Mauryan and Post-Mauryan India
~11 min read
- Mauryas (~321-185 BCE): Chandragupta Maurya defeated last Nanda (with Kautilya's help). Vast empire — most of modern India + Afghanistan.
- Ashoka: Greatest Mauryan. Conquered Kalinga (261 BCE) → conversion to Buddhism. Rock and Pillar Edicts across empire.
- Post-Mauryan: Shunga, Kanva, Satavahana (south), Kushana (north). Kanishka — greatest Kushana, patron of 4th Buddhist Council.
The Mauryan Empire was India's first true imperial system. Ashoka's edicts give us our earliest written records. NDA tests Mauryan administration, Ashoka's policies, and the post-Mauryan kingdoms.
Chandragupta Maurya
- Defeated last Nanda king Dhana Nanda (~321 BCE) with the help of Chanakya/Kautilya.
- Empire: Magadha base → conquered most of N India. Defeated Seleucus Nicator (Alexander's general) in 305 BCE; gained Afghanistan, parts of Balochistan in exchange for 500 war elephants. Megasthenes was Seleucus's envoy to his court.
- Capital: Pataliputra (described in detail in Megasthenes' Indica).
- Administration: Centralised. Mauryan officials called Mantrins. Spies (especially female spies — Vishakanyas) played key role.
- Abdication (~298 BCE): Converted to Jainism. Died (by fasting, sallekhana) at Shravanabelagola in Karnataka. Succeeded by son Bindusara.
Ashoka the Great
- Reign: ~268-232 BCE. Grandson of Chandragupta.
- Kalinga War (261 BCE): 8th regnal year. Most decisive event of his life — he saw the bloodshed and converted to Buddhism. Renounced further wars.
- Edicts: Rock Edicts (14 major, several minor), Pillar Edicts (7), Cave Edicts. Most in Prakrit/Brahmi script, some in Greek and Aramaic (Kandahar). His name 'Ashoka' appears in only some — Devanampiya Piyadasi is the title in most.
- Dhamma (not Buddhism only): A moral code — non-violence, tolerance, respect for elders/teachers/Brahmins/Shramanas, social welfare. Not equivalent to monastic Buddhism.
- Dhamma Mahamattas: Officials to spread dhamma; senior to other officials.
- Third Buddhist Council (250 BCE) at Pataliputra under Ashoka. Missions to Sri Lanka (Mahinda/Sanghamitra), Burma, Central Asia, Greek world.
- Sarnath Pillar Capital: Adopted as India's national emblem.
Mauryan Administration
- Kautilya's Arthashastra: The handbook of Mauryan statecraft. Covers economy, espionage, foreign policy, military, taxation.
- Centralisation: Emperor at apex. Council of ministers (Mantriparishad). Provinces ruled by viceroys (often royal princes).
- Provinces: 4 main — Uttarapatha (NW, capital Taxila), Avantirashtra (Avanti, capital Ujjain), Dakshinapatha (south, capital Suvarnagiri), Prachya (east, capital Tosali, after Kalinga annexation).
- Districts: Headed by Rajukas. Villages by Gramini.
- Espionage: Extensive network of spies (Sanstha and Sanchara) — described in detail in Arthashastra.
- Megasthenes identified 7 social classes in his Indica: philosophers, farmers, soldiers, herdsmen, artisans, magistrates, councillors.
- Currency: Punch-marked silver and copper coins (Karshapana).
Post-Mauryan Kingdoms
Mauryan empire declined after Ashoka. Last Maurya, Brihadratha, killed by his commander Pushyamitra Shunga in ~185 BCE.
| Dynasty | Period | Key facts |
|---|---|---|
| Shunga | 185-73 BCE | Pushyamitra (founder). Patron of Brahminism. Bharhut stupa. |
| Kanva | 73-28 BCE | Succeeded Shunga briefly |
| Satavahana | ~230 BCE-220 CE | Deccan dynasty. Gautamiputra Satakarni — greatest king. Capital Pratishthana |
| Indo-Greek | ~180 BCE-10 CE | Menander/Milinda — converted to Buddhism (Milindapanho text) |
| Saka (Scythian) | ~1st century BCE-4th century CE | Rudradaman I — Junagadh inscription (earliest Sanskrit inscription); restored Sudarshana Lake |
| Kushana | ~30-375 CE | Kanishka — greatest king. 4th Buddhist Council. Patron of Mahayana |
NDA PYQ Examples
Q: The Mauryan Empire was founded by:
(a) Bindusara (b) Ashoka (c) Chandragupta Maurya (d) Pushyamitra
Answer: (c) Chandragupta Maurya — defeated last Nanda king.
Q: The Kalinga War took place in:
(a) 326 BCE (b) 305 BCE (c) 261 BCE (d) 232 BCE
Answer: (c) 261 BCE.
Q: Kautilya's Arthashastra is on:
(a) Religion (b) Statecraft and political economy (c) Mathematics (d) Drama
Answer: (b) Statecraft and political economy.
Q: Ashoka's edicts are primarily written in which script?
(a) Sanskrit (b) Brahmi (with Prakrit language) (c) Kharoshti only (d) Greek
Answer: (b) Brahmi (Prakrit). Some NW edicts in Kharoshti; Kandahar edicts in Greek and Aramaic.
Q: The Junagadh inscription is associated with:
(a) Ashoka (b) Kanishka (c) Rudradaman I (d) Samudragupta
Answer: (c) Rudradaman I — restored Sudarshana Lake; earliest Sanskrit inscription.
Drill Mauryan and Post-Mauryan India for NDA
NDA-pattern items on Mauryan and Post-Mauryan India with answer keys and explanations.
Start Free Mock TestFrequently Asked Questions
Why did Ashoka convert to Buddhism?
After witnessing the bloodshed of the Kalinga War in 261 BCE — Rock Edict 13 records his remorse over 100,000 deaths and 150,000 deportations. He embraced Buddhism and replaced military conquest (digvijaya) with moral conquest (dhammavijaya).
Who was Megasthenes?
Greek ambassador sent by Seleucus Nicator to Chandragupta Maurya's court (~302 BCE). Stayed at Pataliputra for several years. Wrote Indica, which survives only in fragments quoted by later writers. Major source for Mauryan administration and society.
What is Ashoka's Dhamma?
A moral and ethical code — not equivalent to monastic Buddhism. Emphasised non-violence (ahimsa), tolerance among religions, respect for elders/teachers/Brahmins/Shramanas, welfare measures. Designed to be a unifying social ethic for a diverse empire.
Who was Kanishka?
Greatest Kushana king (~127-150 CE). Empire from Central Asia to Mathura. Patron of Mahayana Buddhism. Convened 4th Buddhist Council in Kashmir (Kundalavana). Patron of Gandhara art. His era starts the Saka Era (78 CE).
What is the Saka Era?
An Indian calendar starting from 78 CE — the year considered Kanishka's accession. Used as India's official civil calendar since 1957 (alongside the Gregorian).