Bindusara - The second ruler of Mauryan Dynasty

Who was Bindusara?

A few reliable sources that describe the life and reign of Bindusara resulted in the rising controversies and debates regarding his origin. There has been a big controversy for a while regarding the birth of Bindusara. Various Hindu Puranas mention Bindusara as the son of Chandragupta Maurya while Buddhist texts, specifically, The Dipavamsa, mentions Bindusara to be the son of king Shishuganga, who belonged to the Haryanka dynasty (that earlier ruled Magadha). Another important account, Ashokavadana, states Bindusara to be the descendent of the Nanda dynasty.

Similar is the controversy about the name of Bindusara’s mother. There are inconsistent assumptions about him being the son of the Greek wife of Chandragupta – Helena. But the Jain texts mention the name of Bindusara to be Durdhara.

There are also tales in the Buddhist and Jain regarding Chandragupta being named Bindusara because of an incident. These texts and several other accounts state that, for the aim of building immunity in Chandragupta, Chanakya used to mix small doses of poison in Chandragupta’s food. Once, unaware of this fact, Chandragupta shared his food with his pregnant wife. The queen was just seven days away from her delivery. Chanakya arrived in time and noticed that the queen had consumed the poisoned food, but he decided to save the unborn child. Chanakya cut the throat of the Queen to stop the poison from reaching the child and cut open her belly to take the foetus out. Over the next seven days, this premature baby was put in the belly of a goat freshly killed each day, and after seven days the son of Chandragupta was born. His body was spotted with the drops of goat’s blood, so he was named Bindusara.

Bindusara had three sons, as mentioned in Ashokavadana - Sushima, Ashoka, and Vigatashoka. But this is not deemed correct as some of the other sources mention that Ashoka had killed about 99 half-brothers for acquiring the throne and establishing stability.

Reign of Bindusara

Bindusara acquired the throne in about 297 BCE. By the time Bindusara ascended the throne, the Mauryan Empire had already spread to a vast extent. According to the reports, the Mauryan Empire had already reached Deccan, till the Saurashtra part. The inscriptions and the researchers prove that Bindusara’s main work does not include the extension of the Mauryan Empire but the work he did was to retain and protect the Mauryan territories as they were. The extension of Mauryan territories is only noted in the reign of Ashoka, for which we also find evidence in the inscriptions of the South and Deccan regions.

The maximum extent of the Mauryan Empire during the reign of Bindusara is seen till the Mysore region, whereas other Southern areas might have accepted the suzerainty of the Mauryan Empire. Historians even highlight the consolidation of the empire as the only achievement of Bindusara.

Bindusara was given the title of ‘Amitraghat’ or ‘Slayer of enemies’ by Greek writers. But the Greek texts give no idea about who those enemies were, and the way Bindusara defeated them.

Ashoka, the son of Bindusara, was appointed as the viceroy of Ujjayini. Ashoka was ordered by Bindusara to lay an expedition on Takshashila. It is said that despite not having sufficient resources, weapons, and chariots, Ashoka managed a victory. This may be due to the support of the common masses that were ready and even eager for their prince to arrive. He claimed victory and proved himself worthy. Once again, a few years after Bindusara's death, another rebellion rose from the Takshashila but this time Sushima, the elder son was sent with this task but was unsuccessful.

Bindusara had about 500 royal counsellors. History highlights the names of two of them – Khallataka and Radhagupta, who helped his son Ashoka to succeed. Further, Dionysis was the envoy sent to the Mauryan Empire by Ptolemy Philadelphus, the ruler of Egypt. But it is uncertain that credentials reached in the reign of Bindusara in Ashoka. Megasthenes, the important part of Chandragupta’s royal court, was now succeeded by Deimachos. References in the Greek sources are given about Bindusara directing the King of Syria – Antiochos I to buy and send a professor to India, but this request was rejected as it was considered unlawful for the Greeks to sell a professor.

Chanakya was the Prime minister of the Mauryan Empire during the reign of Bindusara too. Also, it was during his reign that Chanakya retired due to the conspiracy played against him. One of the ministers of Bindusara who was jealous of Chanakya’s position in the empire conspired against him and informed the king that Chanakya had cut open the belly of his mother. This incited the anger of Bindusara and he started to hate Chanakya after the confirmation of this news. Eventually, Chanakya himself decided to retire as he was a very old man by that time. Though he was re-called by Bindusara who wanted him to resume all his ministerial duties after knowing the entire circumstances of his birth, Chanakya refused.

As his father, Bindusara maintained friendly and diplomatic relations with the Greeks. Having Deimachus as the Greek ambassador in his court was an example of this. Also, the Greek author and tradesperson, Jambulus was welcomed by Bindusara in Patliputra.

Death and Succession

According to Puranas, Bindusara ruled for about 25 years whereas Buddhist and Jain texts outline his reign to have lasted for about 27-28 years. Indian historians suggest that Bindusara died in 273-272 BCE. It took four years for the Mauryan Empire to establish the stable rule of Bindusara’s successor.

Ashoka became the emperor in 269 BCE. There are different descriptions given in the various sources about the story of the succession of Ashoka. Mahavamse suggests that Ashoka, who was the viceroy of Ujjain at that time, rushed to Patliputra after he heard of his father’s illness. There he killed 99 of his brothers and ascended to the throne.

According to the Ashokavadana, Khallataka (one of the royal ministers) had a rivalry with the elder son of Bindusara – Sushima. Hence, he was fearful that if Sushima was appointed as king, he would have been punished. Therefore, he approached 500 royal councillors and convinced them to support Ashoka as the emperor after Bindusara's death. So, even though Bindusara, on his deathbed declared Sushima to be the emperor, Ashoka with the support of the royal councillors and nobles, took over the throne.

Buddhist texts also mention that an Ajivika astrologer or priest at Bindusara's court prophesied the future greatness of prince Ashoka. It was widely believed by the ministers and the masses that Ashoka was the most capable one for the next ruler by the blessing of Devatas.