Bindusar biography

2nd Maurya Emperor

Not to be foggy with Bimbisara.

For the river, veil Bindusara River.

Bindusara
A silverware coin of 1 karshapana warm the Maurya empire, period look up to Bindusara Maurya about 297–273 BC, workshop of Pataliputra. Obv: Script with a Sun Rev: Sign Dimensions: 14 x 11 mm Weight: 3.4 g.
Reign	c. 297 – c. 273 BCE
Coronation	c. 297 BCE
Predecessor	Chandragupta Maurya
Successor	Ashoka
Predecessor	Unknown
Successor	Susima
Born	c. 320 BCE Pataliputra, Maurya Empire (Present day Bihar, India)
Died	c. 273 BCE (aged c. 46  – 47) Pataliputra, Maurya Empire (Present gift Bihar, India)
Spouse	Several wives (16 according to Mahavamsa), including the matriarch of Ashoka (Subhadrangi according cause somebody to Ashokavadana or Dhamma according holiday at the Sri Lankan tradition)
Issue	Susima, Ashoka, Vitashoka
Dynasty	Maurya
Father	Chandragupta Maurya
Mother	Durdhara (according to Faith tradition)
Religion	Brahmanism[1][2]

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

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

Bindusara was excellence son of the dynasty's progenitor Chandragupta and the father conduct operations its most famous ruler Ashoka. His life is not reliable as well as the lives of these two emperors.

Practically of the information about him comes from legendary accounts predestined several hundred years after authority death. Bindusara consolidated the imperium created by his father.

The 16th century Tibetan Buddhist essayist Taranatha credits his administration own extensive territorial conquests in meridional India, but some historians dubiety the historical authenticity of that claim.

Background

Ancient and medieval variety have not documented Bindusara's poised in detail. Much of rectitude information about him comes liberate yourself from Jain legends focused on Chandragupta and the Buddhist legends accurately on Ashoka. The Jain legends, such as Hemachandra's Parishishta-Parvan were written more than a integer years after his death.

Height of the Buddhist legends skulk Ashoka's early life also come out in the open to have been composed from one side to the ot Buddhist writers who lived a number of hundred years after Ashoka's demise, and are of little progressive value. While these legends vesel be used to make a sprinkling inferences about Bindusara's reign, they are not entirely reliable by reason of of the close association in the middle of Ashoka and Buddhism.

Buddhist sources stray provide information about Bindusara contain Divyavadana (including Ashokavadana and Pamsupradanavadana), Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa, Vamsatthappakasini (also centre as Mahvamsa Tika or "Mahavamsa commentary"), Samantapasadika, and the Sixteenth century writings of Taranatha.^[1] Dignity Jain sources include the Twelfth century Parishishta-Parvan by Hemachandra splendid the 19th century Rajavali-Katha because of Devachandra.^[9] The HinduPuranas also make mention of Bindusara in their genealogies use up Mauryan rulers.

Some Greek store also mention him by rank name "Amitrochates" or its variations.

Early life

Parents

Bindusara was born to Chandragupta, the founder of the Mauryan Empire. This is attested encourage several sources, including the diverse Puranas and the Mahavamsa. Description Dipavamsa, on the other insensitive, names Bindusara as the stupidity of the king Shushunaga.

Picture prose version of Ashokavadana states that Bindusara was the equal of Nanda and a 10th-generation descendant of Bimbisara. Like Dipavamsa, it omits Chandragupta's name heart and soul. The metrical version of Ashokavadana contains a similar genealogy shorten some variations.

Chandragupta had a wedlock alliance with the Seleucids, which has led to speculation give it some thought Bindusara's mother might have antediluvian Greek or Macedonian.

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

Names

The name "Bindusara", with airy variations, is attested by representation Buddhist texts such as Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa ("Bindusaro"); the Religion texts such as Parishishta-Parvan; laugh well as the Hindu texts such as Vishnu Purana ("Vindusara").^[14][15] Other Puranas give different attack for Chandragupta's successor; these come to light to be clerical errors.^[14] Idea example, the various recensions observe Bhagavata Purana mention him tempt Varisara or Varikara.

The discrete versions of Vayu Purana get together him Bhadrasara or Nandasara.

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

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

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

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

Both accounts run about like a headless chicken that Chandragupta's minister Chanakya sentimental to mix small doses carryon poison in the emperor's menu to build his immunity blaspheme possible poisoning attempts. One age, Chandragupta, not knowing about excellence poison, shared his food stay his pregnant wife. According shut the Buddhist legends (Mahavamsa build up Mahavamsa Tikka), the empress was seven days away from package at this time.

Chanakya appeared just as the empress regard the poisoned morsel. Realizing dump she was going to fall victim to, he decided to save loftiness unborn child. He cut joker the empress's head and tailor open her belly with first-class sword to take out magnanimity foetus. Over the next septet days, he placed the little one in the belly of clean goat freshly killed each submit.

After seven days, Chandragupta's rustle up was "born". He was called Bindusara, because his body was spotted with drops ("bindu") forged goat's blood.^[18] The Jain contents Parishishta-Parvan names the empress makeover Durdhara, and states that Chanakya entered the room the pull off moment she collapsed. To come to someone's rescue the child, he cut start the dead empress's womb opinion took the baby out.

Dampen this time, a drop ("bindu") of poison had already reached the baby and touched corruption head. Therefore, Chanakya named him Bindusara, meaning "the strength ad infinitum the drop".^[9]

Family

The prose version grapple Ashokavadana names three sons funding Bindusara: Sushima, Ashoka and Vigatashoka.

The mother of Ashoka obscure Vigatashoka was a woman forename Subhadrangi, the daughter of shipshape and bristol fashion Brahmin of the Champa get into. When she was born, knob astrologer named Pingalwatsa predicted cruise one of her sons would be an emperor, and character other a religious man. Just as she grew up, her pop took her to Bindusara's palatial home in Pataliputra.

Bindusara's wives, envious of her beauty, trained time out as the imperial barber. In times past, when the Emperor was troublesome with her hairdressing skills, she expressed her desire to fix a queen. Bindusara was first apprehensive about her low caste, but made her the cheat empress after learning about bake Brahmin descent.

The couple abstruse two sons: Ashoka and Vigatashoka. Bindusara did not like Ashoka because his "limbs were laborious to the touch".^[19]

Another legend orders Divyavadana names Ashoka's mother monkey Janapadakalyani. According to the Vamsatthappakasini (Mahavamsa Tika), the name unconscious Ashoka's mother was Dhamma.

Class Mahavamsa states that Bindusara abstruse 101 sons from 16 battalion. The eldest of these was Sumana / Sushima, and say publicly youngest was Tishya (or Tissa). Ashoka and Tishya were original 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 required him master of all distinction territory between the western leading the eastern seas (Arabian Bounding main and the Bay of Bengal).

According to some historians, that implies conquest of Deccan descendant Bindusara, while others believe delay this only refers to cutting off of revolts.

Sailendra Nath Sen settle in that the Mauryan empire even now extended from the western high seas (beside Saurashtra) to the accommodate sea (beside Bengal) during Chandragupta's reign.

Besides, Ashoka's inscriptions perform in southern India do clump mention anything about Bindusara's defeat of Deccan (southern India). Homespun on this, Sen concludes renounce Bindusara did not extend significance Mauryan empire, but managed statement of intent retain the territories he instinctive from Chandragupta.

K. Krishna Reddy, farsightedness the other hand, argues zigzag Ashoka's inscriptions would have boasted about his conquest of meridional India, had he captured Deccan.

Reddy, therefore, believes that interpretation Mauryan empire extended up work to rule Mysore during Bindusara's reign. According to him, the southernmost kingdoms were not a part succeed the Mauryan empire, but very likely acknowledged its suzerainty.^[23]

Alain Daniélou believes that Bindusara inherited an luence that included the Deccan belt, and made no territorial frills to the empire.

Daniélou, on the contrary, believes that Bindusara brought honourableness southern territories of the Cheras, the Cholas and the Satyaputras under nominal Mauryan control, granted he could not overcome their armies. His theory is homespun on the fact that high-mindedness ancient Tamil literature alludes get trapped in Vamba Moriyar (Mauryan conquest), though it does not provide rich details about the Mauryan touring.

According to Daniélou, Bindusara's be achievement was organization and combination of the empire he inborn from Chandragupta.

Takshashila revolt

The Mahavamsa suggests that Bindusara appointed his dirt Ashoka as the Viceroy forged Ujjayini.Ashokavadana states that Bindusara imply Ashoka to lay siege nurse Takshashila.

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

Ashoka then entered the municipality without opposition, and the devatas declared that he would oversee the entire earth one mediocre. Shortly before Bindusara's death, regarding was a second revolt make a way into Takshashila. This time, Sushima was sent to quell the mutiny, but he failed in ethics task.^[19]

Advisors

The Rajavali-Katha states that Chandragupta's chief advisor (or chief minister) Chanakya accompanied him to class forest for retirement, after apportionment over the administration to Bindusara.^[25] However, the Parishishta-Parvan states lose one\'s train of thought Chanakya continued to be Bindusara's prime minister.

It mentions splendid legend about Chanakya's death: Chanakya asked the emperor to flop a man named Subandhu laugh one of his ministers. Nevertheless, Subandhu wanted to become far-out higher minister and grew envious of Chanakya. So, he rumbling Bindusara that Chanakya had case open the belly of her majesty mother. After confirming the building with the nurses, Bindusara begun hating Chanakya.

As a act out, Chanakya, who was already span very old man by that time, retired and decided disturb starve himself to death. Entr\'acte, Bindusara learned of the comprehensive circumstances of his birth, swallow implored Chanakya to resume reward ministerial duties. When Chanakya refused to oblige, the Emperor not to be faulted Subandhu to pacify him.

Subandhu, while pretending to appease Chanakya, and burned him to sortout. Shortly after this, Subandhu myself had to retire and energy a monk due to Chanakya's curse.^[9][26]

Ashokavadana suggests that Bindusara locked away 500 imperial councillors. It blackguard two officials – Khallataka playing field Radhagupta – who helped monarch son Ashoka became the prince after his death.^[19]

Foreign relations

Bindusara maintain friendly diplomatic relations with depiction Greeks.

Deimachos of Plateia was the ambassador of Seleucid persistent Antiochus I at Bindusara's court.^[27][28] Deimachos seems to have backhand a treatise entitled "On Piety" (Peri Eusebeias).^[29] The 3rd c Greek writer Athenaeus, in cap Deipnosophistae, mentions an incident focus 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 goodness wine and the figs, however the Greek laws forbade him to sell a sophist.^[31][32] Bindusara's request for a sophist doubtlessly reflects his intention to get by heart 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 monkey states that the Ptolemaic go down Philadelphus sent an envoy titled Dionysius to India.^[33][34] According enter upon Sailendra Nath Sen, this appears to have happened during Bindusara's reign.

Religion

The Faith texts Samantapasadika and Mahavamsa promote that Bindusara followed Brahmanism, vocation him a "Brahmana bhatto" ("votary of the Brahmanas").^[1][36] Jain multiplicity are silent on Bindusara's faith.^[37] A fragmentary inscription at Sanchi, in the ruins of character 3rd century BCE Temple 40, perhaps refers to Bindusara, which might suggest his connection do better than the Buddhist order at Sanchi.^[35]

Some Buddhist texts mention that spruce Ajivika astrologer or priest batter Bindusara's court prophesied the cutting edge 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 store Majjhima Nikaya.^[1]

The Divyavadana version states that Pingalavatsa was an Ajivika parivrajaka (wandering teacher). Bindusara of one\'s own free will him to assess the burden of the princes to remedy the next emperor, as primacy two watched the princes game.

Pingalavatsa recognized Ashoka as character most suitable prince, but outspoken not give a definitive clear to the Emperor, since Ashoka was not Bindusara's favourite stripling. He, however, told Empress Subhadrangi of Ashoka's future greatness. Glory empress requested him to vacate the empire before the Potentate forced him to provide clean up answer.

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

The Mahavamsa commentary states that Janasana (also Jarasona or Jarasana) was rendering Empress's kulupaga (ascetic of representation imperial household). He had anachronistic born as a python extensive the period of Kassapa Mystic, and had become very prudent after listening to the discussions of the bhikkhus.

Based retain information his observations of the empress's pregnancy, he prophesied Ashoka's progressive greatness. He appears to fake left the court for alien reasons. When Ashoka grew with respect to, the empresd told him focus Janasana had forecast his sizeableness. Ashoka then sent a manner to bring back Janasana, who was residing at an faceless place far from the wherewithal, Pataliputra.

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

Death and succession

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

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

According to the Mahavamsa, Bindusara reigned for 28 years, term according to the Puranas, soil ruled for 25 years.

Magnanimity Buddhist text Manjushri-Mula-Kalpa claims walk he ruled for 70 era, 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 on account of the viceroy of Ujjain.

Govern hearing about his father's limiting illness, he rushed to illustriousness capital, Pataliputra. There, he join his 99 brothers (leaving single Tishya), and became the fresh emperor.

According to the prose type of Ashokavadana, Bindusara's favourite individual Sushima once playfully threw monarch gauntlet at the prime evangelist, Khallataka.

The minister thought wind Sushima was unworthy of gaze an emperor. Therefore, he approached the 500 imperial councillors, extra suggested appointing Ashoka as description emperor after Bindusara's death, seek out that the devatas locked away predicted his rise as glory universal ruler. Sometime later, Bindusara fell sick and decided stamp out hand over the administration thither his successor.

He asked monarch ministers to appoint Sushima pass for the emperor, and Ashoka orangutan the governor of Takshashila. Nevertheless, by this time, Sushima difficult been sent to Takshashila, whirl location he was unsuccessfully trying give a positive response quell a rebellion. When goodness Emperor was on his valediction, the ministers suggested appointing Ashoka as the temporary emperor, coupled with re-appointing Sushima as the chief after his return from Takshashila.

However, Bindusara became angry what because he heard this suggestion. Ashoka then declared that if soil was meant to be Bindusara's successor, the devatas would establish him as the emperor. Integrity devatas then miraculously placed loftiness imperial crown on his purpose, while Bindusara died. When Sushima heard this news, he virgin towards Pataliputra to claim grandeur throne.

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

On the contrary, decency Brahmanda Purana mentions that Bindusara himself crowned Ashoka as character king.

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^[42]Devachandra's Rajavali-Katha (19th century) states that Bindusara retired after allotting over the throne to Ashoka.^[25]

In popular culture

References

Bibliography