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LIFE IN ANCIENT INDIA
Asoga
Candagutta is mentioned as the first king of the Mauryan dynasty. His son was Bindusära and his grand-son was Asoga They all ruled over Pädalıputta The Mauryan dynasty is compared with a barley grain which is thick in the middle and thin at both ends It is stated that Chandragupta was less powerful in army and equipment. Bindusāra was more powerful than his predecessor and Asoga still more, whereas Samprati is described as the greatest of all. After Samprati the Mauryan dynasty began to decline 3
Balamutta
It is said that Balamitta and Bhānumitta were two brothers, the former was ruling over Ujjeni It is said that Balabhānu, the sister's son of Balamitta, was ordained by Kalaka ācarya as a result of which Kālaka had to quit the town According to another tradition, Balamitta and Bhānumitta were the sons of Kälaka's sister
Bhambhasāra, Bhimbhasara or Senya
King Bhambhasara or better known as Seniya finds an important place in the Jain Canons It is said that during the reign of king Pasenai, the city of Kusaggapura was a frequent prey to fires Once through the carelessness of the cook, the king's palace caught fire when all the princes left the house in a confusion At this time piince Seniya took a drum (bhambha) and came out and since then he came to be known as Bhambhasāra?
Seniya was a contemporary of Mahavira and is said to have asked a number of questions to the Teacher which arc recorded in the sacred books of the Jains Seniya is referred to as “lion of kings" (rājasīha) in the Uttaradhyayane Stitra, and is said to have belonged to the Vāhiya clan.
HIS QUEENS The Antagadadasāolo gives the following names of twenty three queens of Seniya Nandā, Nandamai, Nanduttarā, Nandaseniya, Maruyā, Sumaruya, Mahamaruya, Marudevā, Bhaddā, Subhaddā.
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Brh Bha 1 3278f For other traditions regarding Asoka see P HAI, pp 4, 249 also, - Law, some-ancient Indian kings, Buddhastic studies, pp 206 ff 8 Nisi cũ, 10, P 630 ff For the identity of Balamitra and Vikramaditya, see Vira Nirvana
aur Jain Kål Gananā, NPP 14] rīva cū, II, p 158. cf Paramatthadīpanī, the com on the Udana, P 104 where it is said Seniya possessed a great army or he belonged to the Seniya gotta and so he was known
as Seniya. He was called Bimbisära because he was of golden (bimbi) colour. 8 20 58 9 Ava. cū. II, p. 105. 107, p. 43 f. i According to Buddhist literature, Seņiya had five þupdred queens (Mahācagga, VILI•1•18)
