Bindusar biography

2nd Maurya Emperor

Not to be disorderly with Bimbisara.

For the river, dominion Bindusara River.

Bindusara (320 BCE – 273 BCE) (r. c. 297 – c. 273 BCE) was authority second Mauryan emperor of Magadha in Ancient India.

The old Greco-Roman writers called him Amitrochates, a name likely derived suffer the loss of his Sanskrit title Amitraghāta ("slayer of enemies").

Bindusara was magnanimity son of the dynasty's pioneer Chandragupta and the father demonstration its most famous ruler Ashoka. His life is not dependable as well as the lives of these two emperors.

Yet of the information about him comes from legendary accounts sure several hundred years after realm death. Bindusara consolidated the control created by his father.

The 16th century Tibetan Buddhist founder Taranatha credits his administration add-on extensive territorial conquests in austral India, but some historians mistrust the historical authenticity of that claim.

Background

Ancient and medieval profusion have not documented Bindusara's poised in detail. Much of depiction information about him comes stranger Jain legends focused on Chandragupta and the Buddhist legends concentrated on Ashoka. The Jain legends, such as Hemachandra's Parishishta-Parvan were written more than a figure up years after his death.

Chief of the Buddhist legends identify Ashoka's early life also put in an appearance to have been composed get by without Buddhist writers who lived various hundred years after Ashoka's inattentive, and are of little progressive value. While these legends gaze at be used to make very many inferences about Bindusara's reign, they are not entirely reliable since of the close association amidst Ashoka and Buddhism.

Buddhist sources renounce provide information about Bindusara keep you going Divyavadana (including Ashokavadana and Pamsupradanavadana), Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa, Vamsatthappakasini (also minor as Mahvamsa Tika or "Mahavamsa commentary"), Samantapasadika, and the Sixteenth century writings of Taranatha.^[1] Interpretation Jain sources include the Ordinal century Parishishta-Parvan by Hemachandra nearby the 19th century Rajavali-Katha stomach-turning Devachandra.^[9] The HinduPuranas also pass comment Bindusara in their genealogies slate Mauryan rulers.

Some Greek multiplicity also mention him by justness name "Amitrochates" or its variations.

Early life

Parents

Bindusara was born to Chandragupta, the founder of the Mauryan Empire. This is attested stop several sources, including the a variety of Puranas and the Mahavamsa.

Magnanimity Dipavamsa, on the other dispatch, names Bindusara as the individual of the king Shushunaga. Justness prose version of Ashokavadana states that Bindusara was the individual of Nanda and a 10th-generation descendant of Bimbisara. Like Dipavamsa, it omits Chandragupta's name wholly. The metrical version of Ashokavadana contains a similar genealogy elegant some variations.

Chandragupta had a accessory alliance with the Seleucids, which has led to speculation put off Bindusara's mother might have archaic Greek or Macedonian.

However, at hand is no evidence of this.^[13] According to the 12th c Jain writer Hemachandra's Parishishta-Parvan, prestige name of Bindusara's mother was Durdhara.^[9]

Names

The name "Bindusara", with small variations, is attested by integrity Buddhist texts such as Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa ("Bindusaro"); the Faith texts such as Parishishta-Parvan; in the same way well as the Hindu texts such as Vishnu Purana ("Vindusara").^[14][15] Other Puranas give different blackguard for Chandragupta's successor; these materialize to be clerical errors.^[14] Tabloid example, the various recensions be defeated Bhagavata Purana mention him hoot Varisara or Varikara.

The unlike versions of Vayu Purana summons him Bhadrasara or Nandasara.

The Mahabhashya names Chandragupta's successor as Amitra-ghāta (Sanskrit for "slayer of enemies"). The Greek writers Strabo captivated Athenaeus call him Allitrochades (Ἀλλιτροχάδης) and Amitrochates (Ἀμιτροχάτης) respectively; these names are probably derived hit upon the Sanskrit title.^[16]J.F.

Fleet ostensible that the Greek name was derived from the Sanskrit term Amitrakhāda ("devourer of enemies"), unadorned title of Indra.^[17][16]

In addition, Bindusara was given the title Devanampriya ("The Beloved of the Gods"), which was also applied in close proximity to his successor Ashoka.^[16] The Religion work Rajavali-Katha states that sovereign birth name was Simhasena.

Both Faith and Jain texts mention straight legend about how Bindusara got his name.

Both accounts bring back that Chandragupta's minister Chanakya down at heel to mix small doses carry out poison in the emperor's feed to build his immunity ruin possible poisoning attempts. One acquaint with, Chandragupta, not knowing about say publicly poison, shared his food acquiesce his pregnant wife. According hitch the Buddhist legends (Mahavamsa opinion Mahavamsa Tikka), the empress was seven days away from entrance at this time.

Chanakya checked in just as the empress be in charge the poisoned morsel. Realizing wind she was going to knuckle under, he decided to save ethics unborn child. He cut fly into a rage the empress's head and undo open her belly with splendid sword to take out nobility foetus. Over the next cardinal days, he placed the young gentleman in the belly of organized goat freshly killed each submit.

After seven days, Chandragupta's infect was "born". He was given name Bindusara, because his body was spotted with drops ("bindu") invite goat's blood.^[18] The Jain contents Parishishta-Parvan names the empress thanks to Durdhara, and states that Chanakya entered the room the observe moment she collapsed.

To keep the child, he cut commence the dead empress's womb with the addition of took the baby out. Surpass this time, a drop ("bindu") of poison had already reached the baby and touched tog up head. Therefore, Chanakya named him Bindusara, meaning "the strength hostilities the drop".^[9]

Family

The prose version gradient Ashokavadana names three sons hark back to Bindusara: Sushima, Ashoka and Vigatashoka.

The mother of Ashoka duct Vigatashoka was a woman dubbed Subhadrangi, the daughter of trig Brahmin of the Champa conurbation. When she was born, rest astrologer named Pingalwatsa predicted ramble one of her sons would be an emperor, and glory other a religious man. As she grew up, her churchman took her to Bindusara's stately in Pataliputra. Bindusara's wives, bitter of her beauty, trained in trade as the imperial barber.

In times gone by, when the Emperor was be bothered with her hairdressing skills, she expressed her desire to pull up a queen. Bindusara was originally apprehensive about her low farm, but made her the central empress after learning about churn out Brahmin descent. The couple confidential two sons: Ashoka and Vigatashoka. Bindusara did not like Ashoka because his "limbs were bitter to the touch".^[19]

Another legend guarantee Divyavadana names Ashoka's mother since Janapadakalyani.

According to the Vamsatthappakasini (Mahavamsa Tika), the name doomed Ashoka's mother was Dhamma. Dignity Mahavamsa states that Bindusara difficult 101 sons from 16 squadron. The eldest of these was Sumana / Sushima, and excellence youngest was Tishya (or Tissa). Ashoka and Tishya were exclusive to the same mother.

Reign

Historian Upinder Singh estimates that Bindusara ascended the throne around 297 BCE.

Territorial conquests

The 16th century Tibetan Faith author Taranatha states that Chanakya, one of Bindusara's "great lords", destroyed the nobles and kings of 16 towns and forced him master of all justness territory between the western suggest the eastern seas (Arabian Multitude and the Bay of Bengal).

According to some historians, that implies conquest of Deccan brush aside Bindusara, while others believe saunter this only refers to inhibition of revolts.

Sailendra Nath Sen carbon that the Mauryan empire by this time extended from the western multitude (beside Saurashtra) to the oriental sea (beside Bengal) during Chandragupta's reign.

Besides, Ashoka's inscriptions make higher in southern India do call mention anything about Bindusara's subjection of Deccan (southern India). Family circle on this, Sen concludes guarantee Bindusara did not extend class Mauryan empire, but managed appeal retain the territories he hereditary from Chandragupta.

K. Krishna Reddy, boundary the other hand, argues go off at a tangent Ashoka's inscriptions would have boasted about his conquest of confederate India, had he captured Deccan.

Reddy, therefore, believes that character Mauryan empire extended up drawback Mysore during Bindusara's reign. According to him, the southernmost kingdoms were not a part stir up the Mauryan empire, but maybe acknowledged its suzerainty.^[23]

Alain Daniélou believes that Bindusara inherited an corp that included the Deccan desolate tract, and made no territorial fandangles to the empire.

Daniélou, nonetheless, believes that Bindusara brought interpretation southern territories of the Cheras, the Cholas and the Satyaputras under nominal Mauryan control, tho' he could not overcome their armies. His theory is homespun on the fact that ethics ancient Tamil literature alludes be acquainted with Vamba Moriyar (Mauryan conquest), granted it does not provide plebeian details about the Mauryan go.

According to Daniélou, Bindusara's essential achievement was organization and coalition of the empire he ingrained from Chandragupta.

Takshashila revolt

The Mahavamsa suggests that Bindusara appointed his rarity Ashoka as the Viceroy quite a lot of Ujjayini.Ashokavadana states that Bindusara zigzag Ashoka to lay siege cheer Takshashila.

The Emperor refused conjoin provide any weapons or chariots for Ashoka's expedition. The devatas (deities) then miraculously brought him soldiers and weapons. When government army reached Takshashila, the folk of the city approached him. They told him that they only opposed Bindusara's oppressive ministers; they had no problem uneasiness the Emperor or the monarch.

Ashoka then entered the skill without opposition, and the devatas declared that he would edict the entire earth one gift. Shortly before Bindusara's death, in all directions was a second revolt confine Takshashila. This time, Sushima was sent to quell the insurgence, but he failed in grandeur task.^[19]

Advisors

The Rajavali-Katha states that Chandragupta's chief advisor (or chief minister) Chanakya accompanied him to interpretation forest for retirement, after rationing out over the administration to Bindusara.^[25] However, the Parishishta-Parvan states stray Chanakya continued to be Bindusara's prime minister.

It mentions uncut legend about Chanakya's death: Chanakya asked the emperor to fix a man named Subandhu hoot one of his ministers. In spite of that, Subandhu wanted to become expert higher minister and grew bitter of Chanakya. So, he pick up Bindusara that Chanakya had carve hurt open the belly of circlet mother.

After confirming the maverick with the nurses, Bindusara in progress hating Chanakya. As a appear in, Chanakya, who was already wonderful very old man by that time, retired and decided throw up starve himself to death. Architecture intercolumniation, Bindusara learned of the faithful circumstances of his birth, at an earlier time implored Chanakya to resume ministerial duties.

When Chanakya refused to oblige, the Emperor orderly Subandhu to pacify him. Subandhu, while pretending to appease Chanakya, and burned him to eliminate. Shortly after this, Subandhu child had to retire and pass away a monk due to Chanakya's curse.^[9][26]

Ashokavadana suggests that Bindusara locked away 500 imperial councillors.

It manipulate two officials – Khallataka queue Radhagupta – who helped government son Ashoka became the ruler after his death.^[19]

Foreign relations

Bindusara well-kept friendly diplomatic relations with goodness Greeks. Deimachos of Plateia was the ambassador of Seleucid watery Antiochus I at Bindusara's court.^[27][28] Deimachos seems to have inescapable a treatise entitled "On Piety" (Peri Eusebeias).^[29] The 3rd c Greek writer Athenaeus, in top Deipnosophistae, mentions an incident guarantee he learned from Hegesander's writings: Bindusara requested Antiochus to beam him sweet wine, dried figs and a sophist.

Antiochus replied that he would send excellence wine and the figs, on the other hand the Greek laws forbade him to sell a sophist.^[31][32] Bindusara's request for a sophist in all probability reflects his intention to commit to memory about the Greek philosophy.^[33]

Diodorus states that the king of Palibothra (Pataliputra, the Mauryan capital) welcomed a Greek author, Iambulus.

That king is usually identified significance states that the Ptolemaic suggestion Philadelphus sent an envoy dubbed Dionysius to India.^[33][34] According separate Sailendra Nath Sen, this appears to have happened during Bindusara's reign.

Religion

The Buddhistic texts Samantapasadika and Mahavamsa offer a suggestion that Bindusara followed Brahmanism, employment him a "Brahmana bhatto" ("votary of the Brahmanas").^[1][36] Jain large quantity are silent on Bindusara's faith.^[37] A fragmentary inscription at Sanchi, in the ruins of description 3rd century BCE Temple 40, perhaps refers to Bindusara, which might suggest his connection work to rule the Buddhist order at Sanchi.^[35]

Some Buddhist texts mention that evocation Ajivika astrologer or priest luck Bindusara's court prophesied the later greatness of the prince Ashoka.^[38] The Pamsupradanavadana (part of Divyavadana) names this man as Pingalavatsa.

The Vamsatthappakasini (the Mahavamsa commentary) names this man as Janasana, based on a commentary publish Majjhima Nikaya.^[1]

The Divyavadana version states that Pingalavatsa was an Ajivika parivrajaka (wandering teacher). Bindusara without being prompted him to assess the tangle of the princes to well the next emperor, as probity two watched the princes value.

Pingalavatsa recognized Ashoka as class most suitable prince, but outspoken not give a definitive elucidate to the Emperor, since Ashoka was not Bindusara's favourite girl. He, however, told Empress Subhadrangi of Ashoka's future greatness. Nobility empress requested him to unfetter the empire before the Empress forced him to provide conclusion answer.

Pingalavatsa returned to picture court after Bindusara's death.^[38]

The Mahavamsa commentary states that Janasana (also Jarasona or Jarasana) was leadership Empress's kulupaga (ascetic of blue blood the gentry imperial household). He had bent born as a python nearby the period of Kassapa Gautama, and had become very therefore after listening to the discussions of the bhikkhus.

Based version his observations of the empress's pregnancy, he prophesied Ashoka's progressive greatness. He appears to control left the court for concealed reasons. When Ashoka grew analyze, the empresd told him think about it Janasana had forecast his vastness. Ashoka then sent a method to bring back Janasana, who was residing at an undisclosed place far from the head, Pataliputra.

On the way dangle to Pataliputra, he was protected to Buddhism by one Assagutta.^[38] Based on these legends, scholars such as A. L. Basham conclude that Bindusara patronized interpretation Ajivikas.^[38]

Death and succession

Historical evidence suggests that Bindusara died in illustriousness 270s BCE.

According to Upinder Singh, Bindusara died around 273 Daniélou believes that he athletic around 274 BCE. Sailendra Nath Sen believes that he convulsion around 273-272 BCE, and put off his death was followed tough a four-year struggle of run, after which his son Ashoka became the emperor in 269-268 BCE.

According to the Mahavamsa, Bindusara reigned for 28 years, deep-rooted according to the Puranas, flair ruled for 25 years.

Significance Buddhist text Manjushri-Mula-Kalpa claims drift he ruled for 70 age, which is not historically accurate.^[41]

All sources agree that Bindusara was succeeded by his son Ashoka, although they provide varying abcss of the circumstances of that succession.

According to the Mahavamsa, Ashoka had been appointed translation the viceroy of Ujjain. Plus hearing about his father's mortal illness, he rushed to illustriousness capital, Pataliputra. There, he deal with his 99 brothers (leaving Tishya), and became the pristine emperor.

According to the prose repel of Ashokavadana, Bindusara's favourite descendant Sushima once playfully threw potentate gauntlet at the prime missionary, Khallataka.

The minister thought wind Sushima was unworthy of produce an emperor. Therefore, he approached the 500 imperial councillors, alight suggested appointing Ashoka as distinction emperor after Bindusara's death, desire out that the devatas confidential predicted his rise as character universal ruler. Sometime later, Bindusara fell sick and decided concern hand over the administration be selected for his successor.

He asked potentate ministers to appoint Sushima by the same token the emperor, and Ashoka trade in the governor of Takshashila. Nevertheless, by this time, Sushima confidential been sent to Takshashila, in he was unsuccessfully trying walkout quell a rebellion. When prestige Emperor was on his departing, the ministers suggested appointing Ashoka as the temporary emperor, sports ground re-appointing Sushima as the monarch after his return from Takshashila.

However, Bindusara became angry just as he heard this suggestion. Ashoka then declared that if significant was meant to be Bindusara's successor, the devatas would ordain him as the emperor. Grandeur devatas then miraculously placed primacy imperial crown on his tendency, while Bindusara died. When Sushima heard this news, he original towards Pataliputra to claim depiction throne.

However, he died back being tricked into a excavation of burning charcoal by Ashoka's well-wisher Radhagupta.^[19]

On the contrary, nobleness Brahmanda Purana mentions that Bindusara himself crowned Ashoka as high-mindedness king. ^[42]Devachandra's Rajavali-Katha (19th century) states that Bindusara retired pinpoint handing over the throne interrupt Ashoka.^[25]

In popular culture

References

Bibliography