File:भारतीय मौर्य साम्राज्य .png

Summary

Maximum extent of the Maurya Empire, as shown by the location of Ashoka's inscriptions, and visualized by modern archaeologist : Dougald J. W. O'Reilly [1], modern historian : Jackson J. Spielvogel[2] O'Brien,Patrick Karl[3],Upinder Singh[4];old historians:H. C. Raychaudhuri [5], Vincent Arthur Smith;[6] R. C. Majumdar;[7] and historical geographer:Joseph E. Schwartzberg.[8]

Mauryan Empire during 260 BCE.

• This map is based on the Book "Indian Historical Quarterly, Volume-13" which is published by ASI (Archeological Survey Of India) based on various inscriptions and ancient Greecian and Indian texts. https://archive.org/details/dli.calcutta.06445/page/n421/mode/1up

• Chandrgupta Maurya (322BCE) already won the Aria ,Kamboj ,Arachosia ,Gedrosia from Selucus.Bindusara expanded the empire by capturing whole Dakshinapatha. Ashoka defeated the Kalinga . ' Major Rock Edict XIII ' mentions about the victory of Ashoka over Kalinga. In Girnar Second Rock inscription Ashoka mentioned some detail about his Empire.

• The Ashoka on starting of this inscription used "सर्वत विजित" which same used in Sanskrit and Hindi too . Like सर्वत means Everywhere and विजित means Conquered after he mentioned his name wrote Rajyo word which is clearly means a province. Now coming from most important to Second line to Fifth line of Inscription which I think help a lot for map making .

2. एवमपि प्रचंतेसु यथा चोडा पाडा सतियपुतो केतलपुतो आतंब 3. पंणी अंतियको योनराजा ये वा पि तस अंतियकस सामीपं 4. राजानो सर्वत देवानंप्रियस प्रियदसिनो राजो द्वे चिकीछा कता 2. एवमपि प्रचंतेसु यथा चोडा पाडा सतियपुतो केतलपुतो आतंब 3. पंणी अंतियको योनराजा ये वा पि तस अंतियकस सामीपं 4. राजानो सर्वत देवानंप्रियस प्रियदसिनो राजो द्वे चिकीछा कता 5. मनुसचिकीछा च पसुचिकीछा च ओसुढानि च यानि मनुसोपगानि ~ Great Ashoka Girnar Second Rock inscription

As we clearly see , Ashoka mentioning in Girnar Second Rock Inscription that he is making Hospitals for Animals and Humans on the land of Antioch, Cholas, Keralputra and Pandyas .They're Ashoka vassals , they allow another region king Ashoka to built Hospitals in their territories and Ashoka not mentioned about any inner region (like Avanti, Dakshinapatha etc) in this list of independence provinces . Then it means that there all the inner region were Ashoka fully controlled " विजित " provinces.

• The Tamil text Cilappatikaram which is written during Ashoka Time mentioned that Pandya King paying tax to Mauryan Emperor (Ashoka ).Sangam litrature Tamil texts mentioned the small practice done during Emperor Bindusara time by local Mauryan General breaking down the mountains to make plane land so that their chariots easily passes to the southern lands to capture Southern tip . The local Mauryan general during Bindusara time not become successful and they got defeated by Southern forces but during time of Ashoka they become successful. Ashoka himself take part in Kalinga war as Kalinga refused to pay tax to Mauryan Emperor.

• The ancient Buddhist scripture, Dipavansha, which was written during the Mauryan time period in Sri Lanka, mentions a special historical event when Emperor Ashoka sent various ritual items, including large amounts of gold, gems, and jewels, for the coronation of Sri Lankan King Tissa. It is noteworthy that these valuable items reached Sri Lanka without any issues, passing through the territories of the Cholas, Pandyans, and Keralputra, all of whom were Mauryan tributaries. According to the Dipavansha commentaries, the kings of these territories ensured the safety and protection of these riches, allowing them to reach Sri Lanka without being stopped or looted.

Original Pali Texts - अभिसेकाय पाहेसि अनेकं रतनं पुन । देवानम्पियतिस्सस्स तम्बपण्णिम्हि उत्तमे ॥ ८५ ॥ वालवीजनिमुण्हीसं छत्तं खग्गं च पादुकं । वेठनं सारपाभङ्गं भिङ्कारं नन्दिवट्टकं ॥ ८६ ॥ सिविकं सङ्घवतंसं अधोविमं वत्थकोटिकं । सोवण्णपातिकटच्छ्रं महग्घं हत्थपुञ्छनं ॥ ८७ ॥ अनोतत्तोदकं काजं उत्तमं हरिचन्दनं । मत्तिकारुणवण्णं चरअञ्जनं पन्नगाह ॥ ८८ ॥ हरीतकं आमलकं महग्घं अमतोसधं । सद्विवाहसतं सालिं सुगन्धं च सुकाहटं 4 ॥ ८९ ॥ पुञ्ञकम्पाभिनिब्बतं पण्णाकारं 'मनोरमं । लङ्काभिसेके तिस्सस्स धम्मासोकेन पेसितं ॥ ९० ॥ पुनाभिसित्तो सो राजा तम्बपण्णिम्हि इस्सरो । दुतियाभिसेके तस्स तिक्कन्ता तिंस रत्तियो ॥ ९१॥ (Dipavansha - Chapter 17: Verses 85 to 91)

Translation - Verse 85:"Then King Dharmaraj Ashok also sent many gems, gold and jewellery to Tamraparni (Lanka), as an offering for the consecration of the beloved Tissa." Verse 86:"There were chowries, crowns, umbrellas, swords, sandals, waistbands, earrings, water pots, and handfans made of peacock feathers." Verse 87:"There were excellent conch shells, palanquins, veenas, freshly washed and folded garments, golden embroidered fabrics, armlets, and expensive handkerchiefs." Verse 88:"Also, brought from Anavatadha, there was a fragrant water jug, excellent sandalwood, red and good-quality clay, and anjan (collyrium) sent by King Nāgarāja." Verse 89:"There were Haritaki (myrobalan), Amla (Indian gooseberry), and Amritoushadhi (Guduchi), and sixty measures of fine, fragrant rice, which was wounded by parrots." Verse 90:" Dharmaraja Ashoka sent such beautiful gifts acquired from previous meritorious deeds for the consecration of King Tishya." Verse 91: "With all these consecration materials, Tissa was anointed as the ruler of Tamraparni (Sri Lanka) once again." Verse 89:"There were Haritaki (myrobalan), Amla (Indian gooseberry), and Amritoushadhi (Guduchi), and sixty measures of fine, fragrant rice, which was wounded by parrots." Verse 90:" Dharmaraja Ashoka sent such beautiful gifts acquired from previous meritorious deeds for the consecration of King Tishya." Verse 91:"With all these consecration materials, Tissa was anointed as the ruler of Tamraparni (Sri Lanka) once again.

• In Dipavansha , everywhere Ashoka referred as Devanapriya and Priyadarshi. Priyadarshi title also used for KIng Tissa of Lanka in Dipavansha . NOTE- Devanapriya and Priyadarshi is a Buddhist Title for King.

• 2nd century BCE Tamil Sangam literature text AKANANURU mentioned about Mauryans attack on South .

Information on MAURYANS creating paths in mountains: - விண் பொரு நெடுங்குடை இயல் தேர் மோரியர் பொன் புனை திகிரி திரிதர குறைத்த (AKANANURU 69, LINES 10 TO 11)

“Translation - The Mauryas have carved into the sky-touching mountains and created paths for their chariots with iron wheels to roll smoothly…”

Information on Mauryans creating a path in mountains to attack the king of MOKUR:- துனைகால் அன்ன புனை தேர்க் கோசர் தொல்மூது ஆலத்து அரும் பணைப் பொதியில் இன்னிசை முரசம் கடிப்பு இகுத்து இரங்கத் தெம்முனை சிதைத்த ஞான்றை மோகூர் பணியாமையின் பகை தலைவந்த மாகெழு தானை வம்ப மோரியர் புனை தேர் நேமி உருளிய குறைத்த இலங்கு வெள் அருவிய அறைவாய் உம்பர் (AKANANURU 251, LINES 7 TO 14)

“Translation - where the Mauryan newcomers came with their army with horses and fine chariots, cut into the mountains with splendid, white waterfalls and created paths for their chariot wheels to roll smoothly, to attack the king of Mōkūr who refused to submit to the Kōsars with flags on their well constructed chariots that ride as fast as the wind”

Information on TELUGU speaking tribes supporting MAURYAN army to make them enter into South :- கனை குரல் இசைக்கும் விரை செல் கடுங்கணை முரண் மிகு வடுகர் முன்னுற மோரியர் தென் திசை மாதிரம் முன்னிய வரவிற்கு விண்ணுற ஓங்கிய பனி இருங்குன்றத்து ஒண் கதிர்த் திகிரி உருளிய குறைத்த (AKANANURU 281, LINES 7 TO 11)

“Translation- where the Vadukars who have great enmity tie the shed feathers of delicate peacocks with swaying walks, to their strong bows using long fibers on the edges, shoot rapidly fitting the beauty of the tied fibers, creating sounds, and lead the Mauryas who desire to conquer the South, cutting into the rocks to let their chariot wheels with bright spokes roll…”

These practices actually done by Bindusara Southern Province Samanta, but he actually got failed to captured whole south, But what happened during the rule of Asoka they don't mention about it. Were they become successful to capture south tip or not, but Tamil Sangam literature mentioned Mauryans .It also mentioned about Nandar(Nanda) wealth

• Infact there is a history of invaders in India , most of them interested in destroying ancient structure. So we need to collect fragments to write history. Early discovered (2000 to 2002) Kanaganahalli Stupa of Asoka on the bank of river was in completely demolished condition. Asoka name on sculpture confirm it that it belongs to Asoka. This stupa was renovated by Satavahanas also.

Reference