Some Important key point on Mauryan Ruler for Competitive Exam

Chandragupta Maurya

• Chandragupta Maurya defeated Dhana Nanda to establish the Mauryan Empire.
• He ruled from 322 to 298 BC.
• Chandragupta Maurya expanded the Maurya Empire north and west as he conquered the Macedonian Satrapies and won the Seleucid-Mauryan war.
• For the first time, North India was united under Chandragupta Maurya.
• Chandragupta Maurya abdicated the throne to his son (Bindusar) and became a Jain Monk.
• He went to Shravanbelgola with Bhadrabahu where he died by Sallekhana.
• A memorial to Chandragupta Maurya exists on Chandragiri Hill in Shravanabelagola, Karnataka.
• Known as Sandrakottos to the Greeks and Androkottus by Aerian.
• William Jones was the 1st scholar who recognized Sandrokottos as Chandragupta Maurya.
• Set up a vast centralized empire (details of whose functioning, society, military, and economy are well preserved in Kautilya's Arthashastra).
• Defeated the invading army of the Eastern part of Alexander's empire Seleucus (305 BCE).​
• Megasthenese was a Greek ambassador who came to the court of Chandragupta Maurya.
• Chandragupta in his later years accepted Jainism.
• Founder of the Maurya Dynasty and is credited with the setting up of the first (nearly) pan-Indian empire.
• Accompanied Bhadrabahu to Karnataka and later died by following the ritual of sallekhana, i.e., fasting till death. 

Bindusara 

• Bindusara was the son of Chandragupta Maurya.
• He ruled from 298 to 273 BC.
• He patronized Ajivikas.
• 2nd Mauryan Emperor of India and he was the son of Chandragupta Maurya.
• Known as Amitrochates to the Greeks. In Jain texts, he was known as Simhasena.
• Antiochus sent Deimachus as an ambassador to Bindusara's court.
• Chanakya also remained the chief advisor of Bindusara.
• Bindusara was an able monarch who was successful in consolidating the empire established by his father.

Ashoka

• Ashoka was the son of Bindusara.He ruled from 268 to 232 BC.
• According to Buddhist traditions, Ashoka usurped the throne after killing his 99 brothers and spared Tissa.
• Ashoka fought the famous Kalinga War in 261 BC
• He was the son of Bindusara and the 3rd king in the dynasty.
• He was known for:
• Renunciation of war after the Kalinga war.
• Development of the concept of Dhamma (pious social conduct, welfare of humanity).
• Promotion of Buddhism. 
• Effective reign of a nearly pan-Indian political entity.
• Under Ashoka, the Mauryan Empire stretched from modern-day Iran through almost the entirety of the Indian subcontinent.
• In his inscriptions, he was called Devanampriya or Devanapiyadasi.​
• Most of the inscriptions were written in Prakrit in Brahmi except only two which were in Kharoshti script.
• In 1837, James Prinsep become the 1st scholar who deciphered Ashoka's inscription.
• Singh, the national emblem of the modern Republic of India, was also taken from Sarnath, the capital of Ashoka.
• Major Rock Edicts of Ashoka: 14 Edicts (termed 1st to 14th) and 2 separate ones found in Odisha; in Prakrit and Greek.
• Major Pillar Edicts of Ashoka: 7 Edicts, inscribed at the end of Ashoka's reign; in Prakrit.
• Some of the existing pillars with capital figures were found at Basarah-Bakhira, Lauriya-Nandangarh, and Rampurva in Bihar, Sankisa, and Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh.
• The Mauryan pillar capital found at Sarnath popularly known as the Lion Capital is the finest example of Mauryan sculptural tradition. 
• Sarnath is the site of Buddha's First Sermon where he shared the Four Noble Truths (the dharma or the law).
• Ashoka adopted Buddhism after observing the brutality of the Kalinga War.
• The Kalinga War was the most famous war fought between the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka the Great and the State of Kalinga.
• Ashoka embraced Buddhism under the influence of a Buddhist monk, Upagupta.
• The Kalinga War was a horrifying event as mentioned in the 13th Rock Edict of Ashoka.
• Ashoka was the son of Bindusara. He was the governor of Taxila and Ujjain during his father's reign.
• Ashoka sat on the throne around 268 B.C. after successfully defeating his brothers.
• Ashoka's mother's name was Subhadrangi. His wife's name was Devi or Vedisa who was a princess of Ujjaini.
• A total of 33 inscriptions by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty have been found which were carved by Ashoka in the pillars, rocks, and walls of the caves during the duration from 249 BCE to 231 BCE.
• The inscriptions of Shahnaz Garhi and Mansehra (Pakistan) are engraved in the script.
• Chakravarti Emperor Ashoka was a very powerful and world-famous emperor.
• Emperor Ashoka was also known as Devanampriya Ashoka Maurya.
• He is known for his efficient administration and the promotion of Buddhism in his empire.
• The Sanchi stupa is, of course, famous. Sanchi is unique in having the most perfect and well-preserved stupas, and Buddhist art and architecture pertaining to a period of about thirteen hundred years, from the third century BC to the twelfth century AD–almost covering the whole range of Buddhism. 
• The foundation of the great religious establishment of Sanchi was probably laid by Ashoka (273–236 BC) when he built a stupa and erected a monolithic pillar here.
• It was enlarged to twice its original size, becoming a hemisphere of about 120 feet in diameter, in the 2nd century BC, under the Sungas.
• Stone pillars depicting the life of Buddha are at Gaya, Sanchi, and Barhut.
• Ashoka was the third ruler of the Mauryan Dynasty and the Son of Bindusara.
• The Mauryan polity reached its greatest extent under his rule.
• His reign lasted from around 268 BCE to 232 BCE.
• Ashoka was among the earliest ruler to speak directly to his people.
• He chose the way of inscriptions for these and hence emerged the different forms of edicts.
• The inscriptions are in the form of 44 royal orders, there were several copies of each such order.
• The edicts were first deciphered by renowned archaeologist James Princep in 1837.
• These are based on the types of material used, and they are four typesMajor Rock Edicts
• Minor Rock Edicts
• Major Pillar Edicts
• Minor Pillar Edicts
• One more category known as Kalinga rock edicts is found only in the Kalinga region and in the south.
• Seven pillar edicts contain similar orders like his rules and principles of protecting the people.
• It also defines Dhamma and says it to be the minimum of sins, many virtues, compassion.
• Two other pillar inscriptions, the Rumendei Pillar inscription is about Ashoka’s visit to Lumbini.
• As the place is associated with Lord Buddha, his birthplace, Ashoka reduced the taxation in that area by half through that inscription.
• Also, according to the Nigalisagar Pillar inscription, located originally at Kapilvastu.
• It says, the height of the stupa of Buddha Konakamana to its double size.
• The Great Stupa at Sanchi was originally built in the 3rd century BCE by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka and is believed to house the ashes of the Buddha.
• Sarnath Pillar was also constructed by Ashoka.
• The famous Great Stupa is located at Sanchi in the Raisen District of Madhya Pradesh.
• It is one of the oldest Buddhist monuments in the country and the largest stupa at the site. 

Brihadratha

• He was the last ruler of the Maurya Empire which ruled from 187 to 180 BCE. 
• Brihadratha was assassinated by his own general, Pushyamitra Sunga, who founded the Sunga Empire.
• Brihadratha was the successor of Shatadhanavan, who ruled between 195 and 187 BC. 

Key Point

• The Maurya dynasty was founded by Chandragupta Maurya and dominated the Indian subcontinent between 322 and 185 BC.
• The Maurya Empire spanned over five million square kilometres, making it the largest political entity existing in the Indian subcontinent.
• The Maurya Empire was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in South Asia based in Magadha.
• Pataliputra was the capital of the Mauryan empire.
• There were five major political centers in the Mauryan empire including the capital Pataliputra and the provincial centers of Taxila, Ujjain, Tosali, and Suvarnagiri.

Brahmi

• Brahmi is the writing system of ancient South Asia.
• Languages in Brahmi script are Sanskrit, Prakrit, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Saka, and Tocharian.
• The origin of the script is still much debated.

Capital

• Vaishali was the capital of Vrijji mahajanapada.
• Indraprastha was the capital of the Pandavas.
• Kushinagar was the capital of the Malla Republic.

Additional Information about Buddhism

Tripitaka is the traditional term for the Buddhist scriptures.

Tripitaka is of three types:

•  Vinay Pitaka rules of monastic discipline for monks.
•  Sutta Pitaka is a collection of Buddha's Sermon.
• Abhidhamma Pitaka is the philosophy of Buddha's teachings.
• Chaitya is a place of worship, while Vihara is the dwelling place of the monks.

Important Points

• Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath (deer park) to his five disciples.
• This is known as Dharmachaka Pravartana (turning of the wheel of law).
• He died at the age of 80 in 483 BC at Kushinagar.
• This is known as Mahaparinirvana.

Buddhist councils 

The first Buddhist Council 

• It was held at Rajagraha under the chairmanship of Mahakasapa immediately after the death of Buddha.
• Its purpose was to maintain the purity of the teachings of the Buddha.

The second Buddhist Council 

• It was convened at Vaisali around 383 B.C.
• It was held during the reign of Kalashoka.

The third Buddhist Council 

• It was held at Pataliputra under the patronage of Asoka.
• Moggaliputta Tissa presided over it.
• The final version of the Tripitakas was completed in this council.

The fourth Buddhist Council 

• It was convened in Kashmir by Kanishka under the chairmanship of Vasumitra.
• Asvagosha participated in this council.
• The new school of Buddhism called Mahayana Buddhism came into existence during this council
• The Buddhism preached by the Buddha and propagated by Ashoka was known as Hinayana.