Bindusara
Bindusara (320 BCE – 273 BCE) (r. c. 297 – c. 273 BCE) was the second Mauryan emperor of Magadha in Ancient India. The ancient Greco-Roman writers called him Amitrochates, a name likely derived from his Sanskrit title Amitraghāta ("slayer of enemies").
| Bindusara | |
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A silver coin of 1 karshapana of the Maurya empire, period of Bindusara Maurya about 297–273 BC, workshop of Pataliputra. Obv: Symbols with a Sun Rev: Symbol Dimensions: 14 x 11 mm Weight: 3.4 g. | |
| 2nd Mauryan Emperor | |
| Reign | c. 297 – c. 273 BCE |
| Coronation | c. 297 BCE |
| Predecessor | Chandragupta Maurya (father) |
| Successor | Ashoka |
| Born | 320 BCE |
| Died | c. 273 BCE (aged c. 46 – 47) |
| Spouse | Several wives (16 according to Mahavamsa), including the mother of Ashoka (Subhadrangi according to Ashokavadana or Dhamma according to the Sri Lankan tradition) |
| Issue | Susima, Ashoka, Vitashoka |
| Dynasty | Maurya |
| Father | Chandragupta Maurya |
| Mother | Durdhara (according to Jain tradition) |
| Maurya Empire (322–180 BCE) | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Bindusara was the son of the dynasty's founder Chandragupta and the father of its most famous ruler Ashoka. His 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. Bindusara consolidated the empire created by his father. The 16th century Tibetan Buddhist author Taranatha credits his administration with extensive territorial conquests in southern India, but some historians doubt the historical authenticity of this claim.