This document provides information on the Mauryan Empire from 325-185 BCE, including its founding and major rulers. It discusses Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the empire, and his advisor Chanakya. It then focuses on the reign and accomplishments of Emperor Ashoka, considered one of India's greatest rulers, who expanded the empire and promoted Buddhism. Ashoka used his military to protect the empire while renouncing war, and instituted Dhamma or moral laws through edicts. The empire saw a period of peace, prosperity and trade under a strong centralized administration before its eventual dissolution.

1. Mauryas (325 – 185 BCE)
ASHOKA , The Great
Society, Religion, Art, Architecture
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2. Sources
• Epigraphy, Literature, Foreign Accounts,
Archeological Excavations, Art Evidence,
Numismatic
• James Princep
• He deciphered the edicts
• Dipavamsa & Mahavamsa also refer to Asoka
as ‘Piyadassi’.
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3. • Pillar Edicts (17)
• Rock Edicts (14)
• Topara pillar shifted by Firoz Shah Tughlaq
• Allahabad Pillar shifted from Kaushambi by
Akbar
• Cave Inscriptions ( Barabara Hills donation to
Ajivika sect) Nagarjuna Cave
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4. • Ashoka inscription are written in Kharoshti ( R-
t-L) and Brahmi script ( L to R)
• Other- Jatakas , Diyavadana, and
Ashokavadana
• Dipavamsa & Mahavamsa- detail about spread
of Buddhism in the area
• Arthashastra- Kautaliya / Vishnugupta /
Chanakya
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5. Extent of Mauryan Empire
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6. Chandragupta Maurya (324 -297 BCE)
• Early Life- Mystery & Controversy ; Taxila / Takshashila
• Help- Advisor Chankaya ( Relation)
• Mentioned in Greek accounts as ‘Sandrokottos’
• the founder of the Maurya Empire, successfully seized
control of Magadha. He started on the outskirts and
eventually made his way to the heart of the kingdom.
Eventually, he gained control of northwestern India and
Bactria—what is today Afghanistan and was at that
time controlled by the Greeks. Chandragupta Maurya
successfully unified the Indian subcontinent under an
empire.
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7. Sources
• Mudrarakshasa ( Visakhadatta) talks of royal
link to Nandas
• Mahaparinibbana Sutta ( Buddhist text) refers
to Kshatriya clan of Maurya
• Jain work Parisishtaparvan talk of
Chandragupta’s alliance with Himalyan King
Parvatka / Porus.
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8. Chanakya Quotes
• ‘Learn from the Mistakes of Others—You can’t
live long enough to make them all yourselves’
• ‘A person should not be too honest, straight
trees are cut first and honest people are
screwed first’
• ‘Even if a snake is not poisnous, it should
pretend to be venomous’
• ‘Never share your secrets with anyone, it will
destroy you’
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9. Quote
• There is some self-interest behind every
friendship, there is no friendship without self-
interest. This is bitter truth’
• As soon as the fear approaches near, attack
and destroy it
• The fragrance of flowers spread only in the
direction of the wind. But the goodness of a
person spreads in all direction.
• A man is great by deeds, not by birth
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10. Quote
• Education is the best friend. An Educated
person is respected everywhere. Education
beats the beauty and the youth.
• Books are useful to a stupid person as a mirror
to a blind person
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11. Bindusara (297/8- 272)
• voluntarily giving the throne up to his son.
• Bindusara, who ruled from 297 BCE until his
death in 272 BCE
• This led to a war in which Bindusara’s son,
ASHOKA, defeated his brother and rose to the
throne in 268 BCE, eventually becoming the
most successful and powerful ruler of the
Maurya Dynasty.
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12. Army
• The Mauryan Army, the largest standing
military force of its time, supported the
expansion and defense of the empire.
• According to scholars, the empire wielded
600,000 infantry, or foot soldiers, 30,000
cavalry, or soldiers on horseback, and 9,000
war elephants.
• A vast spy network collected intelligence for
both internal and external security purposes.
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13. • Although Emperor Ashoka renounced
offensive warfare and expansionism after
converting to Buddhism, he maintained this
standing army to protect the empire from
external threats and maintain stability and
peace across Western and Southern Asia.
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14. Ashokan inscriptions
• Found in Northwest Pakistan, East Afghanistan,
West India(Gujarat & Maharshtra), South India
(Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh), Eastern India
(Orissa),
• Prakrit, Brahmi, Kharoshti ; Bilingual translations
in Greek & Aramaic in Kandahar
• Declarations to Sangha & Ajivikas
• Patron of Buddhism, donations to sangha,
redistributing relics of Buddha, 3rd Buddhist
Council at Pataliputra, Mahinda & Sanghamitta
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15. Ashoka (268-232 )
• Ashoka established a capital at the walled city
of Pataliputra, which served as the centralized
hub of the empire. Officials made decisions
about how to collect taxes for the central
treasury, which funded the military and other
government jobs.
• How did Ashoka use the military ?
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16. • Centralized government; single currency; a
network of regional governors and
administrators, and a civil service to provide
justice and security for merchants, farmers,
and traders.
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17. • Through the disciplined central authority of the
Mauryan Empire, farmers were freed of regional
kings’ tax and crop collection burdens. Instead,
they paid through a nationally administered
system of taxation. The system operated under
the principles of the Arthashastra, an ancient
Indian treatise that included advice on how to
collect taxes, administer trade and agricultural
resources, manage diplomacy, and even how to
wage war!
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18. Ashoka (The Great)
• Ashoka also made his laws clear in central
public spaces on rock and pillar edicts, stone
slabs that alerted citizens to the rules that
governed them.
• strict in revenue collection, but it also funded
numerous public works projects to enhance
productivity.
• construction of roads, waterways, canals, rest
houses, hospitals, etc.
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19. Coins
• Coins of the Maurya Empire, third century
BCE. Chandragupta Maurya established a
single currency across India, including these
silver punch mark coins with symbols of wheel
and elephant.
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20. Coins
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21. • political unity and internal peace encouraged the
expansion of trade in India. building of major
roadways, and international network of trade
expanded. India's exports to places like Bactria
and Persia included silk, textiles, and spices.
• Kunala (Divyavadana) did not rule; Samprati;
Brihadratha killed by Pusyamitra (185 CE)
• Dissolution of Maurya and rise of the Gupta
Empire
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22. • The Maurya Empire began to dissolve with Ashoka’s
death.
• Costly salaries for soldiers and government officials
ended up bankrupting the central treasury. In place of
an expansive empire, local rulers began to take charge
of smaller regions, placing themselves strategically
along trade routes. The future leaders of the Gupta
dynasty arose out of these small kingdoms a few
centuries later. They conquered many regions of the
former Maurya Empire and forged alliances with
kingdoms that chose not to fight against them.
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23. Edicts
• Rock Edict 1 (Girnar)- Prohibition of killing of animal
for sacrifice, food; Earlier thousands of animals were
killed for royal kitchen; After Dhamma only 3 are killed
daily ( 2 peacocks & 1 deer)
• RE 2- Animal & Human hospital
• RE 3- Official tour every 4 year to teach moral
• RE 4- Officials to preach compassion&Morality
• RE 5- Mahamatras appointed to establish & preach
• RE VI- Officials ordered to report to him on
administration
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24. • RE VII- Self control & Purity of Mind for All
• RE VIII- In 10th year of anointment to Sambodhi & Visit
to Brahman
• RE IX- Marriage, birth, journey ceremonies should be
discarded; replaced with Dhamma; Proper behaviour
towards servants, Employees, Slave, Servants, Elders;
Respect for Teachers; Generousity towards Ascetic &
Brahmin; Animals should be treated with morality
• RE X- Dhamma is the only act of fame & glory
• RE XI- Distribution of Dhamma ( Servants towards
Employee, respect for parents, generousity to friends,
companions, relations, Brahmans & Ascetic.
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25. • RE XII–Piyadasi honours both ascetic and the
householder; Growth in essentials of all
religion...Restrain in speech, No praising of
own, and condemning others; Criticism should
be done in mild way; Honour other religions; If
you condemn others ‘Let me glorify my own
religion’, it only harms own religion; Listen &
Respect belief of others; King desires that all
should be well learned in others’ religion.
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26. DHAMMA
• RE XIII- Conquest of Kalinga 8 years after his
coronation; 150,000 deported, 100,000 &
many more died, King feels deep remorse and
is inclined towards Dhamma. People should be
forgiven where forgiveness is possible, ; Non-
injury, restraint and impartiality to all, even if
wrong has been done
Conquest by Dhamma is the best conquest,
Fruit & Result in this world and next
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27. DHAMMA
• RE XIV- Dhamma to be written and extended in
areas wherever possible; Some subjects are
spoken again and again because of sweetness
and so that people may act accordingly.
• Kalinga Rock Edicts (2) All men are my children
• 1- Mahamatras of Tusali (Judicial officers) ensure
welfare & happiness of the people
• 2- Mahamatras of Samapa, people beyond
borders should not fear me; Father, children,
Forgive, Dhamma
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28. Minor RE
• Minor RE (3)
• 1- Disciple & zeal 2- Written by scribe Chapala
Elders, partents, teacher, other relatives 3-
Testifies his faith in Buddha, Dhamma, &
Sangha
• 7 Pillar Edicts
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29. 7 Pillar Edicts
• 1- Dhamma was written 26 years after coronation;
Happiness not possible without Dhamma
• 2- What is Dhamma? Little evil, much good, kindness,
truthfullness, purity: People might follow
• 3- People only see good deed; must also also see evil
deeds for happiness in both world
• 4- Dhamma written 26 years after coronation; Welfare,
happiness and benefit of the people
• 5- 26 years after coronation various animals were
declared protected; prisoners given amnesty on 25
occasions
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30. DHAMMA
• 6- Dhamma edicts being started in 26 years after
coronation for welfare & happiness; All religions
are honoured; Best to meet people personally
• 7- past kings also desired people to grow through
Dhamma; Dhamma pillars set and Dhamma
Mahamatras appointed in addition to Rajjukas;
Tree plantation; wells; rest houses, Dhamma
Mahamatras for all religious sects; Dhamma
achieved by regulations (non killing of animals) &
Persuasions
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31. Minor Pillar Edicts
• Minor Pillar Edicts (2)
• 1- Visit to Lumbini 21 years after coronation;
village of Lumbini exempted from Tax and
required to pay only 1/8 the produce
• Whosoever splits Sangha is not be admitted
into Sangha; Monk / Nun who splits to wear
white and reside somewhere else.
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