chanakya was insulted by the King Dhana Nanda when he informed them of Alexander's invasion. Chanakya swore revenge and vowed to destroy
5320-437: Was a notable Greek ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya. His book Indika is a major literary source for information about the Mauryan Empire. According to Arrian , ambassador Megasthenes (c. 350 – c. 290 BCE) lived in Arachosia and travelled to Pataliputra . Megasthenes' description of Mauryan society as freedom-loving gave Seleucus a means to avoid invasion, however, underlying Seleucus' decision
5396-451: Was all started back in 2011 when Sidhartha Gauri and Dr. Satyadeep Neil Gauri, Founders of The Buddhist Forum [1] initiated the project of Topra Asoka Edicts Park along with INTACH [2] , Gram Panchayat, Topra Kalan and other social organizations. Village panchayat has given away 28 acres land for the construction of park, museum and monastery. List of films , Chandrawal , Jagat Jakhar ) Mauryan Empire The Maurya Empire
5472-402: Was helped by the earlier rise of Buddhism and Jainism —creeds that promoted nonviolence, proscribed ostentation, or superfluous sacrifices and rituals, and reduced the costs of economic transactions; by coinage that increased economic accommodation in the region; and by the use of writing, which might have boosted more intricate business dealings. Despite profitable settled agriculture in
5548-650: Was moved from Topra to Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi in 1356 CE by Firuz Shah Tughlaq (1309-1388 CE). The original inscription on the Delhi-Topra Ashokan obelisk is primarily in Brahmi script, but the language was Prakrit , with some Pali and Sanskrit added later. The inscription was successfully translated in 1837 by James Prinsep . This and other ancient lats (pillars, obelisk) have earned Feroz Shah Tughlaq and Delhi Sultanate fame for its architectural patronage. The Sultanate had wanted to break and reuse
5624-614: Was restored by the Raja Hindu Rao after the Revolt of 1857 . The inscription on the 3rd century pillar describe King Devanampiya Piyadasi's policies and appeal to the people and future generations of the kingdom in matters of dharma (just, virtuous life), moral precepts and freedoms. Some extracts of the translation, per James Prinsep , are as follows: Among high roads, I have caused fig trees to be planted that they may be for shade to animals and men... ...And let these and others
5700-556: Was the improbability of success. In later years, Seleucus' successors maintained diplomatic relations with the Empire based on similar accounts from returning travellers. Chandragupta established a strong centralised state with an administration at Pataliputra, which, according to Megasthenes, was "surrounded by a wooden wall pierced by 64 gates and 570 towers". Aelian , although not expressly quoting Megasthenes nor mentioning Pataliputra, described Indian palaces as superior in splendor to Persia 's Susa or Ecbatana . The architecture of
5776-438: Was the prime minister of Magadha) by Vishakhadatta , describe his royal ancestry and even link him with the Nanda family. A kshatriya clan known as the Mauryas are referred to in the earliest Buddhist texts , Mahāparinibbāna Sutta . However, any conclusions are hard to make without further historical evidence. Chandragupta first emerges in Greek accounts as "Sandrokottos". As a young man he is said to have met Alexander. Chanakya
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