Topic overview
- Religion under the Mauryas was characterized by remarkable religious pluralism, royal patronage of diverse sects, and a fundamental shift from Vedic ritualism to ethical governance under Ashoka.
- Buddhism received extensive state patronage from Ashoka, transforming from a regional ascetic movement into a pan-Asian world religion through systematic missionary activities.
- Jainism held deep royal connections, famously evidenced by Chandragupta Maurya's abdication and ritual starvation at Shravanabelagola according to Digambara tradition.
- Brahmanism and popular folk cults such as Yakshas, Nagas, and Vedic deities coexisted harmoniously alongside heterodox movements without state persecution.
- Epigraphic evidence, particularly the Major and Minor Rock Edicts and Pillar Edicts of Ashoka, serves as the primary historical source for reconstructing Mauryan religious policy.
Concept 1
Ashokan Dhamma and Ethical Governance
Ashoka formulated Dhamma as a universal moral code independent of specific sectarian dogmas.
Details
- Ashoka defined Dhamma in Pillar Edict II and Minor Rock Edict I as consisting of minimum sin, many good deeds, compassion, liberality, truthfulness, and purity.
- Dhamma was not a new religion or a sectarian creed of Buddhism, but a socio-ethical code designed to promote social harmony and moral order.
- The policy of Dhamma prohibited animal sacrifices, violent rituals, and cruel treatment of prisoners and animals.
- Ashoka appointed special officers called Dhamma-mahamatras in his 14th regnal year to propagate and monitor Dhamma across all social strata.
- Religious tolerance was a core tenet of Dhamma, explicitly mandated in Rock Edict XII, which commands respect for all religious sects.
Remember
- First propagated actively after the Kalinga War in 261 BCE.
- Exemplified in Major Rock Edict XII advocating concord among all sects.
- Enforced through a specialized bureaucratic cadre of Dhamma-mahamatras.
- Emphasized non-injury (ahimsa) to living creatures and filial piety.
Examples & sources
- Pillar Edict II questioning 'What is Dhamma?' and answering it with minimal evil and maximum good.
- Barabar Cave inscriptions dedicating shelters to the Ajivika sect, proving royal religious tolerance.
Compare
- Dhamma was an ethical framework for societal harmony, whereas Buddhism was a structured monastic and soteriological religion.
- Vedic religion prioritized ritual sacrifices and caste duties, whereas Dhamma prioritized moral action and social welfare regardless of caste.
Common confusions
- Ashoka converted to Buddhism and made it the official state religion, compelling subjects to convert.
- Dhamma was merely a political propaganda tool with no genuine moral conviction.
Exam points
- Identify Dhamma-mahamatras and their specific functions.
- Recall the contents of Rock Edict XII regarding religious harmony.
- Differentiate between Ashoka's personal Buddhism and public Dhamma.
Concept 2
State Patronage and Institutionalization of Buddhism
The Mauryan state under Ashoka elevated Buddhism to imperial prominence and institutionalized its canon.
Details
- Chandragupta Maurya and Bindusara patronized heterodox sects, but Ashoka became an ardent lay follower (Upasaka) after the Kalinga War.
- Ashoka undertook pilgrimage tours (Dhammayatras) to sacred Buddhist sites like Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar.
- The Third Buddhist Council was convened at Pataliputra under the patronage of Ashoka and the presidentship of Moggaliputta Tissa around 250 BCE.
- Missionaries were dispatched to foreign lands and regions including Gandhara, Kashmir, Suvarnabhumi, and Sri Lanka (led by Mahendra and Sanghamitra).
- Ashokan edicts at Lumbini (Rummindei Pillar Inscription) exempted the birthplace of the Buddha from the tax of bali and reduced bhaga to an eighth.
Remember
- Third Buddhist Council purged the Sangha of heretical elements and finalized the Abhidhamma Pitaka.
- Rummindei Inscription provides direct epigraphic proof of Ashoka's Buddhist pilgrimage and economic concessions.
- Missionary network transformed Buddhism into a pan-Asian phenomenon.
- Stupas and monasteries were constructed across the empire, including the Sanchi and Bharhut core structures.
Examples & sources
- Dispatch of Buddhist monks Mahendra and Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka during Tissa's reign.
- Construction of the original brick stupa at Sanchi by Ashoka.
Compare
- Pre-Ashokan Buddhism was a regional North Indian ascetic order, whereas Mauryan Buddhism became an international missionary religion.
- Early Buddhism lacked monumental architectural patronage, which the Mauryan state lavishly provided through stupas and monolithic pillars.
Common confusions
- Ashoka established Buddhism as the compulsory state religion of the Mauryan Empire.
- All Mauryan emperors were devout Buddhists.
Exam points
- Recall the patron, location, and president of the Third Buddhist Council.
- Identify the significance of the Rummindei and Nigali Sagar inscriptions.
- Trace the missionary routes and leaders mentioned in Ceylonese chronicles and epigraphy.
Concept 3
Jainism and the Early Mauryan Rulers
Jainism enjoyed significant early imperial patronage, particularly through Chandragupta Maurya.
Details
- According to Digambara literary traditions such as Hemachandra's Parishishtaparvan, Chandragupta Maurya abdicated the throne in favor of Bindusara.
- Chandragupta allegedly converted to Jainism and migrated to Shravanabelagola in Karnataka with the Jain ascetic Bhadrabahu.
- Chandragupta ended his life through the Jain ritual of Sallekhana (voluntary fasting to death) at Chandragiri hill.
- The early Mauryan administrative core in Magadha maintained strong ties with Jain ascetics and communities.
- Jainism retained a strong mercantile following in western and southern India during the Mauryan epoch.
Remember
- Primary literary source: Parishishtaparvan by Hemachandra and Rajavali-kathe.
- Key historical site: Shravanabelagola (Chandragiri hill), Karnataka.
- Ritual practice: Sallekhana or Santhara.
- Secular support: Early Mauryan rulers provided patronage to Digambara and early Jain monastic orders.
Examples & sources
- Chandragupta Maurya's migration to Shravanabelagola with Bhadrabahu.
- Naming of Chandragiri hill after Chandragupta Maurya.
Compare
- Jainism received its peak royal patronage during the early Mauryan period under Chandragupta, whereas Buddhism peaked later under Ashoka.
- Jain monastic discipline required strict asceticism and Sallekhana, whereas Buddhist monasticism practiced the Middle Path within organized sanghas.
Common confusions
- Ashoka promoted Jainism alongside Buddhism in his later edicts.
- Jainism was completely eclipsed by Buddhism throughout the entire Mauryan period.
Exam points
- Identify the association between Chandragupta Maurya, Bhadrabahu, and Shravanabelagola.
- Recognize Parishishtaparvan as a key literary text for Mauryan-Jain connections.
- Understand the distinction between early Mauryan Jain patronage and later Ashokan Buddhist patronage.
Concept 4
The Ajivikas and Other Heterodox Sects
The Ajivikas, founded by Gosala Maskariputra, received generous patronage from Mauryan emperors including Bindusara and Ashoka.
Details
- The Ajivikas were a prominent heterodox fatalistic sect (Niyati doctrine) that denied the efficacy of human free will and karma.
- Emperor Bindusara and his queen Subhadrangi were ardent followers and patrons of the Ajivika ascetic community.
- Ashoka demonstrated absolute religious impartiality by dedicating rock-cut caves in the Barabar Hills to the Ajivika ascetics.
- The Barabar Cave inscriptions (Sudama, Karna Chaupar, and Lomas Rishi) explicitly record royal donations to the Ajivikas during Ashoka's 12th and 19th regnal years.
- Dasharatha Maurya, the grandson of Ashoka, also patronized the Ajivikas, as evidenced by the Nagarjuni Cave inscriptions.
Remember
- Core philosophical doctrine: Niyati (Absolute Determinism).
- Key epigraphic evidence: Barabar and Nagarjuni Cave inscriptions in Jehanabad district, Bihar.
- Royal patrons: Bindusara, Ashoka, and Dasharatha Maurya.
- Architectural legacy: Earliest examples of rock-cut architecture in India.
Examples & sources
- Sudama Cave inscription recording its dedication to the Ajivikas by Ashoka.
- Nagarjuni Cave inscriptions recording donations by Dasharatha Maurya.
Compare
- Ajivikas preached complete fatalism (Niyati), whereas Buddhists and Jains emphasized human effort and karma.
- Ajivika patronage spanned multiple generations of Mauryan rulers from Bindusara to Dasharatha, defying the myth of exclusive Buddhist monopoly.
Common confusions
- Ashoka persecuted all non-Buddhist sects after his conversion.
- The Ajivikas disappeared immediately after the rise of the Mauryas.
Exam points
- Locate and identify the Barabar and Nagarjuni cave inscriptions.
- Match Bindusara and Dasharatha with Ajivika patronage.
- Understand the philosophical tenets of the Ajivika sect.
Concept 5
Brahmanism and Popular Folk Religious Cults
Brahmanism and indigenous folk cults retained a vibrant presence among the populace during the Mauryan period.
Details
- Brahmanical priests (Brahmans) continued to receive royal land grants, stipends, and high status in administrative advisory roles.
- Megasthenes notes the presence of philosophers divided into Brachmanes (Brahmans) and Sarmanes (Sramanas), acknowledging Brahmanical prominence.
- Popular worship of nature spirits, Yakshas, Nagas, trees, and fertility deities flourished among the rural and urban masses.
- Monumental stone sculptures of Yakshas and Yakshinis (such as the Parkham Yaksha and Didarganj Yakshini) date to the Mauryan era.
- Bhagavatism or early Vaishnavism began gaining traction, evidenced by the Besnagar pillar inscription of Heliodorus from the immediate post-Mauryan Sunga period, reflecting roots in this era.
Remember
- Primary classical source: Indica by Megasthenes describing Brachmanes.
- Artistic evidence: Monumental polished sandstone Yaksha/Yakshini statues with Mauryan polish.
- Coexistence: Brahmanism operated alongside Buddhism, Jainism, and Ajivikism without systemic state oppression.
- Sacrifice: Animal sacrifice in Vedic rituals was curtailed by Ashokan edicts, but Brahmanical rituals continued in private.
Examples & sources
- Didarganj Yakshini statue showcasing characteristic Mauryan polish.
- Parkham Yaksha statue from Mathura dating to the Mauryan period.
Compare
- Heterodox sects received royal missionary backing, whereas Brahmanism maintained traditional hereditary roles and localized patronage.
- Folk cults focused on local protective deities (Yakshas), whereas Buddhism and Jainism offered universal soteriological paths.
Common confusions
- Brahmanism was suppressed by Ashoka due to his promotion of Buddhism.
- Mauryan art was exclusively Buddhist in theme and purpose.
Exam points
- Identify Megasthenes' classification of Brachmanes and Sarmanes.
- Recognize the iconography and provenance of the Didarganj Yakshini.
- Evaluate the status of Brahmanism under Ashoka's edicts restricting animal slaughter.
Concept 6
Mauryan Religious Architecture and Art
Mauryan religious art witnessed the transition from perishable wood and thatch to monumental polished stone structures.
Details
- Ashokan pillars (Stambhas or Lats) carved from single blocks of Chunar sandstone displayed a mirror-like polish and served as religious-political markers.
- Stupas, originally mound-like burial tumuli for holy relics, were massively expanded and institutionalized as Buddhist religious centers.
- Rock-cut architecture commenced with the excavation of monastic shelters in the Barabar and Nagarjuni hills for ascetics.
- The Mauryan palace at Kumrahar (Pataliputra), described by Megasthenes, possessed religious and ceremonial hypostyle hall characteristics.
- Animal capitals on pillars (such as lions, bulls, and elephants) carried deep religious and cosmological symbolism rooted in Indian and Achaemenid traditions.
Remember
- Material: Chunar sandstone with distinctive high gloss (Mauryan polish).
- Key sites: Sanchi, Sarnath, Barabar Hills, Rampurva, and Basarah-Bakhira.
- Architectural types: Monolithic pillars, rock-cut caves, stupas, and wooden-stone palatial halls.
- Symbolism: Sarnath Lion Capital adopted as the National Emblem of India.
Examples & sources
- Sarnath Lion Capital featuring the Dharma Chakra and four guardian lions.
- Lomas Rishi Cave in Barabar Hills featuring an ocha-shaped facade imitating wooden architecture.
Compare
- Mauryan religious architecture utilized durable stone on a monumental scale for the first time since the Indus Valley Civilization.
- Subsequent periods developed rock-cut chaityas and viharas, whereas the Mauryas pioneered the initial rock-cut cave excavations.
Common confusions
- Mauryan pillar architecture was entirely copied from Persian Achaemenid models without indigenous elements.
- All Mauryan religious monuments were Buddhist.
Exam points
- Identify the source of Chunar sandstone used in Mauryan pillars.
- Analyze the features of the Lomas Rishi Cave facade.
- Distinguish between court art (pillars, capitals) and popular art (Yakshas).