The document provides information on the sources and history of the Mauryan Empire in India. It discusses literary sources like the Indica and Arthashastra, as well as archaeological sources like the Ashokan Edicts found at locations like Shahbazgarhi, Pakistan. It describes some of the major edicts and their messages of dhamma. Additionally, it outlines aspects of Mauryan administration under Chandragupta and Ashoka like the division of the empire into provinces and districts and the taxes, trade, and promotion of Buddhism in the empire.

1. THE MAURYAN
EMPIRE
1

2. Sources
Literary
Indica Arthashastra
Archaeological
Ashokan
Edicts
Sanchi
Stupa
2

3. Sources
Literary
Indica Arthashastra
3

4. • Indica/Indika was written by Megasthenes (Greek
Ambasador to Pataliputra).
• He lived in Pataliputra for 5 years.
• His book described:
 Organisation of army
 Administration of Pataliputra
 Economy
 Customs & Religion of the people.
INDICA/INDIKA
4

5. • Arthashastra was written by Kautilya or Chanakya.
• It has 6000 verses divided into 15 sections.
• It describes:
 Administration
 Duties of the King
 Functions of ministers
 Organisation of civil service
 Information about diplomacy and relations with other
kingdoms.
 It states that an Ideal State should provide relief to poor,
orphans, old and infirm. And during famine opens state
granaries should open their doors to those who are starving.
ARTHASHASTRA
5

6. Sources
Archaeological
Ashokan
Edicts
Sanchi
Stupa6

7. ASHOKAN EDICTS
•An edict means an official order
or proclamation.
•EDICTS VII, XII & XIII.
7

8. 8

9. 9

10. • Erragudi (AP)
• Girnar (Gujarat)
• Sopara (Maharashtra)
• Shahbazgarhi (Pakistan)
ROCK EDICTS
10

11. •King Priyadarsi, Beloved of Gods
wishes that people of all religious
sections should live in harmony in all
parts of his dominions. They should
practice ‘liberality’ and should possess
self-control and purity of thought.
ROCK EDICT VII
@ SHAHBAZGARHI
11

12. •Non Violence
•Truthfulness
•Obedience to parents & elders
•Respect towards teachers.
ROCK EDICT XII
@ SHAHBAZGARHI
12

13. •Beloved of Gods, the King, considers
victory of Dhamma to be the foremosr
victory.
ROCK EDICT XIII
@ SHAHBAZGARHI
13

14. INSCRIPTIONS ON
PILLARS
14

15. • Lumbini Pillar/Rummindei Pillar stated:
‘King the beloved of the Gods, visited
this spot in person & offered worship at
this palace, because the Lord Buddha was
born here.’
(King Ashoka has visited & worshipped this place as
this is the birth place of Lord Buddha.)
INSCRIPTIONS ON PILLARS
15

16. • Lauriya-Nandangarh
• Rampurva Pillar
• Delhi-Topra which stated: it consists of
virtuous deeds, compassion, liberality,
truthfulness and purity.
OTHER PILLAR INSCRIPTIONS
16

17. 17

18. 18
Sanchi Stupa
(Bhopal, MP)

19. • Stupa is a semi-spherical dome made of unburnt
bricks and stones.
• It was built to commemorate a sacred spot or event
Or it had a Spiritual body of Buddha containing his
relics (hairs, articles, teeth, bones etc.)
• Stupa at Sanchi was built in 3rd century BC by
Ashoka at Sanchi (60kms from Bhopal in MP)
• It has 4 gateways in four directions.
• Original stupa had wooden railing which was later
replaced by stone railing.
SANCHI STUPA
19

20. • It had Four gateways from all four sides.
• Sculptures on the gateways or every symbol in the
structure denotes meaning or a story from Buddha’s
life or stories from Jataka tales.
• Buddha was represented in Symbolic forms like Lotus,
Wheel or Throne under a pipal tree.
• It shows highest form of architectural and technical
skills of the people of this period.
SANCHI STUPA
20

21. • The death and destruction caused during the famous
war of Kalinga changed Ashok’s personality.
• He stopped eating meat and gave up life of luxury.
• He declared Buddhism as the religion of the State.
• Prisoners of war were used for agricultural work
which increased production and economic
development.
KALINGA WAR
21

22. 22
Chandragupta’s
Empire
Kabul
Bengal
Mysore
Saurashtra

23. • The system of administration of Mauryans was
elaborate.
• Chandragupta Maurya laid the foundation of
the administration of the Mauryan Empire.
• Bindusara didn’t change the system and
followed the same system.
• Ashoka however made some minor changes in
the system of administration as per his
requirement.
MAURYAN ADMINISTRATION
23

24. •Features of Administration during Ashokas’ rule:
1. King & Council of Ministers
2. Network of Spies (Overseers/Gudhapurushas)
3. Sources of Revenue
4. Provincial Administration
5. District Administration
6. City Administration
7. Administration of Justice (cutting of nose, shaving offender’s hair, penalty to
death)
8. Peace & Good Order (honesty, efficient administration & good eco & trade)
9. Productive Agriculture
10. Lucrative Trade (land & waterways, trade with Myanmar, Sri Lanka, sea
route: Gujarat to Babylon)
MAURYAN ADMINISTRATION
(ASHOKA)
24

25. •State was divided into five Provinces (During
Chandragupta Maurya’s rule State had Four
Provinces, Kalinga was added by Ashoka)
•The five provinces were as follows:
1. Taxila (Northern)
2. Ujjain (Western)
3. Tosali (Eastern)
4. Suvarnagiri (Southern)
5. Kalinga.
PROVINCES DURING
ASHOKAS’ RULE
25

26. 26
Terms Provincial
Administration
District
Administration
City
Administration
Head
Governors-
Provinces
(Taxila, Ujjain, Tosali,
Suvarnagiri)
Rajukas- District Nagraka-
Providing water,
maintaining roads,
public buildings, city
towers etc.
Other Posts
Pradesikas-
Smaller Provinces
Yuktas- District
Treasury Officer
SIX BOARDS
(5 Persons)-
e.g. Trade &
Commerce,
Census of Population
etc.
Mahamatras-
Heads of
Departments
Dhamma
Mahamatras-
promoted Religion
KING

27. Revenue:
• Land revenue from mines & forests
• Revenue from manufactured goods
• Tolls for using bridges and roads
• Fines
• Licence-fees
• Tax would vary from 1/3rd/1/6th of the Produce
Expenditure: construction of roads, bridges, wells,
rest-houses and army.
SOURCES OF REVENUE
27

28. • Good irrigation works such as at Sudarshan lake &
fertile soil, agricultural economy flourished during this
period.
• Tax would vary from 1/3rd/1/6th of the Produce
depending on the irrigation facility provided in that
area.
PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURE
28

29. Principles:
• Purity of Domestic life and truthfulness
• Toleration
• Ahimsa
• True Ceremonial (kindness to living creatures & liberality to
ascetics & Brahmins)
DHAMMA
29

30. • No Royal Hunt
• Religious tolerance
• Donations to Brahmins and ascetics
• Officers reminded people of duties
• Dhamma Mahamatras propagated religion
• Ashokan Edicts: taught people purity of life, religious tolerance, not
to kill animals and be charitable..
• Royal Missionaries were sent to frontiers of empire and to Sri
Lanka, Myanmar, Syria, Egypt and Macedonia.
MEANS FOR
PROPAGATION
30