Bindusara

Bindusara (reign: approx. 298–272 BC) belongs to the rulers of the Maurya dynasty. Little is known about his life. He is the successor to Chandragupta Maurya . Legends about his person can be found in the Ashokavadana , in the Sinhala Chronicles and in the Vamsatthappakasini , a commentary on the Mahavamsa . Greek sources know of a son of Bindusara named Amitrochates (Sanskrit Amitraghata, "the enemy captor"), who is often identified with Bindusara.

Bindusara inherited a great empire from his predecessor Chandragupta. There is little evidence of the country's borders and even less is known about the political developments below it. It is likely that the Maurya Empire occupied all of northern India at the time of Chandragupta, a total of perhaps 2/3 of the subcontinent. Bindusara may have expanded the empire further south. Lamotte (see sources) assumes, however, that Bindusara only suppressed a few revolts, caused by a few of his governors, in his empire and thus preserved the size of his empire.

It is documented that Bindusara was in close contact with its neighbors, the Seleucids . So he received daimachos , ambassador of Seleucus I, Nicator at his court . His regular correspondence with Antiochus I Soter is also documented. A certain Dionysius is also mentioned as the envoy of Ptolemy II at the Indian royal court, but it is unclear which Indian ruler it was.

The Brahmins had a good standing under Bindusara. He encouraged them and their followers. He also showed interest in a group of wandering ascetics called parivrajakas. At least one of them, named Pingalavatsa, held an important position on his court.

Bindusara's plans for his heir to the throne were thwarted by his son Ashoka . Actually, his eldest son Susima should take over the rule. After Bindusara's death, however, Ashoka immediately took the capital of the empire, Pataliputra , and, with the help of Minister Radhagupta, managed to fend off any successors and to ascend the throne himself.

literature

• Richard Gombrich : Theravada Buddhism. From ancient India to modern Sri Lanka ("Theravada Buddhism"). Kohlhammer Verlag, Stuttgart 1997, ISBN 3-17-014007-8 .
• Étienne Lamotte : History of Indian Buddhism. From the origins to the Saka era ("Histoire du bouddhisme India"). Institute Orientaliste de l'Université Catholique de Louvain, Leuven 1988, ISBN 90-6831-100-X .

predecessor	Office	successor
Chandragupta Maurya	King of Magadha 4th century BC Chr. (Chronology)	Ashoka