4. SAD but TRUE…
Not much written about one of the greatest king,
conquerer and administrator of first ever - united
BHARAT
No consensus about his birth and family lineage
Diverse sources of information like Buddhist, Jain,
Greek and Brahmanica works add to the controversies
our apathy towards preserving whatever little is
available
5. CHANAKYA (350 – 275 B.C.)
Also known as KAUTILYA and VISHNUGUPTA
Son of an accomplished brahmin - Chanaka who was killed by
the cruel Nanda ruler for raising his voice against the atrocities of
the king
his birthplace – Taxila or Chanaka in punjab, or Kerala or
something else?
Brahmin Scholar, maker of Chandragupta, Author of
Arthashastra
6. Chandragupta Maurya – who was he?
An outcast Kshatriya or a poor shudra or a Nanda Heir –
no consensus in the history
One book states his father “Maurya” was the
“senapati” in Nanda Army
Most seem to suggest he was a nobody who was
recognised by Chanakya under whose guidance he grew
up to become one of the greatest king and create history
7. State of Country during those times
Many Kingdoms and Republics
tendency towards the growth of monarchy
Magadha was rising fast under first known ruler
“Bimbisara”
Magadha became the most powerful state and
was ruled by Nand ruler “Dhananand” when this
while journey of Chandragupta started
8. Other Characters
Dhananand and Rakshas – ruler & prime minister
of Magadha respectively
Paurus and Indradutt – ruler & prime minister of
Kaikey respectively
Ambhi – Gandhar King
9. Chanakya is described as
shrewd and wily politician
one for whom end justifies the means – Spies, lies, manipulation (Saam, daam,
dandh, bhed in true sense)
The KingMaker - but always worked towarda larger good of the country, not for
personal gain
ruthless
Intelligent
Master Strategist
Single point agenda - Akhand Bharat (the United India )
Immensely Knowledgeable
10. Chandragupta Maurya - Characteristics
Whatever the origin, we can describe him as:
Courageous
Intelligent
Moralist
Loyal and Faithful
Great Sense of Justice
11. How did the two legends meet?
No consensus on this:
Chanakya was pouring sugar syrup on the grass that
had hurt his feet to root it out completely
Some books state that Chandragupta watched his act
and was impressed with his wisdom and hence
requested him to become his guide to help in becoming
a king
others claim that Chanakya found him in a village
inacting a king and observed his leaderships abilities and
decided to mentor him to become the king of “Akhand
Bharat”
Chanakya took him to Taxila university where he
studied various arts including military, political science
etc.
12. Alexander’s India Invasion
After his western conquest (Persia, Syria, Egypt,
Babylonia), crossed Indus in 326 B.C. to conquer “Bharat”
King Ambhi of Taxila made friends with him to rival his
enemy “Paurus”
Paurus, powerful king in Punjab resisted Alexander but
was defeated
Alexander reached Beas river and aimed to conquer rest
of India but that was not to be
13. Alexander’s Return
The armymen were tired and homesick
Extreme climatic conditions in India added to their woes
Did chankaya had a role to play in his return?
How about Chandragupta?
Alexander retreated leaving his trusted “Seleucus” in
charge of his asian dominions and died on his way back
14. Chandragupta’s Journey
Started with Punjab and moved towards east attacking Nandas
about 314 B.C. (Pauras was killed by Eudemos and Chandragupta
attacked Eudemos to take over Punjab)
Malayketu (son fo Parvataka – an ally of Chandragupta) raised
against him along with few other allys and Rakshas – PM of Nandas
Chanakya created dissent among the group and they killed each
other leaving Malayketu alone but he was restored as
Chandragupta’s minister
After taking over whole of North India, he moves towards west
conquering Saurashtra , Vindhayan area and later Mysore and other
deccan territories
15. Chanakya School of Thought
better to win over an intelligent and powerful foe rather than destroy him (
legend has it that he handled over his own position to minister of opponent
‘Rakshash’ in Nanda dynasty)
Righteousness is the root of happiness (virtues and values determine the level
of contentment and bliss that human beings would enjoy)
People fury is the greatest of furies – we have enough examples even in the
modern world
economic prosperity creates prosperity for the people
One without an adviser has no certainty of counsel
One wheel does not move
One who is learned and free from fraud should be made minister
Ministerial advice should be kept secret from all quarters (on being heard by six
ears, secrecy of counsel gets broken)
16. Interesting Unknowns
Communication Methods? – Pigeons, the
merchants and traders going places, specific
messengers?
Transportation? – mostly horses – think about
the time it took to travel from one place to another
Source of Knowledge – Chankaya seems to have
immense knowledge of geography and chemistry
but how?
Editor's Notes
Unpopularity of NandasForeign InvasionConquests effected by previous Magadha Rulers
Was he really revengeful of his father’s murder and subsequent family loss? My description – The greatest Teacher, A Visionary, unbelievably knowledgeable and intelligent, crooked at times but only with the likes!!!
Was he really a puppet in the hands of Chanakya?
its foolish men who die for their country, the intelligent ones make others die for their country insteadAlexander’s army was much smaller than Paurus but he was a smart military strategist – attacked Paurus from two flanks by misguiding his spiesAlexander appreciated acts of bravery, chivalry and stateliness ans usually made conqueres locals as their allies
The various tv serials based on this subject show that Chanakya even poisoned Alexander…chandragupta was probably still too young at that time but in some places it is shown that Chanakya made him place in Alexander’s army to create inner stiffs and created situations that made the greek army even more wanting to go back homeLater on, Chandragupta marries selecus’s daughter
How did chankaya pave the way for chandragupta’s accession to magadha throne?By making his enemies weak; created misunderstanding between rakshas and dhananda Chanakya, after making Chandragupta,the emperor, himself left his position to Rakshas his last war was with selekus as a result of which he got huge parts of Persia under his control - made an army of vishkanyas- started with smaller states ruled by philipos -> Selecus -> Alexander were first taken over by creating internal revolt