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Summary

Ancient India Class 05

## Doubts related to past class (5:07 PM)

## Saptanga Rajya (continued) (5:17 PM)

- ***Amatyas:***
- It includes all high officials such as Mantrin (ministers), Purohit (Priest), Senapati(commander-in-chief), and Yuvraj (Prince).
- some other important officials were called Mahamattas and Adhyaksha is known for important administrative and judicial functions.
- The chief collector of revenue was called Samharti.
- the chief treasurer was called Samnidhatri.
- Arthashastra also mentions officers at the district level known as Pradeshika, Rajuka, and Yukta.
- ***Janpads:***
- Apart from Magadha, the empire was divided into at least 4 provinces.
- The southern province with its capital Suvarngiri.
- A western province with its capital Ujjayini.
- A northern province with its capital Taxila.
- An eastern province with its capital Tosali.
- The village administration was very efficient with many headquarters, for example:
- At the level of 800 villages, HQ was called Sthaniya
- At the level of 400 villages, HQ was called Donamukha.
- at the level of 200 villages, HQ was called Karvatika.
- At the level of 10 villages, HQ was called Samgrahana.
- The village headmen were called Gramika and village elders known as Gramvridhas also played a role in the administration.
- At Patliputra the municipal administration was quite efficient, the entire administration was conducted by 6 committees having 5 members in each of these committees.
- These committees were for industry, foreigners, birth and death registration, trade commerce and market regulation, manufactured articles, and tax collection.
- ***Durga (fortified capital):***
- There were 4 divisions of the army as per Arthashastra:
- Infantry (headed by Patydhaksha).
- Cavalry (headed by Ashvadhyaksha).
- Chariots (headed by Rathadhyaksha).
- Elephants (headed by Hastadhyaksha).
- Megasthenes mentions 6 branches of the army and including the navy and a separate department for transportation and supervision of equipment.
- In addition, there is mention of periodic levies of troops such as  Maula(hereditary warriors), Bhartiakas(mercenaries) forest, and tribe soldiers.
- ***Kosha(treasury):***
- Land revenue was the major source of income.
- Peasants had to pay 1/6th of their Produce known as Bhaga as well as an extra tax known as Bali as tribute.
- Arthashastra recognizes both state and privately-owned land.
- The state-owned land was taken care officers known as Sitadhyaksha.
- The owner of the land was called Ksehtrika and the tenant was called Upavasa.
- Many other taxes such as Pindkara (a cess on a group of villages), Hiranya (only paid in cash), Kara (levied on fruits and vegetables), and Pranaya (emergency tax) are mentioned.
- Apart from agriculture textile manufacturing, mining and metallurgy, and trading were other important activities.
- The reproduction of Iron was monopolized by Mauryans under Lohadhyaksha.
- Arthashastra mentions the concept of Sunyanivesh which is establishing settlements in unoccupied lands.
- Mauryans used silver coins and copper coins, and the officer in charge of coinage was Rupadarshaka.
- ***Danda (Justice):***
- Kautilya refers to 2 types of courts- Dharmasthiya (which may have dealt with civil matters) and Kantakshodhanas (which may have dealt with civil matters).
- Judges were called Dharmastha, however, the Ashokan inscription mentions that even Mahamattas were given judicial function.
- Pradeshtris was responsible for the separation of criminals.
- The nature of punishment depended on the severity of the crime as well as the varna of the offender.
- Severe punishments such as amputation and decapitation were also practised.
- ***Mitra (Ally):***
- Arthashastra discusses interstate policies and lists 6 policies knowns as shad Gunya:
- The policy of Sandhi (If one is weaker than the enemy)
- The policy of Vigraha (if one is stronger than the enemy).
- The policy of Asana (If one is equal to the enemy).
- The policy of Yana (if one is much stronger than the enemy).
- The Policy of Samshraya (if one is very weak).
- The policy of Dvaidbhava (a dual policy which includes sandhi with one and Vigraha with another).
- Arthashastra is written from the perspective of Vijigishu (to be conqueror).
- It mentions 3 types of conquer:
- Asurvijayana- demonic victory where the conqueror seizes land, and riches and kills the family of the enemy.
- Lobhavijayana-  conquest is motivated by greed for land and riches.
- Dharmavijayana- Righteous conqueror who is satisfied with the submission of the enemy.
- Many diplomatic positions are also mentioned such as Nisrihartha Dutt, Parimitartha Dutt, and Sasnhara Dutt.

## Ashokan inscription (6:37 PM)

- Ashoka was an ardent follower of buddha's teaching.
- He organized the 3rd Buddist council at Patliputra.
- He is credited with the redistribution of the relics of Buddha and enshrining them in every important town in stupas.
- Ashoka's dhamma was very much inspired by Buddhist teaching.
- Ideas of Dhamma were inscribed on rocks and pillars and we find them in a different part of the Indian subcontinent.
- There are 14 major rock edicts:
- ***Rock edict 1:***
- It prohibits the animal slaughter
- 2 peacocks and 1 deer were killed in the Mauryan kitchen, and Ashoka wished to discontinue this practice.
- ***Rock edict 2:***
- It talks about care for man and animals.
- It also mentions Chola, Chera, Pandya, and Satya Putras from the southernmost region.
- ***Rock edict 3:***
- Generosity to brahmins.
- It also mentions that Yuktas, Pradeshikas, and Rajukas shall go to all areas of the kingdom every 5 years and spread the Dhamma policy of Ashoka.
- ***Rock edict 4:***
- It mentions Dhammagosha over Bherighosa.
- ***Rock edict 5:***
- Concerns about slaves.
- It also mentions Ashoka saying every human is my child.
- This is an example of paternal disposition.
- A special cadre of Mahamattas was appointed to spread Dhamma.
- ***Rock edict 6:***
- It mentioned the king's desire to be informed about the condition of people and talks about welfare measures
- ***Rock edict 7:***
- It requests tolerance for all religions.
- ***Rock edict 8:***
- It describes Ashoka's dhamma yatra Bodhagaya and Bodhitree.
- ***Rock edict 9:***
- It condemns popular ceremonies and stresses ceremonies of Dhamma.
- ***Rock edict 10:***
- It condemns the desire for fame and glory.
- ***Rock edict 11:***
- It further elaborates on dharma.
- It talks about respect for elders and concern for slaves and servants.
- ***Rock edict 12:***
- It directs and determined requests for tolerance among different religious sects.
- It mentions a special cadre of Mahamattas knowns as Ithjika Mahamatta(in charge of women's welfare)
- ***Rock edict 13:***
- It is the largest inscription.
- It talks about Ashoka's victory over Kalinga and mentions the high number of casualties in the war.
- It further emphasizes Dhamma to be for most victory.
- It mentions Dhammaghosha over many kingdoms such as greek rulers, Ptolemy-III of Egypt, Magas of Cyrene, King of Macedonia as well as southern kingdoms of Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas.
- ***Rock edict 14:***
- It describes the engraving of inscriptions in different parts of the country.
- Ashoka uses his name at only 4 places in minor rock edicts- Muski(Karnataka), Udegolam(Karnataka), Gujjara(MP), and Nittur(Karnataka).

## The decline of the Mauryan empire (7:28 PM)

- In the absence of sources, we have to save the general reasons for the decline, that is:
- Military might decline.
- Administrative infrastructure weakened.
- Many may have not liked the ideological orientation of rulers.
- In 187 BC Brihadratha was killed by brahmin commander Pushyamitra shunga.

## Shunga Dynasty (7:37 PM)

- ***Pushyamitra shunga (187-75 BC):***
- He founded the Shunga dynasty.
- Magadha empire was now limited to northern territories.
- Patliputa was attacked by 2 greek kings- Menander and Demetrius and, Pushyamitra successfully defended himself.
- He also defended Patliputra from Kalinga king Kharavela from the Chedi dynasty.
- During his reign, the Sanchi stupa was renovated.
- However, a Buddhist text mentions the hostility of Pushyamitra towards Buddhism.
- Pushyamitra patronaged Sanskrit grammarian Patanjali who is known for his work Mahabhashya.
- His son Agnimitra became the next ruler.
- Agnimitra is the hero of a play written by Kalidas Malvikagnimitra.
- the last ruler of the Shunga Dynasty was Devabhuti who was killed by  Vasudeva Kanva and established the Kanva dynasty.
- But this dynasty did not last long and the last Kanva ruler was defeated by the Satvanaha king.

## The topic of the next class: Satvahanas.