History of Asia

Mauryan Emperor Bindusara (BC 298 - BC 273)

Chandelas of Jejakabhukti (Bundelkhand)

After the death of Chandragupta, his son Bindusara BC. Magadha became the ruler in 298. This second ruler of the Maurya dynasty has been mentioned by various names by Brahmin and Buddhist texts and Greco-Roman writers.

In the Puranas he has been called by the names of Bindusara, Bhadrasara and Nandasara. Especially after Chandragupta in Vishnu Purana, Bindusara (Tasyapi sons Bindusaro Bhavishyati), Bhadrasara in Brahmanical Purana (Bhavita Bhadrasarastu Panchvinshat Samanripaah ) and in the Vayu Purana the name of Nandasara (Bhavita Nandasarastu Panchavishat Samanripaah) is found.

He is called Bindusara in the Jain text Appendixparvan and the Buddhist text Mahavastu. In another Jain text Rajavalikathe, he is called Simhasen Said.

Athenios among Roman-Greek writers calls him Amitrocetes and Strabo Alitroketes. According to Fleet, Amitroketes and Alitroketes are the Greek version of 'Amitrakhad', whose Sanskrit version is 'Amitraghat ’ or ‘amitrakhad ' (the enemy). The mention of 'Amitranam Hanta' is found in the Aitareya Brahmana and in the Mahabharata this word is used for kings and warriors. It may have been against Bindusara. Amitraghat seems to have been a traditional title, which the rulers occasionally wore.

appendix There is an interesting story related to his birth. According to this, Chanakya was aware of the conspiracies and protection of Chandragupta's life. He was afraid that someone might get Chandragupta killed by poison or poison-girl, so he made him practice poison. For this the ruler was given poison in the food every day. One day, by chance, his mistress Durdhara, who was impending childbirth, sat down to have a meal. He was not aware that there was poison in the food. As soon as she took the food, she died due to the effect of poison. But Chanakya saved the unborn child by cutting the stomach of the queen. It is said that the child had a dot of poison on his head, hence he was named Bindusara-

Vishbinduscha Sankrantasya Balasya Murdhani.

Tatsch gurubhibindusara ityabhidhayisah.

Buddhist texts Vansatthapakasini I also meet. Whatever the truth, his mother's name was Durdhara.

The rise of Magadha:Contribution of Haryanka, Shishunaga and Nanda dynasty

Bindusara's greatest achievement was that he kept the territories conquered by his father completely intact. According to Tibetan lama Taranatha and Jain legend, Chanakya was also the minister of Bindusara.

Chanakya destroyed the kings and feudatories of sixteen kingdoms and made Bindusara the lord of the land from the eastern sea to the western sea. On this basis, many historians are of the view that the Maurya ruler who brought South India under the Maurya Empire was Bindusara, not Chandragupta.

Some historians speculate that Bindusara's title 'Amitraghat' or 'Amitrakhad' (enemy) may have been given only for his successful military campaigns in the south.

Perhaps after the death of Chandragupta some states revolted against the Mauryas. Taranath also mentions the victory over the 'feudal', it seems that Chanakya had successfully suppressed the rebellion of the feudatories.

Divyavadana mentions a similar rebellion in Taxila, the capital of the north-western province of Uttarapatha, which he appointed his well-deserved son Ashoka to suppress. When Ashoka reached Taxila, the residents there requested him that, 'We are neither against Kumar nor King Bindusara, but the evil Amatya insults us-

Na vayam kumarasya virudhaah napi ragyo bindusarasya.

Apitu dushtamatyaah asmaakam paribhavam kunravvanti.

After this Ashok Khas went to the country. Khas was probably the region around Nepal. According to Taranath, the people of Khasya and Nepal revolted and Ashoka won these territories.

It is known from Divyavadana that there was a rebellion in Taxila in the last years of Bindusara. At that time Ashoka was in Ujjain, so he had sent Prince Susim to suppress that rebellion. Thus Bindusara with the help of his sons not only protected the ancestral kingdom, but also expanded it.

There is also evidence that casts doubt on Bindusara's ability as a winner. It was a difficult task for a man of opulence like him to handle the vast empire inherited from his father. The greatest pleasure of his life was in the wine of figs and grapes, which he had ordered from his friend Antiochus, the king of Greece. Therefore it does not seem that Bindusara would have increased his kingdom by winning any conquest.

History of Kushan Dynasty and Kanishka the Great

foreign-align

Bimbisara maintained peace and friendly relations with foreign countries. The relations of the time of Chandragupta with the kings of the Seleucus dynasty and other Greek rulers continued even during the period of this emperor. According to Strabo, Dimachus, the ambassador of the Syrian Emperor Antiochus I, lived in the court of Bindusara. Diodorus also wrote that the ruler of Pataliputra had respect for the Greeks.

According to Pliny, the Egyptian ruler Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-BC 247) appointed an ambassador named Dionysus to the court of the Indian ruler (Bindusara). did.

It is clear from the description of Athenias that he had requested his friend, the Syrian emperor Antiochus, to buy sweet wine, dried figs and a Greek philosopher. It was said in the answer that we will be able to send liquor to you, but according to the Greek law, the philosopher is not sold.

Parmar Dynasty

Religion and Religious Ethics

Bindusara was a ruler of inquisitive nature who respected scholars and philosophers. According to Athenaeus, Bindusarakh wrote to the Syrian ruler Antiochus to send a Greek philosopher, indicating his philosophical interest and reflective tendency.

According to the Mahavans, he had honored sixty thousand brahmins. According to a legend of Divyavadana, Ajivaka used to adorn the assembly of Parivrajaka Bindusara.

Usually the date of death of Bindusara is BC. 272 is determined, but some scholars believe that Bindusara died in BC. happened in 270.

Bindusara ruled for twenty-four years according to the Puranas, but twenty-seven years according to the Mahavans. According to Aryamanjushrimoolakalpa he ruled for twenty years.

If Chandragupta's reign ended in BC. 298 BC and Ashoka When he assumed the kingdom in 273, it is clear that Bindusara ruled for 25 years. Thus the reign of Bindusara BC. from 298 BC Can be considered up to 273.

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