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MAINS
: Sample Notes For Historty Optional
THE AGE OF THE MAURYAS
IMPORTANCE OF MAURYAN EMPIRE IN INDIAN
HISTORY
- The first and also the last empire whose borders
extended from Hindukush in the north-west to
modern Karnataka in the south and from Makran
in the west to modern Bangladesh in the east.
"Chandragupta Maurya had reached those scientific borders of India
for which the Great Mughals yearned and the British sighed for
their life." - Vincent Smith in his "Oxford History
of India"
- Chandragupta Maurya is the first truly
historical emperor of India for the amount of information
that is available for him in Indian and foreign sources alike,
is unmatched by any other that is available for other great ancient
emperors such as Sudas, Bimbisara, Ajatashtru, etc.
- The Mauryan Empire is important also because with their advent
the chronology of Indian history becomes clear.
- There have been many instances of invasion of India by foreigners
and subsequent loss of independence in the long history of India.
But Chandragupta Maurya was the first to defeat a foreign
power and that too a powerful king like Seleucus
and also forced him to cede his territories for Chandragupta Maurya.
- Mauryas were also the first to form diplomatic alliances
or relations with foreign powers. Megasthenes, Deimachus and Dionysius
who were representatives of Selecus, Antiochus I and Philadelphus
Ptolemy I respectively attended the Mauryan Court.
- For the first time an efficient administration
was set up which guided many such future arrangements.
- The tradition of inscriptions, development of arts and
also the spread of Buddhism outside India were some of
the landmarks associated with this period.
SOURCES OF MAURYAN HISTORY
- Arthashastra of Kautilya.
- Puranas - Despite their exaggerated description
and factual errors, they give much information regarding the
overthrow of Nandas, the establishment of Mauryan Empire,
the contribution of Kautilya, the Mauryan dynastic order and
also some chronological details.
- Mudrarakshasa of Vishakhadatta describes
how Chanakya won the diplomatic battle against the Nanda minister
Rakshasa, how Rakshasa was compelled to work
for Chandragupta and also how the Nandas were finally over thrown.
- The Commentary on Vishnu Purana by Ratnagarbha.
- Mudrarakshasa Vyakhya, a commentary on Mudrarakshasa
by Dhundiraj. The account of Dhundiraj is corroborated by:
- Mudrarakshasa Katha by Mahadeva.
- Chanakya Katha by Ravi Nartak (Irwi Chakyar).
- Rashasa Purva Katha and Purvapithika
by Ananta Kavi.
- Katha-Sarit-Sagar by Somadeva is based on
Brihat-Katha of Gunadhya.
- Brihat-Katha-Manjari of Kshemendra.
- Sinhalese Buddhist texts Dipavamsha and Mahavamsha are based
on Ath-Katha and Uttar-Vihar-Ath-Katha.
These texts give information about Ashoka.
- Mahavamsha Tika also known as Vamshattha
Pakasini.
- Mahabodhivamsha (9/10 centuries A.D.) written
by Upatisshya narrates the story of the planting of the Bodhi
tree at Anuradhapur in Ceylon by Mahendra.
- Milinda-Panho written by Nagasena gives a
few facts about the defeat of Nandas and the establishment of
the Mauryan Empire.
- The Mahavamsha of Molglan, also known as
Combodian Mahavamsha gives some information
about Chanakya and Chandragupta.
- Aryamanjushri Mulakalpa, historical account
upto 8th century A.D., gives information regarding Nandas, Chandragupta
Maurya, Chanakya, Bindusara and Ashoka.
- Among the Jain texts, Uttaradhyana Sutra,
Avashyaka Sutra, Das-Vaikalpik-Sutra,
Nishitha Sutra and Brihat-Kalpa-Sutra
are important for Mauryan history.
- The most important Jain text for Mauryan history is Parishista
Parvan, a part of Tri-Shashthi-Shalaka-Purusha-Charita.
- Pataliputra-Nagar-Kalpa, a part of Vividha-Tirth-Kalpa
written by Jinprabha Suri, a courtier of Mohd. Bin Tughlaq.
It details the story of the destruction of the Nandas by Chanakya
and also talks about the later kings.
- Vichar-Shreni written by Melutunga. A very
important text which gives the description of the seers and
kings that followed after Mahavira.
- Brihat-Katha-Kosha, belonging to Digambara
tradition, which is written by Harisena contains a chapter called
Bhadrabahu-Kathanakam. It narrates the southward
journey of Chandragupta Maurya in the event of the terrible
drought which took place in north India during his reign and
says that he alongwith Bhadrabahu led the life
of a Jaina monk and finally starved himself to death in true
Jaina tradition.
- Ramachandra Mumukshu's Punyashrava-Katha-Kosha
which deals with the origin of Mauryas, the alliance of Chandragupta
and Chanakya.
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