30 Facts About Bindusara

Bindusara was the son of the dynasty's founder 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.

Buddhist sources that provide information about Bindusara include Divyavadana, Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa, Vamsatthappakasini, Samantapasadika, and the 16th century writings of Taranatha.

Bindusara was born to Chandragupta, the founder of the Mauryan Empire.

The prose version of Ashokavadana states that Bindusara was the son of Nanda and a 10th-generation descendant of Bimbisara.

Bindusara cut off the queen's head and cut open her belly with a sword to take out the foetus.

Bindusara was named Bindusara, because his body was spotted with drops of goat's blood.

Therefore, Chanakya named him Bindusara, meaning "the strength of the drop".

Bindusara was initially apprehensive about her low class, but made her the chief queen after learning about her Brahmin descent.

Bindusara did not like Ashoka because his "limbs were hard to the touch".

The Mahavamsa states that Bindusara had 101 sons from 16 women.

Historian Upinder Singh estimates that Bindusara ascended the throne around 297 BCE.

Alain Danielou believes that Bindusara inherited an empire that included the Deccan region, and made no territorial additions to the empire.

Danielou believes that Bindusara brought the southern territories of the Cheras, the Cholas and the Satyaputras under nominal Mauryan control, although he could not overcome their armies.

Bindusara's theory is based on the fact that the ancient Tamil literature alludes to Vamba Moriyar, although it does not provide any details about the Mauryan expeditions.

The Mahavamsa suggests that Bindusara appointed his son Ashoka as the viceroy of Ujjayini.

Shortly before Bindusara's death, there was a second revolt in Takshashila.

Meanwhile, Bindusara learned of the detailed circumstances of his birth, and implored Chanakya to resume his ministerial duties.

The 3rd century Greek writer Athenaeus, in his Deipnosophistae, mentions an incident that he learned from Hegesander's writings: Bindusara requested Antiochus to send him sweet wine, dried figs and a sophist.

The Buddhist texts Samantapasadika and Mahavamsa suggest that Bindusara followed Brahmanism, calling him a "Brahmana bhatto".

Some Buddhist texts mention that an Ajivika astrologer or priest at Bindusara's court prophesied the future greatness of the prince Ashoka.

Bindusara asked him to assess the ability of the princes to be the next emperor, as the two watched the princes play.

Bindusara had been born as a python during the period of Kassapa Buddha, and had become very wise after listening to the discussions of the bhikkhus.

Bindusara appears to have left the court for unknown reasons.

Historical evidence suggests that Bindusara died in the 270s BCE.

All sources agree that Bindusara was succeeded by his son Ashoka, although they provide varying descriptions of the circumstances of this succession.

Therefore, he approached the 500 royal councillors, and suggested appointing Ashoka as the emperor after Bindusara's death, pointing out that the devatas had predicted his rise as the universal ruler.

Sometime later, Bindusara fell sick and decided to hand over the administration to his successor.

Bindusara asked his ministers to appoint Sushima as the emperor, and Ashoka as the governor of Takshashila.

The Rajavali-Katha states that Bindusara retired after handing over the throne to Ashoka.