Jainism in North India

SR No.: 011067
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Chimanlal J Shah
Publisher: Longmans Green and Compny London
Publication Year: 1932
Total Pages: 66
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 3 MB

Page 223

JAINISM IN NORTH INDIA good ruler all over the world. His death was welcome news to the Brahmans of North India, to the powerful Andhras of the south, and to the enemies of India outside. The Mauryan control up to the Hindukush became weak soon after Asoka's death. The northwestern frontiers, ever exposed to foreign attacks, now became & tempting field to the Greek provinces of Bactria, Parthia and the warlike races of the borders. Notwithstanding lus toleration the Brahmans, who feared that their religion was in danger, were embittered against Asoka Besides this they should also have lost many of their former privileges. This led to a great reaction against Mauryan ascendancy, which was promoted for some time in secret by the Brahmans and culminated in open revolution in the time of the later Mauryas The descendants of Asoka retained only Magadha and the neighbouring home provinces Brhadratha, the last king of the imperial Mauryan line, was finally treacherously murdered by his commander-inchief, Pushyamitra--"the Indian Macbeth."i Now, considering this from the chronological point of view, we find that the whole duration of the Maurya dynasty, according to Puranic authority, was one hundred and thirty-seven years; and if this period be accepted, and reckoned from the accession of Candragupta in 32% BC, the dynasty must have come to an end about 185 B.C. This date, as we have seen before, is certainly approximately correct Thus the Brahman dynasty which uprooted the Buddhist Mauryas succeeded to the throne of India about 185 BC Thus at the instigation of the Brahmans Puspa or Pushyamitra faithlessly slew his master, imprisoned the ministers, usurped the throne, proclaimed himself king, founded the Sunga or Mitra dynasty, which lasted for about a decade and a century, and brought about an orthodox revolution in literature and Hindu society Banabhatta, in his life of Harshavardhana (seventh century AD.), alludes thus to this military coup d'Etat. "And reviewing the whole army, under the pretext of showing him his forces, the base-born general, Pushyamatra. crushed his master Vrhadratha, the Maurya, who was weak in keeping his coronation oath "4 Writing on this very point the learned author of The Hindu 1 Mazumdar, op cit, p 620 * See Pargster, op cit, p 27 - J.BORS,x,p 202 " The rendering combines the versions of Cowell and Thomas (Harsacarita, P 180) of Buhler (1 A, 1, 808) and of Jayaswal Cf. Smith, op cit, p 268, I 174