Mauryan Administration - Part 1.

Everyone wants to know and has great curiosity that how Mauryan, the winner of Magadha (Nand dynesty) and  Seleucus (the general of Alexander and after his death Ruler of Iran Mesopotamia and Syria) and ruler of greater India Arunanchal to Afghanistan (Hindukush Mountain, the natural boundary of India) ‘which even Britisher’s couldn’t achieve’ ruled the country, India.

Mahavansatika says ‘सकले जम्बदीपस्मिं रञ्ज समिभिसिंचि सो ‘means Chandragupta was the ruler of the whole ‘Jambudeepa’ (Indian sub continent or Bharta).  Justin says – ‘......in possession of India’. 

Chanakaya says ‘तस्यां हिमवत् समुदरान्तरं उदीचीनं योजनसहस्त् परिमानं अतियॅक् चकवतिॅछतरम्’.

Rudradaman’s Junagarh inscription says that this area is under Chandragupta’s rule.

How was Mauryan Administration?

Really it’s not easy to rule a country which is near about equal to entire Europe.

A country of diverse culture, tradition, language, thought and races. So it’s really surprising, how the country was under one rule and the capital was in the Eastern side “the great Patliputra” from where India is ruled for near about 1,000 years.

In those ancient time in BC 322 how difficult it was to handle this big state. Communication was not like of modern age nor was the roads.

There was a grand network of roads, which were marked with pillars at every 10 stadia.

The roads were provided with shady groves and wells. There was hospital for both men and animal. The fastest source of communication was postman or soldier on the back of horses with Royal letter or letters.

Control was maintained over the most distant officials by an army of secret reporters, itinerant (traveller with a regular route) judges. Certainly the central rule was strong and no one dare to challenge it. Hospital were everywhere in the empire for men and animal.

During the Chandragupta period the nation was building, there were wars and administration was under the strict guidance of ‘great Chanakaya’ the Guru, Philosopher, Guide and Acharya of Emperor Chandragupta who was looking after the work of nation and was building it.

He was the ‘Mukhaya Amatya’ (Prime Minister) of Mauryan Empire.  We also know him as the author of ‘Arthsastra’ a great book on Administration, Politics, Diplomacy and Economics.

 Chanakaya is also known as Kautalya and Vishnugupta. 

The whole India from North to South, East to West (Arunanchal to Afghanistan, Hindukush Mountain; the natural boundary of India) was under the one Mauryan rule which saw the first true Empire and the first true Emperor.

Mauryan rule was totally centralised and was divided into many sub states. During the period of Ashoka the nation was divided into 5 states or administrative zones. Patliputra was the capital.

5 states or zones are –

(1).Uttrapath (Northern areas) – Kamboja, Gandhara, Kashmir, Afghanistan, Punjab etc.

Taxsila was the capital of this zone.

(2). Avanti – Rastra – Kathiawar, Gujarat, Malwa and Rajputana (today’s Rajasthan).

(3). Dakshinapath – In it were the total areas of southern side of mountain Vindhya.  Suvernagiri was its capital.

(4). Kalinga – Tosali was its capital.

(5). Madhyadesh – in it were Today’s Uttarpradesh and Prachya Pradesh (Bihar – Bengal). Patliputra was its capital.

Each state or zone was divided into many Janpada (district).

Under Janpada there were many small administrative blocks.

They are –

a. Sthanaya – In it there were 800 villages.

b. Dronmukh – In it 400 villages.

c. Kharotik – Under it were 200 villages.

d. Sangrah – Under it were 100 villages.

e. Village – This is the smallest unit of administration.

This way Emperor had control over the nation. He was getting news from all over and from each corner of the state and his orders was advertised or circulated to the last people of the nation. In his inscriptions Ashoka writes that ‘The order of the king is above all orders’. Kautalya or Chanakaya called king ‘Dharma Pravaratak’ (king is known as Promulgator of social order).

In Arthsastra ‘Chanakaya’ declares “ Whatever pleases himself the king shall not consider as good, but whatever pleases his subjects he shall consider as good”. The king is also advised to show fatherly kindness to his people.

Jageswar a place of 124 Temples in Himalaya. One of the 12th JYTORLINGA. NAGESH IN DARUKA VAN.

                                                    Shops outside Temple

Temple

                                                    Way to Jageswar, beauty of Himalaya

                                                             

                                                               
                                                      Jagaswar Mahadev Temple

Jageswar is in Almora district of Uttarakhand. 

It is 500 + km from Delhi through Moradabad via Kalidunga, kashipur Nainital, Almora. 

The whole route is full of a lovely, full of excitement, adventurous and panoramic view. 

Pictures speak. The road crosses through Chid and Devdaru Forest and Mountain Himalaya starts from Kalidunga. 

Jagaswar is a religious as well as a beautiful tourist place in Himalaya. 

There is the Jagaswar Mahadev Temple of Jagaswar Jyotirlinga; due to this temple, this place is known as Jagaswar. 

Here, one will find 124 Temples in a single campus. 

Temples are 900 to 2,500 years old. 

These temples are Under ASI. The place Jagaswar is at the height of 5 thousand + feet.   

This place has panoramic view.   

Jagaswar is a Hindu pilgrimage town in Almora District, Uttrakhand, believed to carry the Nagesh Jytirlinga  dedicated to Shiva, located 36 km northeast of Almora, in Kumaun region. 

The temple city comprises a cluster of 124 large and small stone temples, dating 9th to 13th century AD. 

They are preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India  (ASI), which include Dandeshwar Temple, Chandi-ka-Temple, Jagaswar Temple, Kuber Temple, Mritunjaya Temple, Nanda Devi or Nau Durga, Nava-grah temple, a Pyramidal shrine, and Surya Temple. 

Amongst which the oldest shrine is the Mritunjaya Temple and the biggest shrine is the Dandeshwar Temple. 

Once the centre of Lakulish Shaivism, Jagaswar is located at an altitude of 1870 mts, in the Jata-ganga river valley near a Deodar forest (Cedrus deodara) starting from Artola village on Almora - Pithoragarh highway, where two streams Nandini and Surabhi flow down the hills in the narrow valley and meet near the sacred spot.

The Jagaswar Monsoon Festival, held between 15 July to 15 August takes place at Jagaswar during the Hindu calandar month of Shavan or Sharavana and the annual Maha Shivratri Mela (Shivratri festival), which takes place during spring has an important place in the calendar of the entire Kumaun   region.

In his Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotra Adi Sankaracharya  has mentioned this temple -

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् । उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोकांरममलेश्वरम् ।

परल्यां वैद्यनाथं च डाकिन्यां भीमशंकरम् । सेतुबंधे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारूकावने ।

वाराणस्यां तु विश्वेशं त्रयंम्बकं गौतमीतटे । हिमालये तु केदारं घुश्मेशं च शिवालये ।

ऐतानि ज्योतिर्लिंगानि सायं प्रातः पठेन्नरः । सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं स्मरणेन विनश्यति ।

The twelve Jyotirlingas are: -

 Somnath at Prabhas Patan, Saurashtra, Gujarat.

Sri Mallikarjun in Srisailam, near Kurnool,Andhra Pradesh, on the banks of river Krishna.Adi Sankaracharya composed his Sivanandalahiri here.

Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain (Avanti), Madhya Pradesh.

Omkareshwar in Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh, this jyotirlinga is situated on an island in the course of the river Narmada.

Vaidyanath temple at Deoghar,Santal Parganas area of Jharkhand.

Bhimashankar in Dakini and located in the Sahyadri hills,near Pune, Maharashtra.

Ramalingeswar in Setubandanam, Tamil Nadu.This is situated on vast temple island of Rameshwar. 

It is the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of India.

Nagesh in Jageshwar.

Vishwanath in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga shrine is intimately linked with the origin of the river Godavari near Nasik, Maharashtra.

Kedareswar in Kedarnath in Himalayas,Uttarakhand.

Ghrishneshwar in Devasrovar,near Ellora, Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

Life

 Life is Beautiful. It is a gift and never takes it for granted. Life is not easy but simple, if can live in it. Each day is a little life: Every waking and Rising a little birth, every fresh morning a little youth, every going to rest and sleep a little death and to realizing this dream is to focus not on success...but significance! Then...even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning! Memories are timeless treasure of the Heart. Love all!

Ancient Indian Literature, their Period and Historical importance . Last Part - 10, Historical and Contemporary books. .

                                                       Chanakya - Chandragupta

Historical and Contemporary books  - 

1. Kautiliya’s (Chanakaya, Visnugupta) Arthsastra – Its period is 4^th century BC.  The author of this book is Chanakaya, the Prime Minister of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.

In it, one can get Political, Social, Economical and Cultural history of India of that time (from Magadha to Afghanistan).

2. Gargi Sanihita - It describes the Yavana attack (Saka, Kusana etc). Its period is 1stcentury AD.

3. Malvikaginimitram – This is a drama written by Kalidasha. Its period of composition is end of 4^th century or the beginning of 5^th century. War between Pusyamitra Sung and Yavana is described in this book.

4. Mudraraksha – It’s a pure political drama written by Visakhadatta (600 – 700 AD).The play is based on the conspiracy and war between Nanda and Chanakaya – Chandragupta which ended after the fall and Death of Nanda.

5. Harsacharitra – This book is written by Banabhatta (7^th century AD). It gives details about the period of Harsa and his period, Political, Social, Cultural and Religious history of that time.

6. Kamandkiya Nitisastra – This book on Ethics is written by Kamandak (700 – 800 AD). This book throws light on that period, its custom, social behaviour etc.

7. Vrishapataya Arthsastra – Vrishapati has written this book on Arthsastra (900 – 1000 AD).In it too duty of a king, rule – regulation of a state. Duty of public etc is described.

This book is like Chanakaya’s Arthsastra.

8. Rajtarangini – This book is written by Kalhan (12^th century).

This book throws light on the history of Kashmir of that time. Political, Social, Cultural and Economic condition of that time is described in this book.  

9. Gaudwaho – Vak Patiraj has written this book and is written in Prakrit. Victory of Kannauj king Yashoverma is described in this book.

10. Navsahahsankcharitra – Parimal has written this book, which throws light on Parmar dynasty.

11. Vikramankdevcharit – Bilhan has written this book. Kalayani’s Chalukaya dynasty is the subject of this book.

12. Panini’s Asthadhayai - Originally it’s a book of grammar of Sanskrit. But it also throws light on political condition of Pre Maurya and Maurya period.

This book also says about grammarian’s of past, which conforms that even in past books on grammar was written.