Maurya Empire Notes for UPSC
Here are some of the important observations summarized for your examinations.
Tisya
Tisya was the name of one of the brothers of Asoka. The Sri Lankan texts portrait Ashoka as a cruel prince, who terminated all of his 99 brothers except his uterine brother Tisya for throne.
Ashoka’s Names
Ashoka has been mentioned by different names in different texts and edicts. In most of the edicts, he is mentioned as Devanampiya and Piyadassi. In Babhru Inscription, he is mentioned as Piyadassi laja Magadhe (Piyadassi, King of Magadha). The Maski edict mentions his name as Asoka while Puranas name him Asokavardhana. Girnar Inscription of Rudradaman mentions him as Asoka Maurya.
Notes on Edicts and Inscriptions
Apart from defining the boundaries of Maurya Empire, the inscriptions of Ashoka provide many details about contemporary life, administration and religion. British archaeologist and historian James Prinsep decoded these edicts. Some important facts for your examination have been summarized here
Geographical dispersion
The edicts and inscriptions of Asoka are dispersed in modern India, Pakistan and Nepal.
Languages and Scripts
They are in four languages depending on their location viz. Prakrit (Magadhi / Ardhamagadhi), Sanskrit, Greek and Aramaic. The Prakrit and Sanskrit inscriptions have been written in Brahmi script. The inscriptions in Pakistan region were written in Kharoshthi script. Rest were written in Greek or Aramaic scripts. However, the Kandahar Rock Inscription is bilingual.
Subject Matters
Most inscriptions discuss about Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism, his efforts to spread Buddhism, his moral and religious precepts, and his social and animal welfare efforts. You can check the contents of these edicts-wise here. The various subjects were as follows:
- Prohibition of animal slaughter, festive gathering and killing of animals.
- Care for man, animals, Brahmins and Monks. “Every human is my child…” Tolerance for all people. King’s desire to know about conditions of people. Welfare measures.
- Discuss about the Chola, Pandyas, Satyaputra and Keralputras (Cheras) as Kingdoms of Asoka in South India.
- Sending of Rajukas (rural officers), Pradesikas (district officers) and Yuktas (subordinate officers) to all areas of Kingdom every five year to spread message of Asoka’s Dhamma policy.
- Supremacy of Dhammaghosha on Bherighosa and appointment of Dhammamahamattas for spread of Dhamma.
- Asoka’s first Dhammayatra to Bodhgaya and Bodhi tree.
- Victory over Kalinga and how it changed his heart.
- Hint about Asoka’s contemporaries’ viz. Antiochus, Ptolemy, Antigonus, Magas, Alexander, Cholas, Pandyas, Kamboj, Nabhaks, Bhoja, Andhra
- Giving away the Barabara cave to Ajivika sect.
Apart from the above, the following things must be noted with their respective pillar names:
- The Rummindei Pillar Inscription discusses about Asoka’s visit to Lumbini & exemption of Lumbini from tax. This is the first direct archeological evidence of Buddha’s birth in Lumbini.
- Nigalisagar Pillar Inscription was originally located at Kapilvastu. It mentions that Asoka increased the height of stupa of Buddha Konakamana to its double size.
Notes on Conquest of Kalinga
Several inscriptions have discussed about Asoka’s conquest on Kalinga (modern Odisha). Asoka had invaded Kalinga in 9th year of his reign.
Reason for Invasion
Maurya Empire was probably in friendly terms with the southern kings such as Cholas and Pandyas. Kalinga was strategically located because:
- It was located in the heart of his territory
- It controlled routes to South India.
Once Kalinga was won, there was no much need to win over further territories. The Kalinga war was a horrifying event. It mentions that hundred and fifty thousand people were displaced, hundred thousand people were killed and many hundred thousand perished. The vivid description of Kalinga war is given in 13th Rock Edict. After the war of Kalinga Asoka realized the gravity of war and the event had a profound impact on his mind. He vowed to never wage such war and also directed his sons and grandsons.
The 13th Rock edict mentions Asoka’s remorse after the war and his changed attitude from Digvijay to Dhammavijay. Asoka adopted Buddhism in 9th year of his reign after winning Kalinga. Nigrodha, a boy monk, inspired him. Later, he met Moggaliputta Tissa, who ultimately become his mentor. Later his brother Tissa, queen Karuvaki also adopted Buddhism.
Asoka’s Dhamma
In the Bhabru edict Asoka says that he has full faith in Buddha, Sangha and Dhamma. But he never forced his ideal on people. The Pillar Edict II says:
Dhamma sadhu, kiyam cu dhamme ti? Apasinave, bahu kayane, daya, dane, sace, socaye.
The meaning is: Dhamma is good, but what constitutes Dhamma? (It includes) little evil, much good, kindness, generosity, truthfulness and purity. In his Pillar Edict VII, he says that all sects desire both self control and purity of mind. In the Major Rock Edict XII, he directed and determined request for tolerance among different religious sects. He says that he honors all sects and both laymen and monks. We can say that Asoka’s Dhamma is a moral code of ethics. Asoka propagated his Dhamma with zeal and earnestness of a missioanry. He mentions in Minor Rock Edict I that as a result of his efforts for 1 year (or more) “Human beings who were unmixed were cause to be mixed with Gods throughout Jambudweepa. This was because of his well planned measures such as celestial Chariots (Vimana), luminous balls of Fire (used for showing light in nights) and elephants. Asoka abandoned the pleasure tours (vihara yatras) and hunting.
Note: Asoka sponsored the third Buddhist Council in 250 BC. This council was held at Pataliputra. It was presided by Moggaliputta Tissa. Abhidhamma Pitaka was established in this council.
Reasons for Decline of Maurya Empire
Asoka died in 232 BC after a reign of 40 years. The Maurya Empire declined in few decades of his death. There were several reasons for this. Firstly, immediately after the death of Asoka, the Maurya territories were partitioned into two parts viz. east and west. This partition disturbed the unity of the empire. Secondly, most of the successors of Asoka were weak and could not handle the highly centralized administration which only a robust political leader could manage. Thirdly, the pious policy of Asoka might have its own implications. However, this reason is debated because Asoka had left only policy of annexation but still maintained a huge army. Fourthly, it is argued that a Brahmical revolution ended Maurya empire. This argument has little weight.
The Insignificance of Coins
About the Mauryan Empire, we know from the literary sources, Epigraphic Sources and Foreign Accounts but the Numismatic Sources are least significant because the coins were punch marked and not beard many details. The coins became a major source of historic information only much later after Mauryas.
The Maski Edict revealed name of Asoka
Maski is a site near Tungabhadra river in Karnataka’s Raichur District. In 1915, a minor rock edict of Emperor Ashoka (Maski Edict) was discovered by C. Beadon. This edict had the name of King Asoka. Prior to this edict, all edicts had the name of Devanampiye piyadasi and after the discovery of this edict, the real name of Asoka was concluded and it was also concluded that all the edicts found in the Indian Sub Continent were of Asoka.
The lake constructed by Mauryas
Junagarh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman-I mentions that Girnar Lake was constructed by the Mauryas and he repaired some parts of this lake. It was a dam built by Mauryas to check floods.
