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Chandragupta Maurya

Chandragupta Maurya was born in a humble family but was raised and taught by Chanakya, who helped him build one of the largest empires on the Indian subcontinent. As the founder of the Maurya Empire, Chandragupta unified most of northern and central India under his rule. His empire extended from Bengal to the Indian subcontinent, except for parts of the south. Under his rule, different religions like Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism thrived. In his later years, Chandragupta decided to fast unto death on the guidance of his spiritual guru, ending his days at Shravanabelagola.

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52 views

Chandragupta Maurya

Chandragupta Maurya was born in a humble family but was raised and taught by Chanakya, who helped him build one of the largest empires on the Indian subcontinent. As the founder of the Maurya Empire, Chandragupta unified most of northern and central India under his rule. His empire extended from Bengal to the Indian subcontinent, except for parts of the south. Under his rule, different religions like Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism thrived. In his later years, Chandragupta decided to fast unto death on the guidance of his spiritual guru, ending his days at Shravanabelagola.

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Revathi
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chandragupta Maurya was the founder of the Maurya Empire in ancient India.

He was born in a humble


family, orphaned and abandoned, raised as a son by another pastoral family, was picked up, taught and
counselled by Chanakya, the author of the Arthashastra. Chandragupta thereafter built one of the
largest empires ever on the Indian subcontinent. His grandson was emperor Ashoka, famous for his
historic pillars and for his role in helping spread Buddhism outside of ancient India. Chandragupta's life
and accomplishments are described in ancient Hindu, Buddhist and Greek texts, but they vary
significantly in details from the Jaina accounts. Megasthenes served as a Greek ambassador in his court
for four years. In Greek and Latin accounts, Chandragupta is known as Sandrokottos, Sandrakottos and
Androcottus.

Chandragupta Maurya was a pivotal figure in the history of India. Prior to his consolidation of power,
Alexander the Great had invaded the northwest Indian subcontinent, then abandoned further
campaigning in 324 BCE, leaving a legacy of Indian subcontinental regions ruled by Indo-Greek and local
rulers.The region was divided into Mahajanapadas, while the Nanda Empire dominated the Indo-
Gangetic Plain.Chandragupta, with the counsel of his Chief Minister Chanakya (the Brahmin also known
as Kautilya),created a new empire, applied the principles of statecraft, built a large army and continued
expanding the boundaries of his empire. Greek rulers such as Seleucus I Nicator avoided war with him,
entered into a marriage alliance instead, and retreated into Persia. Chandragupta's empire extended
from Bengal to most of the Indian subcontinent, except the southernmost regions (now Tamil Nadu,
Kerala and nearby) and Kalinga (now Odisha region).Under Chandragupta Maurya’s rule, the whole of
India and a large part of South Asia was united. Different religions like Buddhism, Jainism, Brahmanism
(ancient Hinduism) and Ajivika thrived under his rule. Since the entire empire had uniformity in its
administration, economy and infrastructure, the subjects enjoyed their privileges and hailed
Chandragupta Maurya as the greatest emperor. This worked in the favor of his administration which
subsequently led to a flourished empire.Around 297 BC, under the guidance of his spiritual guru Saint
Bhadrabahu, Chandragupta Maurya decided to give up his mortal body through Sallekhana. Hence he
started fasting and on one fine day inside a cave at Shravanabelagola, he breathed his last, ending his
days of self-starvation. Today, a small temple sits on the place where once the cave, inside which he
passed away, is believed to have been located.

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