HISTORY Que-Ans: [2 Marks Each]

Among Ashoka's pillars, Sarnath's is one of the finest examples of Mauryan art.

• There is a sculpture of four lions in the vein of its veins.
• This sculpture of Sarnath's stone pillar has been recognized as the national emblem of independent India.
• As well as the Dharma Chakra with twenty four saws has been given a place in the national flag.
• Hence the stone pillar of Sarnath is considered to be the finest specimen of Mauryan art.

Accurate and basic information about the history of India is obtained from the Mauryan era.

• During this period the development of the kingdom of Magadha founded by Chandragupta Maurya reached its peak.
• Small scattered states were organized under a single empire and political unity was maintained.
• During the reign of Emperor Ashoka, noble values ​​of folk life such as non-violence service and inter-religious harmony were established and peace, security and prosperity prevailed in the country.
• Hence the Mauryan Empire is considered to be the first historical empire of India.

The unification of small kingdoms from the Mauryan era gave rise to a vast and India-wide empire.

• Different regions of India were brought under a cyclical rule of the emperor and a similar edict was implemented throughout the region.
• India experienced political unity for the first time.
• There was a uniform justice system throughout the state.
• The same script was used throughout the empire, and the same language was spoken.
• Religious and cultural unity was created throughout the Mauryan Empire.
• The whole empire was governed by a noble spirit of "world brotherhood".
• This Maurya era created the political unity of India.

Basic and reliable information about the Mauryan dynasty comes from Kautilya's Arthashastra, Megasthenes' "Indica", "Sri Lanka's" Deepvansh "and" Mahavansh "Buddhist texts as well as inscriptions, stupas, Kavi Kalhan's" Rajatarangini "etc.

In 321 BC, the last emperor of the Nand dynasty, Dhanananda, lost to Chandragupta Maurya's army under the leadership of Senapati Bhadrashal, and the Nand dynasty came to an end.

The "No War" policy adopted by Emperor Ashoka was also adopted by his sons and grandsons.

• He had no interest in enhancing his fighting skills.
• Thus, after Ashoka's death, powerful states bordering India invaded the frontier regions of the Mauryan Empire

and weakened it.

• Due to Emperor Ashoka's anti-war peaceful and non-violent policy, the zeal and passion of the Mauryan army waned over time.

• The soldiers became lazy and lazy.
• In addition, Ashoka's generous donations to Buddhist associations, monasteries and monasteries cost a considerable amount of money from the royal treasury.
• Thus the vast Mauryan empire did not last long after the death of Emperor Ashoka.

Emphasized by the horrific massacre at the Battle of Kalinga, Emperor Ashoka took up arms under the teachings of the Buddhist monk Upagupta.

• Converted to Buddhism. Formed on the foundation of non-violence, service, and virtue
• This religion had a profound effect on Ashoka's mind.
• Ashoka then sent missionaries to Kashmir and Gandhara in the north, Chola, Pandya and Kerala in the south, as well as to Burma, Sri Lanka, Syria, Egypt and other countries.
• Thus, Buddhism, which was confined to East and Central India, spread throughout India and beyond.
• Thus the contribution of Emperor Ashoka in the history of the development of Buddhism is historical and memorable.

Chandragupta had leadership qualities from an early age.

• Recognizing these qualities, Acharya Kautilya of Taxila took him with him to train him in weapons and scriptures.
• Under the guidance of Acharya Kautilya, Chandragupta invaded Dhanananda, the last king of the Nand dynasty, and killed him to establish the Mauryan Empire.
• He appointed Chanakya as his chief minister.
• Chandragupta Maurya made the empire great with the help of this ardent politician and administrative expert.
• Thus, Kautilya's contribution to the achievements of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya is memorable.