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{{Short description|2nd Maurya Emperor}}
{{For|the river|Bindusara River}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox royalty
| image = I42 1karshapana Maurya Bindusara MACW4165 1ar (8486583162).jpg
| alt = Coin of Bindusara
| caption = A silver coin of 1 [[karshapana]] of the Maurya empire, period of Bindusara Maurya about 297–273 BC, workshop of Pataliputra. '''Obv:''' Symbols with a Sun '''Rev:''' Symbol '''Dimensions:''' 14 x 11 mm '''Weight:''' 3.4 g.
| succession = 2nd [[List of Mauryan rulers|Mauryan Emperor]]
| reign = {{circa|297|273 BCE}}
| coronation = c. 297 BCE
| predecessor = [[Chandragupta Maurya]] (father)
| successor = [[Ashoka]] (son)
| death_date = c. 273 BCE
| spouse = [[Subhadrangi|Dharma]]
| issue = [[Susima]], [[Ashoka]], [[Vitashoka]]
| dynasty = [[Maurya Empire|Maurya]]
| father = [[Chandragupta Maurya]]
| mother = [[Durdhara]] (according to Jain tradition)
}}
{{Maurya}}
'''Bindusara''' ({{reign|{{circa|297}}|{{circa|273 BCE}}}}), also '''Amitraghāta''' or '''Amitrakhāda''' (Sanskrit: अमित्रघात, "slayer of enemies" or "devourer of enemies")<ref>{{cite book |last1=Chattopadhyaya |first1=Sudhakar |title=Bimbisāra to Aśoka: With an Appendix on the Later Mauryas |date=1977 |publisher=Roy and Chowdhury |page=98 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e9gcAAAAMAAJ |language=en}}</ref><ref name="HAI"/> or '''Amitrochates''' (Greek: Ἀμιτροχάτης)<ref name="HAI"/> was the second [[Maurya Empire|Mauryan emperor]] of India. He was the son of the dynasty's founder [[Chandragupta Maurya|Chandragupta]] and the father of its most famous ruler [[Ashoka]]. Bindusara's life is not documented as well as the lives of these two emperors: much of the information about him comes from legendary accounts written several hundred years after his death.

Bindusara consolidated the empire created by his father. The 16th century [[Tibetan Buddhism|Tibetan Buddhist]] author [[Taranatha]] credits his administration with extensive territorial conquests in [[South India|southern India]], but some historians doubt the historical authenticity of this claim.

== Background ==

Ancient and medieval sources have not documented Bindusara's life in detail. Much of the information about him comes from [[Jain literature|Jain]] legends focused on [[Chandragupta Maurya|Chandragupta]] and the [[Buddhist literature|Buddhist]] legends focused on [[Ashoka]]. The Jain legends, such as [[Hemachandra]]'s ''[[Parishishtaparvan|Parishishta-Parvan]]'' were written more than a thousand years after his death.{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=331-332}} Most of the Buddhist legends about Ashoka's early life also appear to have been composed by Buddhist writers who lived several hundred years after Ashoka's death, and are of little historical value.{{sfn|Srinivasachariar|1974|pp=lxxxvii-lxxxviii}} While these legends can be used to make several inferences about Bindusara's reign, they are not entirely reliable because of the close association between Ashoka and Buddhism.{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=331-332}}

Buddhist sources that provide information about Bindusara include ''[[Divyavadana]]'' (including ''[[Ashokavadana]]'' and ''Pamsupradanavadana''), ''[[Dipavamsa]]'', ''[[Mahavamsa]]'', ''Vamsatthappakasini'' (also known as ''Mahvamsa Tika'' or "Mahavamsa commentary"), ''[[Samantapasadika]]'', and the 16th century writings of [[Taranatha]].{{sfn|Srinivasachariar|1974|p=lxxxviii}}{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=331}}<ref name="SMH_2001"/> The Jain sources include the 12th century ''Parishishta-Parvan'' by Hemachandra and the 19th century ''Rajavali-Katha'' by [[Devachandra]].{{sfn|Daniélou|2003|p=108}}<ref name="Rosalind_1993"/> The Hindu [[Puranas]] also mention Bindusara in their genealogies of Mauryan rulers.{{sfn|Guruge|1993|p=465}} Some Greek sources also mention him by the name "Amitrochates" or its variations.{{sfn|Kosmin|2014|p=35}}{{sfn|Daniélou|2003|p=108}}

== Early life ==

=== Parents ===
Bindusara was born to [[Chandragupta Maurya|Chandragupta]], the founder of the Mauryan Empire. This is attested by several sources, including the various [[Puranas]] and the ''[[Mahavamsa]]''.{{sfn|Srinivasachariar|1974|p=lxxxvii}} The ''[[Dipavamsa]]'', on the other hand, names Bindusara as the son of the king [[Shishunaga|Shushunaga]].{{sfn|Srinivasachariar|1974|p=lxxxviii}} The prose version of ''[[Ashokavadana]]'' states that Bindusara was the son of [[Nanda dynasty|Nanda]] and a 10th-generation descendant of [[Bimbisara]]. Like ''Dipavamsa'', it omits Chandragupta's name altogether. The metrical version of ''Ashokavadana'' contains a similar genealogy with some variations.{{sfn|Srinivasachariar|1974|p=lxxxviii}}

Chandragupta had a marriage alliance with the [[Seleucid Empire|Seleucids]], which has led to speculation that Bindusara's mother might have been Greek or Macedonian. However, there is no evidence of this.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3zy_zJdaSSIC&pg=PT189 |title=The Pimlico Dictionary of Classical Civilizations |author=Arthur Cotterell |publisher=Random House |year=2011 |isbn=9781446466728 |page=189 }}</ref> According to the 12th century Jain writer [[Hemachandra]]'s ''[[Parishishtaparvan|Parishishta-Parvan]]'', the name of Bindusara's mother was [[Durdhara]].<ref name="Rosalind_1993"/>

=== Names ===
The name "Bindusara", with slight variations, is attested by the Buddhist texts such as ''[[Dipavamsa]]'' and ''[[Mahavamsa]]'' ("Bindusaro"); the Jain texts such as ''Parishishta-Parvan''; as well as the Hindu texts such as ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' ("Vindusara").<ref name="VAS_Asoka">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/stream/asokabuddhistemp00smitiala#page/18/mode/2up |title=Asoka, the Buddhist emperor of India |author=Vincent Arthur Smith |year=1920 |publisher=Clarendon Press |location=Oxford |isbn=9788120613034 |pages=18–19 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rlQOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA10 |title= On the Early Life of Asoka |author=Rajendralal Mitra |author-link=Rajendralal Mitra |journal=Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal |year=1878 |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bengal |page=10 }}</ref> Other [[Puranas]] give different names for Chandragupta's successor; these appear to be clerical errors.<ref name="VAS_Asoka"/> For example, the various recensions of ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' mention him as Varisara or Varikara. The different versions of ''[[Vayu Purana]]'' call him Bhadrasara or Nandasara.{{sfn|Guruge|1993|p=465}}

The ''[[Mahabhashya]]'' names Chandragupta's successor as ''Amitra-ghata'' ([[Sanskrit]] for "slayer of enemies").{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=331}} The Greek writers [[Strabo]] and [[Athenaeus]] call him Allitrochades and Amitrochates respectively; these names are probably derived from the Sanskrit title. In addition, Bindusara was given the title ''Devanampriya'' ("The Beloved of the Gods"), which was also applied to his successor Ashoka.<ref name="HAI">"According to the Jaina and the Buddhist traditions Chandragupta had many sons and Bindusara was chosen to succeed him. He also had the title 'Devanampriya'. The Greeks call him Amitrachates, the Sanskrit equivalent of Amitragatha" {{cite book |last1=Murthy |first1=H. V. Sreenivasa |title=A History of Ancient India |date=1963 |publisher=Bani Prakash Mandir |page=120 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HKkBAAAAMAAJ |language=en}}</ref> The Jain work ''Rajavali-Katha'' states that his birth name was Simhasena.{{sfn|Daniélou|2003|p=108}}

Both Buddhist and Jain texts mention a legend about how Bindusara got his name. Both accounts state that Chandragupta's minister [[Chanakya]] used to mix small doses of poison in the emperor's food to build his [[immunity (medical)|immunity]] against possible [[Visha Kanya|poisoning attempts]]. One day, Chandragupta, not knowing about the poison, shared his food with his pregnant wife. According to the Buddhist legends (''Mahavamsa'' and ''Mahavamsa Tikka''), the queen was seven days away from delivery at this time. Chanakya arrived just as the queen ate the poisoned morsel. Realizing that she was going to die, he decided to save the unborn child. He cut off the queen's head and cut open her belly with a sword to take out the foetus. Over the next seven days, he placed the foetus in the belly of a goat freshly killed each day. After seven days, Chandragupta's son was "born". He was named Bindusara, because his body was spotted with drops ("''bindu''") of goat's blood.<ref>{{cite book |first=Thomas R. |last=Trautmann |author-link=Thomas Trautmann |title=Kauṭilya and the Arthaśāstra: a statistical investigation of the authorship and evolution of the text |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v3iDAAAAMAAJ |year=1971 |publisher=Brill |page=15 }}</ref> The Jain text ''Parishishta-Parvan'' names the queen as [[Durdhara]], and states that Chanakya entered the room the very moment she collapsed. To save the child, he cut open the dead queen's womb and took the baby out. By this time, a drop ("''bindu''") of poison had already reached the baby and touched its head. Therefore, Chanakya named him Bindusara, meaning "the strength of the drop".<ref name="Rosalind_1993">{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Po9tUNX0SYAC&pg=PA204 |title=The Clever Adulteress and Other Stories: A Treasury of Jaina Literature |chapter=The Minister Cāṇakya, from the Pariśiṣtaparvan of Hemacandra |translator=Rosalind Lefeber |editor=Phyllis Granoff |editor-link=Phyllis Granoff |author=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1993 |pages=204–206 |isbn=9788120811508 }}</ref>

=== Family ===

The prose version of ''[[Ashokavadana]]'' names three sons of Bindusara: [[Sushima]], [[Ashoka]] and [[Vitashoka|Vigatashoka]]. The mother of Ashoka and Vigatashoka was a woman named [[Subhadrangi]], the daughter of a [[Brahmin]] of the [[Champapuri|Champa city]]. When she was born, an astrologer predicted that one of her sons would be a king, and the other a religious man. When she grew up, her father took her to Bindusara's palace in [[Pataliputra]]. Bindusara's wives, jealous of her beauty, trained her as the royal [[barber]]. Once, when the Emperor was pleased with her hairdressing skills, she expressed her desire to be a queen. Bindusara was initially apprehensive about her low [[varna in Hinduism|class]], but made her the chief queen after learning about her Brahmin descent. The couple had two sons: Ashoka and Vigatashoka. Bindusara did not like Ashoka because his "limbs were hard to the touch".<ref name="EB_legends">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/stream/legendsofindianb00burn#page/20/mode/2up |title=Legends of Indian Buddhism |author=Eugène Burnouf |publisher=E. P. Dutton |location=New York |year=1911 |pages=20–29 }}</ref>

Another legend in ''Divyavadana'' names Ashoka's mother as Janapadakalyani.{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=332}} According to the ''Vamsatthappakasini'' (''Mahavamsa Tika''), the name of Ashoka's mother was Dhamma.{{sfn|Sastri|1988|p=167}} The ''Mahavamsa'' states that Bindusara had 101 sons from 16 women. The eldest of these was Sumana, and the youngest was Tishya (or Tissa). Ashoka and Tishya were born to the same mother.{{sfn|Srinivasachariar|1974|p=lxxxvii}}

== Reign ==

Historian Upinder Singh estimates that Bindusara ascended the throne around 297 BCE.{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=331}}

=== Territorial conquests ===
[[File:Bindusara Empire.png|thumb|Bindusara Empire 273 BCE]]
The 16th century Tibetan Buddhist author [[Taranatha]] states that [[Chanakya]], one of Bindusara's "great lords", destroyed the nobles and kings of 16 towns and made him master of all the territory between the western and the eastern seas ([[Arabian Sea]] and the [[Bay of Bengal]]). According to some historians, this implies conquest of [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] by Bindusara, while others believe that this only refers to suppression of revolts.{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=331}}

Sailendra Nath Sen notes that the Mauryan empire already extended from the western sea (beside [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]]) to the eastern sea (beside [[Bengal]]) during Chandragupta's reign. Besides, Ashoka's inscriptions found in southern India do not mention anything about Bindusara's conquest of [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] (southern India). Based on this, Sen concludes that Bindusara did not extend the Mauryan empire, but managed to retain the territories he inherited from Chandragupta.{{sfn|Sen|1999|p=142}}

K. Krishna Reddy, on the other hand, argues that Ashoka's inscriptions would have boasted about his conquest of southern India, had he captured Deccan. Reddy, therefore, believes that the Mauryan empire extended up to [[Mysore]] during Bindusara's reign. According to him, the southernmost kingdoms were not a part of the Mauryan empire, but probably acknowledged its suzerainty.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yWfeU9eQd5YC&pg=SL1-PA42 |title=General Studies History |author=K Krishna Reddy |publisher=Tata McGraw-Hill |location=New Delhi |year=2005 |isbn=9780070604476 |page=A42-43 }}</ref>

[[Alain Daniélou]] believes that Bindusara inherited an empire that included the Deccan region, and made no territorial additions to the empire. Daniélou, however, believes that Bindusara brought the southern territories of the [[Cheras]], the [[Cholas]] and the [[Satyaputra Kingdom|Satyaputras]] under nominal Mauryan control, although he could not overcome their armies. His theory is based on the fact that the [[Sangam literature|ancient Tamil literature]] alludes to ''Vamba Moriyar'' (Mauryan conquest), although it does not provide any details about the Mauryan expeditions. According to Daniélou, Bindusara's main achievement was organization and consolidation of the empire he inherited from Chandragupta.{{sfn|Daniélou|2003|p=109}}

=== Takshashila revolt ===

The ''[[Mahavamsa]]'' suggests that Bindusara appointed his son [[Ashoka]] as the viceroy of [[Ujjayini]].{{sfn|Srinivasachariar|1974|p=lxxxvii}} ''Ashokavadana'' states that Bindusara sent Ashoka to lay siege to [[Takshashila]]. The Emperor refused to provide any weapons or chariots for Ashoka's expedition. The [[devata]]s (deities) then miraculously brought him soldiers and weapons. When his army reached Takshashila, the residents of the city approached him. They told him that they only opposed Bindusara's oppressive ministers; they had no problem with the Emperor or the prince. Ashoka then entered the city without opposition, and the devatas declared that he would rule the entire earth one day. Shortly before Bindusara's death, there was a second revolt in Takshashila. This time, Sushima was sent to quell the rebellion, but he failed in the task.<ref name="EB_legends"/>

=== Advisors ===

The ''Rajavali-Katha'' states that [[Chandragupta Maurya|Chandragupta]]'s chief advisor (or chief minister) [[Chanakya]] accompanied him to the forest for [[sannyasa|retirement]], after handing over the administration to Bindusara.<ref name="BLRice_1889">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EMUUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA9 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica, Volume II: Inscriptions and Sravana Belgola |author=B. Lewis Rice |author-link=B. Lewis Rice |publisher=Mysore Government Central Press |location=[[Bangalore]] |year=1889 |page=9 }}</ref> However, the ''[[Parishishtaparvan|Parishishta-Parvan]]'' states that Chanakya continued to be Bindusara's prime minister. It mentions a legend about Chanakya's death: Chanakya asked the emperor to appoint a man named Subandhu as one of his ministers. However, Subandhu wanted to become a higher minister and grew jealous of Chanakya. So, he told Bindusara that Chanakya had cut open the belly of his mother. After confirming the story with the nurses, Bindusara started hating Chanakya. As a result, Chanakya, who was already a very old man by this time, retired and decided to [[sallekhana|starve himself to death]]. Meanwhile, Bindusara came to know about the detailed circumstances of his birth, and implored Chanakya to resume his ministerial duties. When Chanakya refused to oblige, the Emperor ordered Subandhu to pacify him. Subandhu, while pretending to appease Chanakya, burned him to death. Shortly after this, Subandhu himself had to retire and become a monk due to Chanakya's curse.<ref name="Rosalind_1993"/><ref name="HJ_1891">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iSFCAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA62 |title=Sthavir̂aval̂i charita, or, Pariśishtaparvan |author=Hemachandra |translator=[[Hermann Jacobi]] |publisher=Asiatic Society |location=Calcutta |year=1891 |pages=67–68 }}</ref>

''Ashokavadana'' suggests that Bindusara had 500 royal councillors. It names two officials – Khallataka and Radhagupta – who helped his son Ashoka became the emperor after his death.<ref name="EB_legends"/>

==Foreign relations==
Deimachus as an ambassador, he was the successor to the famous ambassador and historian [[Megasthenes]]. Both of them were mentioned by [[Strabo]].

{{quote|Both of these men were sent [as] ambassadors to Palimbothra (Pataliputra): Megasthenes to Sandrocottus, Deimachus to Allitrochades his son.

-Strabo II,I,9<ref>[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0239%3Abook%3D2%3Achapter%3D1%3Asection%3D9 Strabo II,I,9]</ref>}}
Bindusara maintained friendly diplomatic relations with the Greeks. [[Deimachus|Deimachos of Plateia]] was the ambassador of [[Seleucid Empire|Seleucid]] emperor [[Antiochus I]] at Bindusara's court.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mookerji |first1=Radhakumud |title=Chandragupta Maurya and His Times |date=1966 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=9788120804050 |page=38 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i-y6ZUheQH8C&pg=PA38 |language=en}}</ref>{{sfn|Sen|1999|p=142}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Talbert |first1=Richard J. A. |last2=Naiden |first2=Fred S. |title=Mercury's Wings: Exploring Modes of Communication in the Ancient World |date=2017 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780190663285 |page=295 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uEe1DgAAQBAJ&pg=PT295 |language=en}}</ref> Deimachos seems to have written a treatise entitled "On Piety" (''Peri Eusebeias'').<ref>{{cite book |last1=Erskine |first1=Andrew |title=A Companion to the Hellenistic World |date=2009 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=9781405154413 |page=421 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=krJF3rnhQdsC&pg=PA421 |language=en}}</ref> The 3rd century Greek writer [[Athenaeus]], in his ''[[Deipnosophistae]]'', mentions an incident that he learned from [[Hegesander (historian)|Hegesander]]'s writings: Bindusara requested Antiochus to send him sweet [[wine]], dried [[common fig|figs]] and a [[sophist]].{{sfn|Kosmin|2014|p=35}} Antiochus replied that he would send the wine and the figs, but the Greek laws forbade him to sell a sophist.{{sfn|Mookerji|1988|p=38}}<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ADJpAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA99 |title=A Cabinet of Greek Curiosities: Strange Tales and Surprising Facts from the Cradle of Western Civilization |author=J. C. McKeown |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2013 |isbn=9780199982110 |page=99 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Athenaeus (of Naucratis) |author-link=Athenaeus |others=Literally Translated by C. D. Yonge, B. A. |title=The Deipnosophists, or, Banquet of the learned of Athenaeus |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g98IAAAAQAAJ |volume=III |year=1854 |publisher=Henry G. Bohn |location=London |page=1044 |id=Original Classification Number: 888 A96d tY55 1854 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231230353/http://books.google.com/books?id=g98IAAAAQAAJ |archive-date=31 December 2013}}</ref> Bindusara's request for a sophist probably reflects his intention to learn about the Greek philosophy.{{sfn|Irfan Habib|Vivekanand Jha|2004|p=20}}

[[Diodorus Siculus|Diodorus]] states that the king of Palibothra ([[Pataliputra]], the Mauryan capital) welcomed a Greek author, [[Iambulus]]. This king is usually identified as Bindusara.{{sfn|Sen|1999|p=142}} [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] states that the Egyptian king [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus|Philadelphus]] sent an envoy named [[Dionysius (ambassador)|Dionysius]] to India.{{sfn|Irfan Habib|Vivekanand Jha|2004|p=20}}<ref>''India, the Ancient Past'', Burjor Avari, p.108-109</ref> According to Sailendra Nath Sen, this appears to have happened during Bindusara's reign.{{sfn|Sen|1999|p=142}}

== Religion ==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = Sanchi Temple 40.jpg
| width1 = 217
| caption1 = <center>An inscription at [[:Commons:category:Sanchi Temple 40|Temple 40]] in [[Sanchi]] suggests Bindusura may have been connected to its construction and to Buddhism.<ref name="IAI"/> 3rd century BCE</center>
| image2 = IA Temple 40 Sanchi.jpg
| width2 = 160
| caption2 = <center>Conjectural recontruction of timber-built Temple 40 in [[Sanchi]].</center>
}}
The Buddhist texts ''[[Samantapasadika]]'' and ''[[Mahavamsa]]'' suggest that Bindusara followed [[Brahmanism]], calling him a "''Brahmana bhatto''" ("votary of the Brahmanas").<ref name="SMH_2001"/><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=79w9AAAAMAAJ |title=Asoka and His Inscriptions |volume=1 |author=Beni Madhab Barua |author-link=Benimadhab Barua |publisher=The New Age|year=1968 |page=171 }}</ref> According to the Jain sources, Bindusara's father Chandragupta adopted [[Jainism]] before his death. However, they are silent on Bindusara's faith, and there is no evidence to show that Bindusara was a Jain.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ooUEAAAAYAAJ |title=Royal patronage of Buddhism in ancient India |author=Kanai Lal Hazra |publisher=D.K. |year=1984 |page=58 }}</ref> A fragmentary inscription at [[Sanchi]], in the ruins of the 3rd century BCE [[:Commons:category:Sanchi Temple 40|Temple 40]], perhaps refers to Bindusara, which might suggest his connection with the [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] order at Sanchi.{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=331}}<ref name="IAI">{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Upinder |title=The Idea of Ancient India: Essays on Religion, Politics, and Archaeology |date=2016 |publisher=SAGE Publications India |isbn=9789351506454 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zmAlDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT67 |language=ar}}</ref>

Some Buddhist texts mention that an [[Ajivika]] astrologer or priest at Bindusara's court prophesied the future greatness of the prince Ashoka.<ref name="ALB_Ajivika">{{cite book |last=Basham |first=A.L. |title=History and Doctrines of the Ājīvikas | year=1951 |edition=2nd |publisher=Luzac & Company | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=BiGQzc5lRGYC |isbn= 81-208-1204-2 |pages=146–147 }}</ref> The ''Pamsupradanavadana'' (part of ''[[Divyavadana]]'') names this man as Pingalavatsa.{{sfn|Guruge|1993|p=27}} The ''Vamsatthappakasini'' (the ''Mahavamsa'' commentary) names this man as Janasana, based on a commentary on ''[[Majjhima Nikaya]]''.<ref name="SMH_2001">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jOkQAQAAIAAJ |title=Buddhism in India and Sri Lanka (c. 300 BC to C. 600 AD) |author=S. M. Haldhar |publisher=Om |year=2001 |isbn=9788186867532 |page=38 }}</ref>

The ''Divyavadana'' version states that Pingalavatsa was an Ajivika ''parivrajaka'' (wandering teacher). Bindusara asked him to assess the ability of the princes to be the next emperor, as the two watched the princes play. Pingalavatsa recognized Ashoka as the most suitable prince, but did not give a definitive answer to the Emperor, since Ashoka was not Bindusara's favourite son. He, however, told Queen [[Subhadrangi]] of Ashoka's future greatness. The Queen requested him to leave the kingdom before the Emperor forced him to provide an answer. Pingalavatsa returned to the court after Bindusara's death.<ref name="ALB_Ajivika"/>

The ''Mahavamsa'' commentary states that Janasana (also Jarasona or Jarasana) was the Queen's ''kulupaga'' (ascetic of the royal household). He had been born as a python during the period of [[Kassapa Buddha]], and had become very wise after listening to the discussions of the [[bhikkhu]]s. Based on his observations of the Queen's pregnancy, he prophesied Ashoka's future greatness. He appears to have left the court for unknown reasons. When Ashoka grew up, the Queen told him that Janasana had forecast his greatness. Ashoka then sent a carriage to bring back Janasana, who was residing at an unnamed place far from the capital, [[Pataliputra]]. On the way back to Pataliputra, he was converted to Buddhism by one Assagutta.<ref name="ALB_Ajivika"/>

Based on these legends, scholars such as [[Arthur Llewellyn Basham|A. L. Basham]] conclude that Bindusara patronized the Ajivikas.<ref name="ALB_Ajivika"/>{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=331}}

== Death and succession ==

Historical evidence suggests that Bindusara died in the 270s BCE. According to Upinder Singh, Bindusara died around 273 BCE.{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=331}} [[Alain Daniélou]] believes that he died around 274 BCE.{{sfn|Daniélou|2003|p=109}} Sailendra Nath Sen believes that he died around 273-272 BCE, and that his death was followed by a four-year struggle of succession, after which his son [[Ashoka]] became the emperor in 269-268 BCE.{{sfn|Sen|1999|p=142}}

[[File:Mauryan King Bindusara Empire.jpg|thumb| Emperor Bindusara Empire]]

According to the ''Mahavamsa'', Bindusara reigned for 28 years, while according to the Puranas, he ruled for 25 years.{{sfn|Romila Thapar|1961|p=13}} The Buddhist text ''[[Mañjuśrī-mūla-kalpa|Manjushri-Mula-Kalpa]]'' claims that he ruled for 70 years, which is not historically accurate.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e9gcAAAAMAAJ |title=Bimbisāra to Aśoka: With an Appendix on the Later Mauryas |author=Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya |publisher=Roy and Chowdhury |year=1977 |page=102 }}</ref>

All sources agree that Bindusara was succeeded by his son [[Ashoka]], although they provide varying descriptions of the circumstances of this succession. According to the ''Mahavamsa'', Ashoka had been appointed as the viceroy of Ujjain. On hearing about his father's fatal illness, he rushed to the capital, Pataliputra. There, he killed his 99 brothers (leaving only Tishya), and became the new emperor.{{sfn|Srinivasachariar|1974|p=lxxxvii}}

According to the prose version of ''Ashokavadana'', Bindusara's favourite son Sushima once playfully threw his [[gauntlet (glove)|gauntlet]] at the prime minister, Khallataka. The minister thought that Sushima was unworthy of being an emperor. Therefore, he approached the 500 royal councillors, and suggested appointing Ashoka as the emperor after Bindusara's death, pointing out that the [[devata]]s had predicted his rise as the universal ruler. Sometime later, Bindusara fell sick and decided to hand over the administration to his successor. He asked his ministers to appoint Sushima as the emperor, and Ashoka as the governor of Takshashila. However, by this time, Sushima had been sent to Takshashila, where he was unsuccessfully trying to quell a rebellion. When the Emperor was on his deathbed, the ministers suggested appointing Ashoka as the temporary emperor, and re-appointing Sushima as the emperor after his return from Takshashila. However, Bindusara became angry when he heard this suggestion. Ashoka then declared that if he was meant to be Bindusara's successor, the devatas would appoint him as the emperor. The devatas then miraculously placed the royal crown on his head, while Bindusara died. When Sushima heard this news, he advanced towards Pataliputra to claim the throne. However, he died after being tricked into a pit of burning [[charcoal]] by Ashoka's well-wisher Radhagupta.<ref name="EB_legends"/>{{sfn|Singh|2008|p=331-332}}

The ''Rajavali-Katha'' states that Bindusara [[sannyasa|retired]] after handing over the throne to Ashoka.<ref name="BLRice_1889"/>

== In popular culture ==
* [[Gerson da Cunha]] portrayed Bindusara in the 2001 [[Bollywood]] film, ''[[Aśoka (film)|Aśoka]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://m.rediff.com/movies/2001/oct/24slide1.htm |title=Asoka |author=Sukanya Verma |publisher=[[rediff.com]] |date=24 October 2001 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824093259/http://m.rediff.com/movies/2001/oct/24slide1.htm |archive-date=24 August 2017}}</ref>

* [[Sameer Dharmadhikari]] plays the role of Bindusara in the television series, ''[[Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat]]''.<ref>{{citation |title=Happy Birthday Sameer Dharamadhikari |url=http://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/happy-birthday-sameer-dharamadhikari/Raja-Bindusara-turns-37-today/photostory/49104437.cms |work=[[The Times of India]]|date=25 September 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517060201/http://m.timesofindia.com/tv/news/hindi/happy-birthday-sameer-dharamadhikari/Raja-Bindusara-turns-37-today/photostory/49104437.cms |archive-date=17 May 2017}}</ref>
* [[Siddharth Nigam]] plays Bindusara in the television series ''[[Chandra Nandni]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abplive.in/television/avneet-kaur-joins-chandra-nandni-opposite-siddharth-nigam-563694 |title=Avneet Kaur joins 'Chandra Nandni' opposite Siddharth Nigam |publisher=ABP Live |date=10 August 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824133157/http://www.abplive.in/television/avneet-kaur-joins-chandra-nandni-opposite-siddharth-nigam-563694 |archive-date=24 August 2017}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book |last=Daniélou |first=Alain |author-link=Alain Daniélou |title=A Brief History of India |url=https://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofin00dani |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/briefhistoryofin00dani/page/139 139] |year=2003 |publisher=Inner Traditions / Bear & Co |isbn=978-1-59477-794-3 }}
* {{cite book |first=Ananda W. P. |last=Guruge |author-link=Ananda W. P. Guruge |title=Aśoka, the Righteous: A Definitive Biography |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dwjjAAAAMAAJ |year=1993 |publisher=Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Information |isbn=978-955-9226-00-0 }}
* {{citation |last=Kosmin |first=Paul J. |author-link=Paul J. Kosmin |title=The Land of the Elephant Kings: Space, Territory, and Ideology in Seleucid Empire |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9UWdAwAAQBAJ |publisher=[[Harvard University Press]] |date=2014 |isbn=978-0-674-72882-0 }}
* {{citation |last=Mookerji |first=Radha Kumud |author-link=Radha Kumud Mukherjee |title=Chandragupta Maurya and his times |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i-y6ZUheQH8C |edition=4th |year=1988 |orig-year=first published in 1966 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |isbn=81-208-0433-3 }}
* {{cite book |last=Sastri |first=K. A. Nilakanta |author-link=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri |title=Age of the Nandas and Mauryas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YoAwor58utYC&pg=PA165 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1988 |isbn=9788120804661 }}
* {{cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra Nath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC&pg=PA172 |title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization |publisher=New Age International |year=1999 |isbn=9788122411980 }}
* {{cite book |last=Singh |first=Upinder |title=A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H3lUIIYxWkEC&pg=PA331 |year=2008 |publisher=Pearson Education India |isbn=978-81-317-1120-0 }}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4dVRvVyHaiQC&pg=PR87 |title=History of Classical Sanskrit Literature |first=M. |last=Srinivasachariar |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1974 |isbn=9788120802841 }}
* {{cite book |author1=Irfan Habib |author2=Vivekanand Jha |title=Mauryan India |series=A People's History of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nUvGQgAACAAJ |year=2004 |publisher=Aligarh Historians Society / [[Tulika Books]] |isbn=978-81-85229-92-8 }}
* {{cite book |author=Romila Thapar |title=Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryas |year=1961 |publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pwJuAAAAMAAJ }}
{{ref end}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:3rd-century BC Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:Mauryan emperors]]
[[Category:270s BC deaths]]

Bindusara - Revision history

51.195.233.10 at 00:25, 14 January 2024